The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-12-25 00:00:00, page 3

The tax on ferVants produces more than oven the fi
taan ter laid it at M. P.
Tne Americans have at present hardly any troops,
and ^at few they have, are without pay, fo6d, and
clothing. M. H.
T e whole Dutch fleet has been taken by admiral
Drby without any opposition, in the chops of the
channel. M. P.
The pecuniary distresses of the Americans have war
roe j the aimy to pilfer from, and plunder one ano
th< M. H.
# rutch are now ready to cuttach others throats
foA< duped by a ducal fad on into a wr. M. H.
J the mornu ^ post _ ^
L. the morning herald — 16
';tal of lies the laR week 34
B. : neve area number of fibs, reports, falfities,
~., fay-foes, and may bes, which were intended to
t<,been brought into the above account, but are
obliged to be omitted for want of room, as the infection
of them would greatly exceed the limits of a newfoaper.
CARLISLE-B A Y, (Barbadoes) June 13, 1781.
A letter from an officer in fir George Brydges kod
\ ney's fleet.
SIR,
Having this opportunity, shall by the fame give you
the exadeft account I am able to afeertain, concern
ing the .loss of Tobago.
On |he 25th of May, admiral Rodney, with twenty
fail of rhe Hue and some frigates lay in Cariifle bay
Barbadoes; and received intelligence by a privateer
who made her escape from that hand on the appear
ance of rhe enemy, that the illand was attacked by a
squadron of the enemy's (hips, who had landed a con
fiderable number of troops.
On the 27th day of the said month, the information
received by the privateer was confirmed, by the arriv
al of his majesty's frigate Cyclops, who, on the had of
the said month, at two o'clock in the afternoon, saw
the island of Tobago, bearing S. IV. distance eightor
nine h agues; that at tne fame time they saw nine fail
between them and the island, three of which were ly
ing too with tcir courses hauled up, and appeared to
be large ^ips, the other fix fail were three (hips of
smaller size, which they took to be frigates, and three
Inwall vessels ; which fix fail were fleering down to the
illand ; that they were assured on board the Cyclops,
from the manoeuvres of that squadron, they were ene
rhes going to attack that island; that on the 28th, a
liron, consisting of fix fail of the line, three frigates,
; - and two small tenders failed from this Bay at
fix ock in the afteroon, under command of rear
ad^CT i Drake : ,every (hip in this squadron had troops
(.! ..ai, excluffve of marines, all which were def
1. # me relief of that island.
r 30th, at eight in the morning, Tobago bear
i 7 ^ Y five leagues, a fleet of 27 fail was d (cover
ed ^h/w'k, landing in for that island.
It rod be con effed by every officer in the squadron,
that admiral Drake aded like an officer of both cour
z< cG conduct, in his approaching that fleet with his
. tr-uaJr,n, who on hi firft difeovering them form
cuAue line aoreaft not willing to run before he was
convinced of the fuprriority of the enemy, run down
on them, tin he was so near as to fee the hulls o' the
ry's ihips; finding it impossible to render any as
fifltr.ee 'to the island, from the superiority of the ene
my hauled bis wind and made a fignalfor a general
chafe ^the N. E.
No time was loft by admiral Drake in his getting up
to Barbhdoes, to ret the fleet together again, under
the command of fi r George Rodney.
We get fi D m of Baridoes on the 2d instant, at day
light i.x the morning, at nine saw the fleet in Carlifle-
Bay, at which time admiral Drake made the signal for
an enemy's fleet, of superior force, we kept working up
for Carlifle bay all that day ; the fleet in the Bay, on
cur approach, loosed their top fails, which gave us
force reason to expert they were coming out to join
us; but at sun-set was convinced to the contrary, by
feeing them hand their top-fails.l
We did not get into Carlifle-bay till nine o'clock at
night, when orders were received from admiral Rod
ney, that admiral Drake with his squadron fllould
stand off and on all night, which orders were complied
with.
At ten A. M. on the 3d was joined by brave admi
ral Rodney, and other part of the fleet under his com
mand, at which time made fail for Tobago, in quest
of he enemy, to redeem that island, and fruftrate the
intention of an invading foe.
The fleet under command of admiral Rodney con
filled of 20 fail of the line, five frigates, one fire ship,
two brigs, sloops ff war, one cutter and four small
vessels, serving as dispatch boats; which fleet made a
formidable appearance.
At one A. M. on the sth instant made the island
of Toba o, bearing S. W. by W. flood off and on to
windward off the island all that night, till 6 A. M. at
which time the fleet bore up, formed the line a bread,
and proceeded down towards the island; at eight two
frigates were lent a head of the fleet; at eleven the
Barfieur made a signal for a fleet to leeward ; 'tis true,
the brave admiral Rodney did not haul his wind im
mediately on the signal being made for a fleet, as they
were only difeovered from tne top-gallant mast head ;
but as soon as they were seen from the top of the ad
nhral's ship, the bold commander of the Britifli fleet
though proper to haul his wind; and to do justice to
that diflinguifhed officer, I must confefs, that no fail
could be set in any ship, when by the wind, that was
not set on the Sandwich ; indeed the fleet in general was
obliged to croud all the fail they could to keep up
with their bold leader, who used his utmost endeavours
to free the fleet from danger. It was at one P. M. of
the 6th, when the Britifli fleet hauled their wind, there
was 27 of the enemy's fleet to be seen from our (hip's
main top ; the body of their fleet bore from the body
of ours, W. N. W. and they were close by the wind,
Landing to the northward with all the fail they could•
we had the wind at E. N. E. by which means our
fleet lay north ; the enemy had the wind at east, or E.
by S. which enabled them to lay two or three points
of the compass athwart our fleet ; we had a fine breeze,
went five knots all the afternoon, and drew a-head on
the enemy considerably faft; that though their fleet
being two points before the beam of ours, urbeadiog
on them, and the slant of wind which enabled them to
lay two or three points athwart us, the two fleets
neared each other very faft.
At four o'clock we had neared each other so much
that I saw the hulls of several of the enemy's ihips
from our quarter deck, notwithstanding our utmost
endeavours to increase the distance.
At five o'clock, on the approaching of the enemy
so very faft, tne bold commander of the British fleet
made the signal, to prepare for battle, which signal was
immediately answered by every ship in tne fleet; never
was a fleet cleared for action than ours in the (pace of
half an hour after the signal was made.
At fix o'clock the signal was made to close the fleet.
At tun set Hie body of the enemy's fleet was two
points a : reif ithe beam of the British ; and so near
that I saw the hulls ®f twelve of their lh ps from our
quarter deck ; one of their frigates, lying the weather
mod ship of their fleet, tack'd, fhortned fail, and laid
to windward of them.
The Cyclops signal was made, foroetime in the after
noon, to go within hail of the admiral ; who, from her
being one of those frigates feat a head of the fleet before
they hauled their wind, did not get within hail of the
admiral till nearly eight o'clock, who, I am informed,
(and believe from her action) got orders to run down
between tiie two fleets, and watch the motions of the
enemy all night, but to be sure not to lose fight of our
fleet. That frigate proceeded to her Ration immediate
ly ; she run down to the leeward of the rear of the fleet,
and w,s in her Ration, I believe, nearly about nine
o'clock, when die saw several falfe fires, skyrockets,
&c. among the enemy's fleet ; but thit rigate was not
able to remain in figtit of them long without losing
fight of us, from the croud of fail that we carried all
the n ght ; therefore wis obliged to make al the fail fhe
could to get fight of us, which she did about 100'clock,
at which time the loft fight of the enemy. No fail was
sh 'rtned in the British fleet, till between three and
four o'clock, A. M when squalls coup lied us to
take our small fails in. The Cyclops, notwithstanding
they carried all the fail they poffi ly could, did not
get up to the admiral till between five and fix A. M.
at Wilich time I am told the commander of hat frigate
informed .be admiral of what signal he fawi their fleet,
what time he loft fight ofitnem, and that it was his
opinion, they tac-ed at t e time lie saw their signals ;
and indeed we well knew t ey muR have tacked before
twelve, in order to avoid danger; for at day-ligut in
the morning, the GranaJillas was right to leeward of
us, and not above fix leagues from us ; that from the
distance they were to Reward of our flee: at dark, they
would never rilk a fleet of such consequence within
two or three leagues of a lee shore.
At day-light we gained our aim; no enemy's fleet
was to be seen; nor was there any ships Cent to look
out for them, but made the best of our way for Carlifle
bay Barbadoes, where we lay very quiet.
The few troops and inhabitants on that island made
no resistance, but delivered up the island without firing
a shot; but notwithstanding, had the admiral found
it convenient to have gone wit 1 his whole force at the
time he dispatched admiral Drake with a mall squad
ron, it is firmly believed Tobago would have Rill been
governed by a free nation, and not fell a viAim to
French tyranny, as their feet was only on their paf
age when difeovered by admiral Drake, excepting the
squadron above mentioned, who had not made any
frmal attack on tie island, till on tie appearance of
their main force. What fir George Brydges Rodney's
reasons were for not goin- to the relie of that island
with his whole force at firfl, is not known here: but
teat difti^uiihed commander, no doubt, has (efficient
reasons to vindicate his conduct; but now far they
may appear f tisiadory to the public I cannot preten 1
to judge. For any other intelligence I beg leave , to re
er you to the public accounts you will receive from
t i) quarter.
BOSTON, December 14.
A few days ago the privateer ship Maquis a F y^te
Captain R<ed, srnzel afSY.em from a cru zr, during
w'nich the captur'd a P ck 4 f,<om England,, bonal to
New York. From the En,ln|ipipersfo nd on board
the prize the following viv'ces ate akin, v : z
PETERSBURG H, Anguu 24.
'rUE empress bar fem fame young pe<ph to China
' to learn the language, the ans and sets of
that empire, and at the f,me time to eltahhfh a cor
refpondence in th<fe pats hr the advantage 8. on
merce. A propofd ia allo to ne made t> the iuvocign
of China to receive a R ffi<n envoy <xxraoid » ry, v.b)
is to reside at Pekin, and to feno on< in ,^ uno rids
country, together zith feme young people 10 fearn the
Banners and custom, of Europe.
, LONDON, September 1
Though out affairs in America hive so a long time
wore a prefpeoas appearance, and lord Cornwall ,
with the troops under his command, has done, s much
as hums! )wifdom and human efforts coud accom;l sh,
circumflanced as he has b.^n, jet we are ferry to find,
by the I heft accounts from t/fat country, that a fp rit
of rebellion and refinance to legal authority Rill # xids
to a v-ry extraordinary o-^rhe, even m the provinces
fuppof-d to nave been in the king's peace. The Lie
proclamation issued by the commander n chief, offer
ing a premium and protefth n topnlift for a (bort period,
does not meet with t e success and etc niragement tint
was naturally expected from such a measure; neither
have we ever had thole fatisfactory reports of recruiting
the army on that fide of the w^ter properly au'hert ca
ted, though often expeffed with confidential assurance
by the best friends of government A f ult there as
furedly is, and has been long, in some part of our con
dua 0 in the constitution, wh ch the daemon of dis
cord has raif.d in this once happy country, which no
efforts on car part have yet subdued, or produced an,
iteps leading to that defirahle measure.
Public notice was giv.'non Sunday last, at each of
the foreign ans^ffador# chapels, that the pope had dis
pensed with the obfervenc# of Friday ^ arfaft day, in
favour of the Roman Catholics of this kingdom.
Extract of a le ter from Amsterdam, August 23.
" We have had very violent storms on our coart,
which have done great c age. In the night of the
20th, at cbout seven o'clock, a ^wtdifa min of war,
called Sophia Albertina, of 72 guns, and 554. men,
commanded by captain Je an G ft%#f Maim-S hihold,
having seven ships bound for Cadiz uoder her convoy,
had the mufortvne to b, wrecked on . place n.med
tl e Haaks; the m Rs were broken, and the ship entirely
gone to pieces by three in the morning. Only about
25 cf the crew were saved, by means of some pieces of
the wreck,and the Dutch men of war's boats wr & h lay
in the read. Tne second matter was the only officer
who was saved. A merchant ship of the fame nation,
J. W. Unear, matter, bound from Stockholm to B;eR,
(hired the fame fate; the matter and wo men only
were saved. The Poitogucs ships the S^nta-Anna Fran
cilca du Silva Cotte de Maria, captain Felix Jolue de
Souzi; and the Johanna, w^e both loft. They few
another Spanish (hip, laden with copper, has foundered,
450 tons of pitch and tar, wih several miffs and
other pieces of wreck, have been driven on (bore; from
whence we fear several other ships have perished,
"We hear also from the coasts a,out Noordwyk,
Catwyk, Schovening, &c. that federal ships have been
cast away. The genera; Bai ker English Eaft-Indiaman,
which was driven on (here some months ago, is now en
tirely gone to pieces."
f\ N Wednesday n<x ? , the 26th infant, at twelve
" o'clock at noon, Mr. JOHN MACPHERSON
wilt begin a Course of LECTURES on Aftronom,,
and #v ry othetßranch 0! N utrial Philoiophy, parti
cularly Mechanicks ad Electricity. Each 1/ &ure writ
conclude with :n Experiment in Ele&rcitv, amazing
and edifying, foua of which are entirely new. Tirk
etsm ybe han or M John Macphe son, next house
10 Pooi's-bridg',cr rom M .Ddiv,at the Coffee house;
Tbk.zts for the whole C-urfe of Lettn'es at One Gui
nea, and a Ticket or one Lt&ure H-ls a Dollar.
Shou d any (finger enquire who I am that thus pre
sumes to iultrua in thole tublime Sciences ? I answer,
I'm hi, h chuic ! , nor lew-church, no lory, a whig,
Nor flutt'rmg young cock corah, nor formal old prig ;
I can laugh at a jett, it not fold out of tun',
And excufir a tniftxke; but not fl tier a crime;
Unbias'd, I view things around as 'be, p-is;
Nor (quint at the great thro' a bfark'nng glass.
When merit appears, the' in rags I refpea it.
And will plead virtue's cause tho' the world should
No pa ty I serve, in no qu^rels I jin ; [reject it.
Nor d.mn the opi ion but differs from mine :
Nc corruption I icteen, no trea.on I ling;
I'm a friend to this country, but with for no king;
PLAGIAY.
As the p : ace is not positively fixed on, proper Notice
will be given before the time.
AT O TIC Eis hcieby given, that the fubftri ^r and
1 " Marg rt his wife, by express contra mide art
equal divifi n of their property, and feparat#d in Febru
ary 1779, and have lived tp irate ever since, anr , that
be fh^li pay no debts, which die hath either Cniraad
fine- that time, or which (he may hereafter contrast,
December 22, 1781. OVID HAND.
Philadelphia, Dec. 25.
This day there will be, in
ChriftChurch and St. Peters, both
forenoon, and afternoon, the an
nual Charitable Collection for
the POOR of the said Churches.
To be Let for any term of years,
A Goo^ PLAN 'ATION, within right miles of Phi
" lair.pma ; onfiiting oi about 130 acres of clear land,
tefihs woodland, between 20 anti 30 ares of which
in meadow, a la^ge orchard, a good (tone dwelling
house of four fi^ rooms, cellar and garret. Fur par
ticula s of J)HN ROSS, Merchant, at his house in
Pineß:e=f, Pnfadelpria.
TO BE SOL D,
A Valuable Negro Wench,
She cm Wvh, Iron, Sew, Span, and Milk, is;n excel
lent Chambermaid, has never had any children, and
is honest and sober. Sue may bo seen at the C ols-
Ke,s Tavern, kept by Mrs. Bogart in Chefnut-ftree fc ,
at the coiner of Third-ftreer, where further particulars
msy be learned, or by enquiring of the Printer.
Notice is hereby given,
to such as have LANDS in the County of
Bedford, and do not live in the said Coun
ty, that they may have an Opportunity of
paying the Taxes due for the fame, to the
fubicriber, being Treasurer for the said
Counts, at the House of Mrs. Clinton, at
the Corner of Chefnut and Fhird streets.
BARNARD DOUGHERTY.
November 28, 1781.