The Pennsylvania packet, or, The general advertiser — Lancaster, Pa.;Philadelphia, Pa., 1781-03-20 00:00:00, page 2

HOUSE pf LORDS, Thursday, November i 6.
The order of /he day being called for, the duke of
Bolton begged leave to trouble their lordships with the
proposition he hat given them notice he should move.
The present deplorable fiat; of the Britith empire, the
noble duke observed, was at this time truly dittrefflng,
and particularly the condition of our trade. In his o
pinion it became every man seriously to confider of it ;
and, infignificant as he might be held, he trusted he
ihould not be thought impertinent in animadverting
upon it. The language of the times, as well as the
times themselves, had of late been strangely altered. It
was in their lordfhips' recollection, for all might re
member it, that the speeches spoken from the throne
had usually represented the fiate of the nation, and its
profpeds: but, from the late speech his majesty had
delivered to that house, nothing had been said of our
present circumstances, or what we might reasonably
expert to meet with. For Eis own part, his grace was
unable to fee what the issue of the present war night
be, or indeed that it was likely to have any issue at all.
A language had of late been held with their lordships,
which he could not but reprobate in the fevered terms.
The junction of the house of Bourbon had been derided
and fcoffed at, as of no eonfequence to this country.
The late earl of Chatham, however, for it was yet frelh
in his mind, had a far different opinion of that alliance,
and was never ashamed to bid us be upon our guard
againff its polities and operations. How far the noble
lord and those who thought with him, were right in
Ivhat they had advanced, or were well founded in their
conjectures, a variety of even's had since determined.
Another discourse, equally fubjeO to animadversion,
had also of late been too generally held, and that was
that we were this year much better than we were the
lafl year. But how was the assertion made out? Or
was it by any means the faft ? Were we better now in
America than we were? His Grace apprehended not;
we had loft the only port there that was worth keep
ing.
The French had taken possession of Rhode Island;
and had fortified it in too strong a manner for us to
attack with any kind of success, should we be inclined
to do it. A great deal indeed had been said of our
late victory by lord Cornwallis, but it surely could
not be thought equal to the loss of that island. Much
too had been said of the desertion of general Arnold,
who had lately come over to us. But what was the ut
most of all that could be made of it? Nothing more
than that we had loft a good man and found a bad one ;
for the loss we had fuftaiued by the death of Major
Andre, was much more than the gain we had reaped
by the acquisition of general Arnold. How too were
we better this year than the last in the Weft.lndies^
The last year, at least for two months, from June to
August, we were masters in the Weft-Indies ; and since
that time, their lordships well knew, the enemy had
been very considerably reinforcing themselves in that
part of the world, while our ships were becoming eve
ry day more and more out of repair, and consequent
ly unfit for service.
Those were circumstances, his grace said, he could
not but animadvert upon. Did their Lordships too for
get the neutral powers ? Was their forming an alliance
together no Cause of uneasiness to us? Did not their
lordships know, that at this time we had not so much
as a single ally left us? Portugal, the only power in
Europe that remained with us, we had wantonly loft.
It might still, his grace said, have continued with us
but for our own folly. The loss of it had distressed
this nation in a gr ater degree, perhaps, than their
lordships were aware of, for we had new no port near
home to put into. His grace also highly censured the
fending Sir George Brydges Rodney from Gibraltar
to the Weft Indies with only four fail of the line.
But beyond all this, we had loft our trade, and our
name as a great naval power was gone. His Grace
did not mean to point out any particular officer under
the Crown, as inattentive to his duty, but he was, for
his part, diffatisfied with the present management of
the navy. There certainly was great blame somewhere,
and particularly for the I,fs of our fleet of merchant
men and convoy on the 9th of August lafl. To insti
tute an enquiry into this misfortune, a misfortune un
paralleled in the annals of this country, his Grace par
ticularly rose ; he would not fay where the blame was
due, but certain it was that administration knew that
the combined fleet lay at Cadiz, for upwards of two
months, reany to fail at a moment's warning; and
what precautions were used? The fleet indeed had a
convoy, but the grand fleet here at home should have
convoyed it through the several latitudes, till it had
got beyond Cape St. Vincent. How it happened that
the merchantmen touched at the island of Madeira was
another object of his enquiry, as it appeared to have
been the cause of their capture; but he would fay no
more on that head, till he knew how it was that the
fiep was taken.
His Grace spoke with great concern on the heavy loss
of the above fleet, and estimated it at above twenty
millions of money, besides that the stores it had on
board would enable the enemy to continue the war ano
ther year. This his Grace thought too serious a ^ufi
Tiefs to pass over in silence, and though no blame might
be incurred, that a minute enquiry into it was the du
ty of their lordships, and what had been the usage of
both Houses of Parliament, under cases of a similar na
ture.
This, at present, was all his Grace would trouble
their Lordships with ; he would therefore move for the
necessary papers, and when they should be laid before
th? House, prosecute the matter as should appear to be
necessary and just.
The heavy gale of wind, which Separated the Ja
maica fleet, happened on the ryth of Oflober, off the
Banks of Newfoundland, and larted for three days;
during this violent florin two brigs and another vessel,
a Spanish prize, foundered, and the major part of the
feet were difmafted, the Magnificent, of 74 guns,
captain Elphinflon, had four feet water in her hold,
and was otherwise very much di fabled: from the fitu
atipn that many vessels were in, previous to this bad
weather, they conjecture that several others must have
gone down.
Kis grace th*n moved, That an humble aadrefs.be
presented to his majefiy, praying that his majefly would
be pleased to order the proper officer to lay before th^
house, so much of the orders and infirußions given
to captain Moutray of the Ramillies, as refpeHed his
touching at the iflahd of Madeira, as well as any pre
caution he was to ule in pursuing that track that was
mod likely to avojd the enemy ; and also copy of cap
tain Moutray's letter, acquainting the lords of the ad
miralty of toe capture of a great part of the fleet of
merchantmen under his convoy.
Lord Sandwich was so little averse to the motion made
by the noble lord, that he rose to second it ; for he sin
cerely wished to have the papers called for laid before
the house, and to have every enquiry that could possi
bly be made into the cause of theca pture of the mer
chantmen spoken of. No one, his lordship (aid, lament
ed in a greater degree that loss than he did : but it was
a calamity which every nation at war might expect,
and no one had been to blame. It was an accident,
and could not be avoided. The noble duke had said
that ministry knew the combined fleet lay at Cadiz,
and were ready to fail at a moment's warning, The
fad was readily admitted, f r minidry really did know
of it, and for that very reason dispatched admiral
-Greaves, in order to intercept the combined fleet, who
failed with the merchantmen as far as he thought it ne
cessary to fail, though the convoy appointed here con
fided of three men of war, and two fix and thirty gun
ships. As to their touching at. Madeira, if was in con
sequence of an application from the merchants for that
purpose. But the whole, his lordship again said, was
an accident, and nothing else; for the Spanish admiral
had himfelf written home a letter, in which he exprefled
his furprize that he had fallen in with the English
Weft India fleet.'
His lordship particularly adverted to the censure the
noble duke had passed oh the fending fir George Bryd
ges Rodney, with four Tail of the line to Gibraltar;
and said, it had been an aft of great utility, for the
place was relieved, and fir George,' in his way, took
and destroyed fix Spanish men of war, besides another,
with some transports, 011 his return back to the Weft-
Indies.
His lordship took notice of the description the noble
duke had given of our present condition, and did not
fee it in so melanchoy a point of view as his Grace,
though he comfeffed he had foen pleasanter times- His
lordship begged leave to second 1 e motion, with the
addition, that there also be laid before the House an
extras of the letter, received fem admiral Greaves,
dated the 2d of August last, refpeding the Weft India
outward bound fleet, under the convoy of captain Mou
tray, of the Ramillies. His lordfllip also said, that it
was rather a lucky circumstance than otherwise, that a
Wronger convoy had not been sent out, as in that case
more ships might have fell into the hands of the enemy.
The d'uke of Bolton answered, that he did not mean
that a Wronger convoy' should have been sent, so much
as that more precaution fhouldhave been used to avoid
the enemy ; and farther observed, that while the com
bined fleet made Cadiz their post, our fleet should ne
ver touch at Madeira ; and' as to the Spanish admiral
being surprised at meeting with our merchantmen as he
did, it was nothing extraordinary, when a fleet was
fleering north, , to be found a hundred and fifty Leagues
to the weft.
Themotion, as added to by lord Sandwich, was then
put, and agreed to, and the House adjourned to Fri
day.
PHILADELPHIA, March 20.
By the Prize Brig Amelia, arrived here yesterday af
ternoon, we have the important intelligence which
follows, taken from a St. Kitts paper of the 10th of
February, 1781.
From the LONDON GAZETTE extraordina-
GEORGE R.
(L. S.) ^THROUGH the whole course of our reign,
l our conduct towards the States General
of the United Provinces has been that of a sincere friend
and faithful ally. Had they adhered to those wife
principles Which used to govern the republic, they must
have Ihewn themselves equally fodicitous to maintain
the friendfhip which has so long fubfifled between the
two nations, and which is essential to the interests of
both: But from the prevalence of a faDion devoted
to France, and following the dilates of that court, a
very different policy has prevailed. The return made
to our frienifhip for fame time pift, has been an open
contempt of the mod solemn engagements, and a re
peated violation of public faith.
On the commencement of the defenfive war, in which
we found ourselves engaged by the aggression of
France, we shewed a tender regard for the interests of
the States General, and a desire of securing to their
fubjeds every advantage of trade, confident with the
great and just principle of our own defen e. Our am
bassador was intruded to offer a friendly negotiation,
to obviate every thing that might lead to disagreeable
difeuffion; and to this offer, solemnly made by him
to the States General, the 2d of November, 1778, no
attention was raid.
Alter the number of our enemies increased by the
aggression of Spain, equally unprovoked with that of
France, we found it necessary to call upon the States
General for the performance of their engagements. The
fifth article of the perpetual defenfive alliance between
our Crown and th* States General, concluded at West
minster the 3d of March, 1678, besides the general en
gagement for fuc ors, expressly stipulates. “ That
" that party of the two allies that is not attacked Ihall
" be obliged to break with the aggressor in two months
" after (he party attacked shall require it :"— Yet two
y ars have passed, without the least affinance given to
us, without a single syllable in answer, to our repeat
ed demads.
So totally regardless have the States been to their
treaties with us, that they readily Promised our ene
mies to observe a neutrality, in direct contradiction to
ry, Thur'day, December 21, 1780.
MA N I F E S T, O.
those engagements; and whilst they hav' 'withheld from
us the succors they were bound to furnish, every secret
afliHance has. been given the enemy ; and inland duties
have been taken off, for the fo'e purpose of facilitaing
the carriage of naval fiores to France.
In direct and open violation of treaty, they faffered
an American Pirate to remain several weeks in one of
their ports ; and ev^n perml^ed a part of his cre^ to
mount guard in a fdrt in the Texel.
In the Eafl-Indies, the fubjefts of the Stafes-Gene
ral, in concert with France, have endeavoured to raise
up enemies against us.
In the Weft Indies, particularly at St. Euftatius, e~
very proteßion and assist mce has been given to our
rebellious fubiefts. Their privateers are openly re
ceived in the Dutch harbours ; allowed to refit there ;
supplied with arms and ammunition ; their Crews re
cruited ; their prizes brought in and fold,; and all
this in direct violation of as clear and folerco ffipulati*
ons as can be made. ,
This conduct, fg inconffftenf with all good faith, so
repugnant to the sense of the wifefl part of the Dytcb
nation,, is chiefly to be ascribed to the prevalence of
the leading magistrates of Amflerd m, whole ferret
correfpond-nce with our rebellious fubjefls was fuf
peeled, long before it was made known by the fortun
ate difeovery of a treaty, the firft article of which is•
" There ihall be a firm, inviolable and univerfat
peace, and sincere friendship, between 'their High
Mightinesses the estates of the Seven United Provinces
of Holland, and the United States of North-America,
and th& fubjefts and people of the said parties; and
between the countries, islands, c ties, and towns, situ
ated under the jurifdiHion of the said United Stated
of Holland, and the said United States of America, and
the people and inhabitants thereof, of every degree
without exception of persons or places."
This treaty was signed in September: 1778, by the
express order of the penfionary of Amfierdam, and o
ther principal magistrates of that city. They now not
only avow the whole transaction, but glory in it, and
expressly fay, even to the Stakes General, that what
they did “ was what their indispensable duty requi
red."
In the mean time the States General declined to give
any answer to the memorial presented by our ambassa
dor ; and this refufal was aggravated by their proceed
ing upon other bufine s, nay, upon the confideratioa
of this very fubjeft to internal purposes ; and while
they found it importable to approve the conduct of
their fubjetls, tiny still industriously avoided th give
us the fatisfaftioD so manifeftly due.
We had every right to expefl, that such a difeovery
would have roused them to a just indignation, at t h e
insult offered to us and to themselves ; and that they
would have been eager togive us full and ample fatis
faftion for the offence, and to infiiQ the severest pu
niffiment upon the offenders- The urgency ofthe bu
siness made an inffant answer effenti&l -to the honour
and fafety of this country. The demand was accor
dingly pressed by ourambaffador in repeated conferen
ces with the ministers, and in a second memorial: It
was pressed with all earueftnefs which could proceed from
our ancient friendfhip, and the sense of recent injuries;
and the answer now given to a memorial on such a
fubjefl, delivered above five weeks ago, is, That
the States have taken it ad referendum.—
Such an answer, upon such an occasion, could only be
dictated by the fixt purpose of hostility meditated, and
already refolded, by the States, induced by the offen
five councils of Amsterdam thus to countenance the
hostile apgreffion, which the magistrates of that city
have made in the name of the republic.
There is an end of the faith of all treaties with them,
if Amsterdam may usurp the sovereign power, may vi
olate those treaties with impunity, by pledging the
States to engagements direflly contrary, and leaguing'
the republic with the rebels of a sovereign to whom
die is bound by the closest ties. l An infraction of the
law of nations by the meanest member of any country,
gives the injured State a right to demand fatisfaftiou
and punishment ' How much more so, when the in
jury complained of is a flagrant violation of public
faith, committed by leading and predominant mem
bers in the State ? Since then the fatisfadion we have
demanded is not given, We muff, though most reluct
antly, do ourselves that justice which we cannot other
wise obtain : We mufl confider the States General as
p rties in the injury, which they will not repair as
sharers in the aggression which they refufe to punish,
and mus last accordingly. We have therefore ordered
our ambassador to withdraw from the Hague, and thill
immediately pursue such vigorous measures as the oc
casion fully juftifies, and our dignity and the effentiat
interest of our people require.
From a regard to the Dutch nation at large, we with
it were poflible to direct those measures wholly against,
Amsterdam; but this cannot be, unless the dates ge
neral will immediately declare that Amsterdam (hall,
upon this occation, receive no assistance from them, but
be left to abide the consequences of it's aggression.
Whilst Amsterdam is (offered to prevail in the ge
neral councils, and is backed by the strength of the
Bate, it is impossible to resist the aggression of so con
siderable a part, without contending with the whole.
But we are too sensible of the common interests of both
countries not to remember, in the midst of such a con
test, that the only point to be aimed at by us, is to
raise a disposition in the councils of the republic to
return to our ancient union, by giving us that fatis
faftion for the past, and security for the future, which
we shall be as ready to receive as they can be to offer
and to the attainment of which we shall direfl all cur
operations. We mean only to provide for our own
security, by defeating the dangerous designs that have
been formed against us. We shall ever be disposed to
return to friendship with t : e ' tates General, when they
sincerely revert to that system which the wisdom of
their ancestors formed, and which has now been fub
yerted by a powerful fa&ion, conspiring with France
against the true interests of the republic, no lets than
against those of Gre^t-Britain.
St. lonels, December 20, 1730.
G