The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1782-10-29 00:00:00, page 2

'Laft Monday arrived the Swall w Pacquet, captain
Green, in (even weeks from Falmouth, the newspa
pers and intelligence brought by this ship have been
in feme degree anticipated by the late arrivals from
Cork and Jamaica.
CO PEN HAGEN, July CT
n'EDNESDaY ladthe Ruffian fleet or to ships
VV of the line anl 4 frigates, under the command
of vice admirals Tocnitchagoff and Kruse, arrived in
our load ; and it feembtnat they will anchor here some
days.
LONDO N, Augufl 9.
Wednesday, count de Graffe, together with his
suite, dined wuh the earl of S elbqrne.
Count de Graffe, count de Siben, viscount de Grofe,
and the other French officers, prisoners in this country,
all drelfcd in the full naval unif >rm in the French ser
vice, with (words and cockades, were at Court yeflerday.
Thay were re eived with great and particular distinc
tion, and the count ducourfed for a long time with his
ma jefty.
By the most authentic advices from Mr. Fitzherbert,
our efficient at the court of Brussels, we learn that the
French and Spaniards are determined to oppose our
relief of Gibraltar ; for which purpose orders have been
sent to all the royal dock yards to fit out every ship of
force with the greatest expedition as well as their grand
fleets. The rendezvous where the two fleets are to u
nite, is off Cadiz; the time appointed is about the 18th
of this month, although 'tis generally believed they
will be later.
Extraß of a letter from Portsmouth, Auguf 119
“ We have now at Spitnead 26 fail of the line, and
Mt St. Helen's two, and in the harbour nine, making
in the whole 37 fail of the li^e; when the fllips from
the river, &c. join, we reckon we fhril have 38 of the
line, exclusive of eight for the North teas."
Naval engagement in India.
An account has b<en received by government, of an
engagement between admiral Hughes md M. d'Orves,
in tae Eafl Indies. The following are given in a letter
from the Con ftantinople, written by a gentleman hi a
public character.
Extract of a letter from Conflantinople, ,ily 4.
“ An over-land meffeuger is arrived here trom In
dia, by the way of Baffora, by whom we learn th t
there has been an aßion bet ween the English and French
fleets off the co,ft of Coromandel, the circumstances
of which are related nearly as follows:
" In the middle of March the French fleet having
been nearly fix weeks blocked up at Pondi lurry by
admiral Hughes, a very brisk wind at S. E. obliged
that officer to quit his Ration ; but the weather clear
ing up in two days, on his return to the coast, he fell
in with the French fqutdron under monsieur d'Orves
confiding of ti fail of the line, admiral Hughes had
only 9. The two squadrons began to engageabout noon,
and contin ed so to do till five in the afternoon when
the rear of the French gave way ; they closed however
again, and engaged an hour longer, when both (qua
drons being at a dillaoce and io too disabled a state to
renew the attack, the French bore away for Pondicher
ry, and the English, it is said to Madras. There was
no loss of Dipping on either fide; but the slaughter
among the crews, particularly the French, who had
soldiers on board, was very great.
" Monsieur d'Orves is said to have feat an express
home, in which he boasts of having had the best of the
day, if a good mauling and a retreat could be so cal
led. One of his ships, a 64, the Vengeur, is deferred
as a sieve. She w^ engaged by a ship of her own rate;
both fought desperately. Such an aHion was hardly
ever fought before in the Indian teas, all the ships (up
ported each other so firmly.
" The French have no place to repair at, but the
Mauritius, which is at such a diftauce, and a danger
ous navigation for crippled ships. They daily expect
reinforcements, and the English were under the fame
hopes."
Letters from Holland, Germany and France, by the
last foreign mails, (peak with confidence of an ap
proaching congress, for the purpose of bringing about
K general peace; some letters even go so far as tofy,
that the ambassadors from some of the belligerent pow
ers are already named.
Colonel Tarleton has offered himfelf a volunteer at
Gibraltar, and goes with the (Let, as does also captain
Cumberland, and captain Godin, of the guards.
By advices from Brest, as late as the 9th cf Augufl,
it does not appear, that the combined fleet were then in
that port; it is therefore beyond a doubt that they re
turned again to Cadiz, in order to water and victual.
When lord Howe went to the westward of the enemy,
the Spanish admiral, who was chief in command, ima
gined he was going to make a detachment for the re
lief of Gibraltar, and so declined going into Brest to
water, notwithftandmg every preparation was made by
the French for that purpose.
The queen is now big of her 15th child, 13 of which
are living.
N E W-Y O R K, Odober 23.
Further PARTICULARS brought by the Swallow
Pacquet.
Extract of a letter from London, dated Augurt 7.
“ Since my lafl, wrote in July, a second change in
the administration of this country has taken place; a
change which promises to be fortunate for botii Great-
Britam and America. For had the lart continued, I
have reason to believe the absolute and unconditional
independence of America would have taken place. It
had been debated in the cabinet, and I hear a majority
was for it ; but lord Shelburne, who is truly a great
man, of superior address and real ablities, found the
means to postpone it, until Providence was pltafed in
his mercy to the two countries to take the marquis
out of this life. The death of this one man, I verily
believe, has saved America. He was the head of the
party for this wretched and ruinous measure, and,
aided by meffrs. Fox and Burke, with his other friends,
would have carried it through, notwithflanding all
that the king and lord Shelburne could have done.
N E W-V 0 R K, October 23.
However on his demise, such measures have been taken
as to form a cabinet of a different complexion, one,
which I have reason to believe will never accede to the
independence of America but in the greatest extremity.
Immediately on the marquis's death, the king resum
ed his loft power, and without calling a council, ap
pointed lord Shelburne to succeed him: thk gave
great umbrage to Mr. Fox and his friends, who im
mediately resigned. Mr. Burke and lord John Ca
vendish followed, and left lord Shelburne the oppor
tunity to fill up their places with his own friends.—-
Much pains are taken, as fam told, to prevail on the
dukes of Richmond and Portland, and general Conway,
the men of most weight and influence, next to tpe mar
quis in their party, but without success: they wifely
preferred the continuance in their polls than follow the
wild chace of a Fox; and of coufe to draw with the
Premier. I am told they are grown very cool and in
different in refpea to American independence. The
cabinent now consists of lord Shelburne, Mr. Pitt,
chancellor of the exchequer, the two secretaries, viz.
lord Grantham and Mr. Thomas Townfhend, the lord
chancellor Thurlow ; and, where the navy andarmy
are concerned, the perlons at their heads are summon
ed. I ord Shelburne and the lord chancellor, I imagine,
will govern ; they are both men of the sirs labilities and
determined spirits, and! trust will steadily putfue those
measures which will bring about, in the end, an ho
nourable peace. Tie la e insolent condua of the con
grefs, in rtfufing to treat with Great Britain, and in
the throwing themfelve* entirely into the arms of France,
has had a good effefl, both with our rulers and the na
tion in general They fee the delusion they have been
under, in hoping to withdraw the congress from the
interest of France; and that there cinoot be even a
commercial connexion between Great Tritain and
America, unless France shall admit of it, and then on
ly on terms to be dilated by her. This I think has
roused them. We bear no talk among te people of
the independence lately in so many mouths; but on
the contrary there is a manifeft refentrnent rising up,
and a Rroug desire taking place, that the war ihoulJ
be carried on with vigour.
From the Morning Post, dated Augufl 27, 1782.
The printer received the following letter from Oxford
by tue General Post.
For the MOR NLN G POST.
The following ExtraQ of a letter from the Hague,
transmitted to me by a friend, bears with it evident
mrks of authenticity ; as it concerns the public in
general, I mull request a Ipeedy insertion.
X W.
Hague, Augufl 17.
" NOW I have fettled family affairs, I can only
give you joy for your late successes ; the silence of the
AmOerdammers nd Rotterdammers give weight to the
account. Admiral Hughes, afttrall that has been said
concerning hit death and defeat in the Eall-indie.-, ap
pears now to have gained • ncom o on advantages over
the Hollanders and monsieur Suffrein, in that quar
ter.
" After the indecisive adion of the 20th of March,
he again met them combined, when a compleat victory
was gained by a great and uncommon manoeuvre. Ob
serving the inattention of the Dutch to the French 6g
nals, and that the Dutch commodore bore off to wind
ward, to intercept the Fnglifh India ships, he trade a
signal for the ships to luff up to the French and engage
close. This was accomplished b, tlie alacrity and abi
lities of commodore King, who IM the division on that
day. T^e Dutch were now eff finally dife ocerted,
and to add to t! ^r distress, the Van Leyden, of 70
gens ano 650 men, on board of which was the Du'ch
commodore, blew up, by some unknown accident, a
long fide the Royal Admiral East Indiaman, and that
ship was effectual y destroyed.
" Admiral Hughes Bill pursued his advantage till
the French gave way ; it being near dark, the g Ilant
admiral contented himfelf with calling innri fleet and
their prizes; which are as follow:
" English loss, 220 killed—wounded 460.
Lift ot ships taken.
L'Orient . . 74
L'Amiable - 74
Le Ven^eur - - 74
Van Leyden - 70 destroyed
“ The only loss on the English fide was the Royal
Admiral, the men saved."
Extras! of a letter dated London, Augufl 6.
“ Lord Shelburne, who is now the p enner, fees the
necessity of recovering the colonits, in as firmiga light
as any of us. lam glad to hear so insolent and (ur
ly a reception has been given by the congrtfs and its
abettors, to tbe oyertures made by government for a
friendly accommodation; if they h d be.n d ; fpofrd
to treat, we might possibly have been wheidl d out
of every thing that was worth preGivi^g ; but now
t ey have convinced tiie nation that we mufi fight or
beruined, since they have thrown themselves into the
arms of France.
“ You must have hearl long since of the changes
which took place in consequence of lord Rockingham's
death. Lord Shelburne is supported by a majority of
the cabinet; he is refolved* that the prerogative of the
crown fliall not be dimmifhed, and that tne colonies
faall not be loft ; in order to tl e latter, he is forming
proper plans. His lordship wiflies for peace, but thinks
we are not reduced to such a Rate as to jufiify ou fu
ing for it on difgractful terms. Our negociators are
called home, and the war is to be prefecuted with
vigour."
Many of the principal counties in England have
opened fubferiptions each to prefect to his mainly a
ship of the line, Suffolk and Wildhire, each one of 74,
and Norfolk one of 100 guos ; Sussex, to'build man,
rig,arm and fend to tea a ship of war, though of inferi
or force to the above mentioned. The g zette of the
27th of July, announces colonel Barr? to succeed Mr.
Burke as paymafler of the forces, aod the lord advo
cate Dundas to be treasurer of the navy.
The count de Graffe was at court on the 9th of Au
gud; the king had sent that admiral his (word by fir
Peter Parker, he has been entertained by great no ..bers
of the nobility, &c. A cartel is eftablifrd to pass be^
tween Dover and Calais on the firft of every month,
Wind and weather permitting, for the exchange of
French and English prisoners. The house of Mayne,
Graham, and Co. eminent bankers in Jermyn-flreet,
has failed for two hundred and fifty thousand pounds.
The premier's council in Eaft-lndia affairs, are lord
Afhburton, Mr. Lawrence Sullivan, and fir Robert
Pawke. A very formidable party is raised against ad
miral de Graffe in Paris ; the king, and a few leaders
in the cabinet are friendly, but the people's minds are
influenced to a violent degree against him.
The trial of monf. Bougainville, on a charge from
admiral de Graffe, for negled of duty as a flag officer,
in the action of the 12th of April, was to come on at
the return of the combined fleets, about theist of Sep
tember ; the comte de Graffe's was immediately to suc
ceed it.
Mipiftry are in possession of authentic advices, that
general Elliot will be able to hold out until 30th Octo
ber, by which time that important fortrefs, it is said,
may be relieved, and perhaps a blow flruck that would
give a turn to the present posture of affairs.
S venteen fail of Ruffian men of war, are said late
ly to be arrived at Copenhagen, which occasions some
(peculation ; it appearing as Great-Britain would at
last have tome support, in consequence of an alliance
with, at lead, one powerful maritime state.
Lord Shelburne is daily strengthening his administra
tion, by enlisting ah of the North party, who are ready
to join his standard ; and it seems, as if the most pow
erful parliamentarians were both ready and willing to
unite in hi^ fopp rt.
The 36th, 67th and two Highland regiments are
ordered to march to Cork, there to embark in trans
ports for England, agreeably to the resolution of par
liamrnt, to empower his majesty to withdraw 5000
troops :rom that establishment to do duty in England;
the sth and Bth dragoons are also expected to be with
drawn. Lord hffingham, on the 26th of August, set
out from Portsmouth to embark on board the grand
flee: for the relief of Gibraltar. Through the argu
ments of the prince of Orange, the Dutch have order
ed ibeir ambassador at Paris to forward the entering in
to a negotiation for peace with England. Tne Abbe
Reynal, inflead of being killed by news writers, is with
prince Henry, of Puffia, and do good health.
August 27. It is said that no orders or difp^tches
whatever have been sent from the secretaries of state,
frem this country, for abandoning Charleflown, nor
is aiyy such design entertained by government ; the
present plan consists in an intention to defend the re
maining possessions we have in America until the next
winter, when the American papers, correspondence,
&c. will be laid before p rliiment, and the sense of
the howfes taken upon the grand questions @f dependence
or in ependence
The friends of government in Americas may depend
on the following, bre^h: „ the Swallow packet, to
be founded in truth ; 11 ^ derived from good authori
ty.——His majefiy has declared to tne right honour
ble the earl of Shelburne, that h^s lordship is the prime
and foie minifier of the oritifh nation, and the utmost
confidence reposed in his integrity and abi ities ; and
rejecting the absolute and unlimited independence of
America, it never should be acceded to whilst his ma
jefiy held the fceptre.
On the 28th of August, two expresses arrived at the
Eafl-'ndia house, over land; these dispatches bring a
confirmation of the acron between fir Edward Hughes
and monsieur Suffrein ; the English fleet confided of
nine fail, the French of eleven : it appears thatthe ac
tion was very bloody, and laded for several hours,
wl en the enemy at Est were obliged to iheer off in a
very tattered condition. We are informed that captain
Reynolds and captain Stephens fell in the aHion, and
that it happened on the 13th of February. The Mag
nanime and Sultan men of war, had not then joined
him but were expelled hour y. Sir Edward Hughes,
after the a&ion, captured a French transport, by which
he learnt that monsieur Suffreia had loft his firft cap
tain, and that the fleet would be obliged to go to tne
Mauritius to refit.
B O S T O N, October 17.
Friday last captain Jacobs arrived at an out port, in
50 days from Cadiz, by whom we learn, that when he
left that place, they were in daily expectation of hear
ing of the surrender of Gibraltar, as the garrison were
almost wore out with excessive fatigue, and were Ihort
of provision ; and bad petitioned general Elliot, setting
forth th^ir inability to defend the place much longer:
and that the duke de Crillon, commander in chief of
the troops before that place, had wrote the count de
Artois, brother to tie king of France, who was at
fom^ di ante from the Spanith camp, “ that if he in
clined ^0 fee the British standard on the walls of Gib
raltar flruck, he must haden immediately to camp."
We have received tie Leyden papers to August 2c<
The fubttance of what they contain, besides what hat
been published, is—
That the French reinforcement for the Eafl-Tndies
had arrived there before the British sent out by com
modore Johniion: that the force of count d'Orves was
superior for some time to that of admiral Hughes, and
that he had landed at Pondicherry a fine body of Eu
ropean troops, to join Hyder Ally; that he had tak
en, in his way the Hannibal, an English ship of war
of 50 guns, on the ?Bth of January : that on the 16th
of February, a large detachment cf British forces, un
der tiie orders of colonel Braiihwait, was attacked by
Tippo nil, one of Hyder Aly's generals; that the
aTion lafled eight hour^ - and that on thetSth, colonel
Braithwait fur r ender;d himfelf and his whole array,
confining, according to the British account, of 1500
Srapoys, a company or European troops and a train of
artillery with twelve cannon; that all the British of
ficers, except one, were either killed or wounded:
that the British reinforcement, under commodore
Beckerton, had fared no better than that under gene
ral Meadows, having got, by the last accounts, no
further than Brazin, and having loft, by sickness,
more than half their number since they left England.
Letters from India mention how much the British