The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-02-27 00:00:00, page 3

BOST O N, February i s .'
fn the fevefe fnpw storm on Saturday lafi, the brig
Drake, captain Newman, from Martinico, ran ashore
at Plumb-Island near Newberry, and was Branded.
His cargo it is said be saved. We learn that a Mar
tinico paper was bfought in this vessel, which con
tained an account, that count d'Estaing, with the com
bined fleets, fell in with commodore Hood, with 16 fail
of the line and roo transports with troops, provisions,
&c. bound to St. Lucia—that after a short engagement
the count made capture of 6 fail of the line, and 95
transports; the ' commodore, with the remaining part
of the fleet, made off and arrived fafe ad treir destined
port.—We hope in our next to give our readers a par
ticular account of so important a blew given to the
haughty power of Britain.—Captain New man had but
II days passage.
We learn that a frigate and a cutter, belonging to
the enemy, were drove on fliore at Long- island, in the
late storm, and entirely loft.
Extract of a letter from St. Piers, Martinique, Janu-
, ary 18, 1780.
" The British made a very serious attack on St. Vin
cents about 3 weeks ago ; admiral Rodney, with 14
fail of the line, covered their landing 3000 troops, and
having made an assault upon the garrison, were defeat
ed, aid obliged to retreat on board their fleet ; they
loft, as 'tis said, 700 killed,and upwards of 500 wound
ed ; the garrison confided of about 700 besides militia/
" We have accounts from St. Lucia, that commodore
Hood has arrived there with 4 fail of the line and feve
ri transports, being a part of a fleet of 10 fail of the
line and 100 transports, with troops, &c. and having
fallen in with the count d'Effatog, were all taken ex
cept those arrived at St. Lucia' They have now iff
fail of the line * ere, under the command of admiral
Rodney. The French have 5 fail of the line to wind
ward, which are at Port' Royal/
" We have intelligence ffom'St, ^uftatia, that the
Dutch have declared the states independent; the French
believe it here, and a day or two ago a French frigate
was sent ' down with drfpatches from the commander
here to the governor of Statia. We have intelligence
likewise here, that she Spaniards have taken the Flo
ridas.
" The ffi'f Columbus, captain Newell, h^s taken a
rich prize, and both arrived at Gaudalodp; fh^ prize
is said to be worth 30,0001. flerling."
H A R T Fl6 R I), February 20.
Extrad of a letter from a gentleman in Bolton, to his
friend in this town, dated February 15.
" lam happy to- inform you, that the good news
brought here yefterdaf; is confirmed' to' day, by a
vessel in at Dartmouth from Hispaniola, in eleven days,
which declares, that a frigate had just arriveefat Cape
Francois from count d'Eftaing's squadron, which fays
that the count fell in with nine fail of the line, fix fri
gates, and a number of transports ; engaged them off
the weflern Islands, and took seven fail of the line, 3
frigates and 45 transports. This, Mr. Durde, a no
ted merchant at Hispaniola, fays ma, be depended on."
One of the above prizes was a large copper bottom
ship (fafe arrived) mounting 22 guns, 3 eighteen^, the
rest nines and fixes, and 84 men. Captain Robinson
engaged the aforefaid ship upwards of 3 glasses before
she struck: the had 5 men killed on bo^rd, one of
which was the captain, and 18 wounded. The Pilgrim
bad only one man killed and two wounded.
Captain Robinson likewise brings an account of 50
fail of victuallers and transports, with 1500 troops on
board, under convoy of a 64 gun ship and one frigate;
lying at Cork, ready to fail for New-York.
..FISH-KILL, February 22.
We learn that the crew of the Culloden, the British
ship of war, lately cast away on Long I(land, were al)
saved. Thirty eight made off, being difaffeded to their
taufe; the remainder were employed in taking care of
the fails, rigging, &c.
from th^ London Courant of October % 1786.
To the PRINTER.
IBEG your immediate insertion of the following que
ries :
To those whom it may concern.
Query t. is it, not acknowledged in the Gazette that
the honourable Mr. Laurens was proceeding on an em
baffy to the Bates of Holland?
2. Ought not the person of every gentleman invest
ed with such a charader to be esteemed sacred ?
3. Does nor the apprehension and detention of Mr
Laurens, for the crime of high treason, bear a striking
tefemblance to the treatment tne famous Patkul receiv
ed from Charles the twelfth of Sweden, a treatment
tyhich was reprobated by every power in Europe ?
4? Is it not to be e^pefted that doctor Franklin will
demand that Mr. Laurens be immediately permitted
to proceed upon his embassy ; and in case of refusal
give the proper information to those powers, Who have
ample means of fatirfaflion in their hands? And is not
the honour of America, as an independent power,
concerned in this queflion?
T R E,N T O N, February 21.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman of information in
Europe, to his friend here, dated Nov. 18, 1780.
" You may exped that Great Britain will fend this
winter a considerable reinforcement to the Weft-Indies
and the continent, and that the war will ' be pushed vi
gorously, perhaps more particularly in the southern
Rates. A word to the wife, be prepared at all points,
Lose no time: up and be doing.''
$ A L B M, February 13.
Friday lad arrived here the privateer (hip Pilgrim,
Captain Robinson, from a cruise, in which he has cap
tured nine valuable prtzQ two of which were sent in
to France, they were brigs from the Weft-Indies, bound
to London, tneir cargoes confffted of sugar, cocoa, cot
ton, oil, &c. the other feve'n were 'ordered for this port,
three of which have arrived, their cargoes consist of
A large quantity of provisions, dry goods, cordage,
&c
WHEREAS Giles Hicks, of the State of Penn
sylvania, and captain in the tenth regiment of
the said St-te, hath presented a petition to this house,
setting forth, " That in the month of November,
A. D. 1776, when he was a minor of the age of fifteen
years; he was seduced, by the artifices of a certain
Hester M'Daniel and her relat'hns, to contract mar
riage with her; contrary to the content of his guar
dians and other friends : That the said Hester was at
the time of the said marriage a Common prostitute,
and has since lived separate from the said Giles in
Open adultery; with divers other men: By means
whereof (he became so diseased of the Lues Venerea,
as to be declared incurable, after seven months con
tinuance in the Pennfylvania' Hospital ; and praying
leave to bring in a' bill for the dissolution of the said
marriage, after due notice given." And whereas it
appears to this house, that the faffs alledged in the
said petition are true. And whereas this house did,
by their resolve of the twerity-firft day of November,
1780, give permission to the said Giles Hicks; to bring
ina bill, to divorce him from his said wife Heller,
agreeable to the prayer of his said petition; he the
said Giles Hicks giving previous notice ' of his design,
and this permission, at least three weeks in the public
news-paper, printed in the city of Philadelphia/ in
titled" The Pennsylvania Gazette, ahdWeekly Adver
tiser." And whereas it hath been fully proved to -the
house, that the said notice hath been given.
I herefore be it enabled, and it is hereby ena^ed, by
the Representatives of the Freemen of the Common
wealth of Pennfylvania', in general Assembly met, and'
by the authority of the fame, that 'the marriage of
the said Giles flicks with the said I'efter, be, and is
hereby declared to be dissolved and annulled, to all
intents and purposes whatsoever : And the said Giles
Hicks, and the said Hester fh^ll be, and they are
hereby henceforth refpeffively declared ' to be fepirat
ed, emancipated, set free, and ' totally difeharged
from their matrimonial contrast, and from all duties
and obligations to each other as hufoand and wife, as
fully, effectually, and absolutely, to all intents and
purposes, as if they had never been joined in matri
mony) or b, any other cont'rad whatsoever ; any
law, u'fage or cuftoto to the contrary notwithstanding.
And be .t further enabled by the' authority afore
faid. That it fell and may be lawful to and for the
faid' Giles and Hester, from and after the passing of
this a&, to confraff marriage with any person, with
whom'he or fife might lawfully bd joined in wedlock;
in the fame manner as each of either of them might
have been, if the matrimonial relation' between them
had been dissolved by the death of the other party.
STATE of PENNSYLVANIA.
In GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
Monday, February 26, 1781.
Ordered, That the bill for dissolving the marriage of
Giles Hicks, with his wife Heder Hicks, late Hester
M'Daniel, be printed for public confederation.
Extract from the minutes,
SAMUEL STERETT, clerk.
An AR to dissolve the marriage of Giles Hicks, with
his wife Hester Hicks, late Hester M'Daniel,
UPON reading the Pennsylvania Packet of the 24th
instant, I find a piece signed by Christian Shaf
fer, captain, addressed to the public, in which he pro
duces the depbfitions taken by the coroner and inquest
with resp & to the death of Peter Pullen, and their
opinion tl erfeon. I (hould have been glad if the mat
ter had retted as it was, untill he' appeared beforethe
court, to stand his trial,: but, since he has thought
proper to appeal to the public on the occasion, I think
it a duty I owe to the deceased (who was a near rela
tion of mine) to inform the public, that, exclusive of the
rashness of the aft by which he deprived the unfortu
nate young man of his life, there will be evidence giv
en, by which, I am fatisfied, he will not appear in that
favourable point of light, nor yet so blameless as he
would wish the community to view him.
I am the public's humble servant,
Philadelphia, Feb. 26. JOSEPH KER.
Authentic letters from Virginia faf; that four
French (hips of force ha : entered James river, where
Arnold and his banditti have for some time part been
on a plundering expedition. We have no particulars,
but hope to have the fatisfaction of communicating,
very Ihortiy, agreeable intelligence from that quarter.
'The last advi es from Carolina fay, that lord Corn
wallis, having divested himfelf of his heavy baggage,
and collected his troops together, had, by rapid
marches, penetrated far back into North- Carolina ; that
he had not kept uphis communication, as hitherto, with
Charleftown, but abandoned the country between that
place and his arm, to' the command of the American
forces: that general Greene had called in all the de
tachments from his army, and it was expected an acti
on must happen before long. What his lordihip's
views are in this very extraordinary movement, time;
the mother of truth, will unfold.
The honourable the supreme executive council have'
appointed HENRY OSBORNE, enquire, efcheator
general of this states
In our last we made a mifhke refpe&ing the capture
of a vessel from St. Atiguffine by the Saratoga sloop cf
war: it appearing, that on the 9th ult. the Saratoga
fell in with and took the Tonyn letter of marque (hip
of 20 fix pounders, commanded by John R Wade
from St. Augudine, bound to Liverpool, loaded with
turpentine, indigo, fta'ves, hides and deerlkins. She
Differed much in the action, which lafled an hour, and
had one man killed, aAd the captain, iff lieutenant and
9 men badly wounded. The Saratoga received much
damage in her fails and rigging, but had not a man
hurt.
We are informed that two prize-vessels were, a few
days ago, brought into Raritan river. They were ta
ken by stratagem by two whale-boats, supposed to be
long to New-Brunswick.
Philadelphia, Feb. 27.
To the PUBLIC.
Was taKcn up, ertfpaffing on the
place of John Honeyker, on the Paff,unk road, a small
dark Bay HORSE. The owner is desired to prove his
property, pay charges and take him away.
JOHN CLAYSER#
To be Sold at Public Vendue,
On Wednefdsy the 7th day of March next, at 6 o'clock
in the Evening, ft the Coffee- house,
A small House and Lot-
Those who have in their posses
sion any BOOKS belonging to the late EDWARD'
BIDDLE, Esquire/ whether lent by him or sent out of
hit house, either at Reading or Philadelphia, by mifi
take, are requeued to return them to WILLIAM
LEWIS, Eqn, r e, Attorney at Law, in Walnut street;
wao is au'nriled to rereive them; particularly the firft
volume or Just unend's T'inflation of Abbe Reynall;
elegantly brand and lettered; Mr. Biddle omitted
writing h s name in it previous to lending it, and for
got to whom he sent it.
Port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ff.
To ALL whom it may concern.
XJOI ICE is hereby given, that a Court of Admiralty
Wil be held at the Admiralty-Office, in A/ch
ftreet, between Third and Fourth- ftrc'ts on the second
day of M^reh nertt, at Ten o'clock in the forenoon of
the fame day, for the Trial of the Brig or Vessel called
the DOUGLAS, &c: commanded by Archibald Grier,
taken at sea, on her intended voyage from Madeira to
Charleftown; tert into this Port, and libelled against
as priz* .by JOHN YOUNG, (qui tarn, &c.) To the
intent, that the owner or owners, or any persons con
cern'd therein, may appear and shew cause, if any the,
bar*, why a decree fhduld not pals pursuant to the
prayer of the libel, &c.
By order of the Judge,
ANDREW ROBESON, Register.
h%^ted on Freight,
One Hundred and Forty Barrels of Flour;
on beard the Schooner CHARMING NANCY, a
prime sailor, now lying near Chefnut-ffreet wharf,
bound to the Havannah. For terms apply te JOHN
LEVANS, in Market- ftrret, the corner of Strawberry-
on the Bank of Delaware, in Front-street,
opposite to Clement Biddle, enquire, in Water-street,
to Mr, Buckrfdge Sams's : a place so near the Crooked
bill f wharf, where the Bordentown, Burlington, Wil
mingfon, Newcastle and other Stage hoats come to and
Dil from, muff be ah' advantageous stand for the sale of
all kind# of merchandize and many kinds of b^finefs.
Twenty Shilling Specie Reward;
Fl ESER f'E D on S^turriy alt, the 14th instant.
0 THOMAS CONNELLY, a new lifted Recruit for
the Pennsylvania Line, horn in Ireland, gg years of
are, bro.vn complexion, short black hair, grey eyes,
applied to be bruised by fighting, 5 feet 6 inches high,
said to be a butcher, worked at shipp€nfburg, in Cum
bkrtind county, wish Captain Reppy % had on when he
deserted, a brown Beth crating iurtout, red short jac
ket 3nd blue breeches.
Feb. 26. WILLIAM HENRY,
Lieutenant of the City Philadelphia and Diftrify.
In Pipes, Hogsheads, and Quarter -Calks:
Bdn? the Remain let of the CARGO of the Prize Brig ra
ahtine CHANCE, taken by the Privateer Brigantint
Ariel:
And ac SIX o'Clock iri the Evening,'
At the Goffee-houfe,
Will be Sold by Public Audion, The said
Prize Brigantine Chance,
With all her Guns. Tackle, Apparel and Furniture;
agreeable to an Inventory to be seen at the place of
file.
Wanted Immediately^
In a small Family, a Young WOMAN;
well recommenced, that underfta, da house work; good
Wages arid Encouragement '^ili T given, if de
siring. Enquire to the Printer.
Came to the place of Edward
Duffi^d, at Kenfin^ton, a dark Brown HORSE, with
three white feet, about 15 hands high, thought to be
sor 6 y, ars old. Whoever has ! o ( ta d Horfi, proving
property :nd paying charges may have him again, hr
applying to rMARTIN WORKNO T. Feb. #%
This MORNING,
At TE N o'Clock,
At Meffri. Willing and Morris's Wharf,
Will be Sold by Public Audion;
A QUANTITY OF
LISBON WINE,
By Order of the Cotirt of Admiralty,
Feb; 27. CLEMENT BIDDLE, Marshal.