The New-York packet — New York [N.Y.], 1787-08-17 00:00:00, page 2

EARLY in March 1776, I entered into the ser
vice of my country, as Lieutenant of the brig
Lexington, Captain Barry ; the services on board
which vessel, met the approbation, both of the com
manding officer, and the public, particularly
in saving 270 barrels of powder, from a vessel
run on shore near Cape-May, under the fire
of two frigates ; afterwards blowing her up with a
bout 30 or the British, who had boarded her : I had
the misfortune of being made a prisoner by the
Pearl Frigate, on board which ship, was most cru
ellyjreated, being thrown in the cable t^er, in wet
clothes, without anyfhift in the month of February j
on board this ship, I continued about one ..month,
under the most disagreeable circumstances, until I
made my escape at Cape-Henlopen. On my ar
rival at Philadelphia, was ordered to Baltimore, as
the Lexington had been retaken by the crew; on
board of which was fortunate in regaining my
clothes. As Congress then fat at Baltimore, was de
sired to follow them to Philadelphia (with a number
of prisoners under my charge) in expeffation to
serve on board the Champion Xebeck ; but on my
arrival, took charge of the impress service, under
very disagreeable circumstances, being liable to all
prolecutions ; however was fortunate in manning
the 1 Delaware frigate^ the two xebecks, and other
vefiels. Itook thecoifimandof a field-piece atSwedes-
Ford, and when the British took Philadelphia, went
on board the Delaware frigate at Mud-Bland, the
firft Lieutenant being unwell ; on board of this fri
gate was taken, and. confined in the-gaol of Philadel
phia, twenty in one dungeon^withcut refpeff to per
lons) for eight days ; during which time we receiv
ed no more from the British, than one pound of
Taw beef and two mouldy bufcuits; the water they
gave us to drink, was in a naceffary tub, and that
very dirty; the means of procuring the fame, was
through .the gate of the door, by filling a quart bot
tle from the tub ; of which drinkhnany of us became
veryfick, and had it not been for the great humani
ty of some citizens, who, at great risk, in some
measure supplied us, we must undoubtedly have
perished, as many then under confinement,absolute
ly did through hunger ! After which period of time,
through private felicitations to Gen. Howe, we
were transferred to the State-house ; here we fared
much better, being allowed two thirds allowance,
of which we received about one half, and our
friends were permitted to vilit us, until some officers
expecting their parole, and to ingratiate themselves,
informed the officers of the guard, that some letters
were privately delivered .to some of the prisoners.; on
this information, the ladies were immediately
turned down flairs by the Serjeant; & those perlons
alluded to, were heard to fay, d —n the b h-s,
they deferred to be kicked dodm, for which those
officers were formally forbid the room of the navy
officers. After continuing fomefew days in this situ
ation, a plot was agreed pn, that might have been
carried into execution, which was, on private infor
mation, that most of the troops of Philadelphia, con
fißing of the grenadiers, (the main body being at
Germantown), were to go down on a ferret expe
dition ; we had concluded to get the guards drunk,
relieve the prisoners in the gaol, (we being ourselves
feventy-five officers in number) proceed to Corn
wallis’s quarters, of whom we had secret intelli
gence, and take our rout over the Middle-Ferry at
Schuylkill, where was a guard only of twenty men ;
we officers of rhe navy, forfeiting our honors to se
cure the retreat : matters thus agreed on, I
consented to pal's, and reconnoitre the guards ; ac
cordingly at eleven at night, took a water-pot in
my hand, palled all theguards (who were in theiitu
ation we could with them) went out of the doors into
the street to the pump, filled my jar with water, and
returned iii the fame manner, the guards every one
asleep. I must acknowledge the temptation great,
when I found myfelf alone in the street ; but the'
hopes of being in some measure, of great
service to my country, 'bore down ail private views;
on my return, informed the rest of my success and
observations, and with some others, urged the ne
cessity of ®ur immediately prosecuting our plans,
without delaying the time; some who were to be the
leaders going to bed, difeouraged others, while a
few, among whom was a Major Darck, of Virgi
nia, were prepared for the purpose ; the guard un
luckily were awaked by the relief, thus were our
measures fruftrated by the backwardness of a few : I
then solemnly declared, I would attempt my escape
at any rate, let the consequence be what it might to
the rest ; accordingly, about three nights afterwards,
before the guards had got their lights, J saw most
of the prisoners engaged at cards, I ffpped unobserv
ed out of the room, the door doling behind me,
(as I was particularly watched) with my (hoes off,
dole behind the centry, and got up stairs where the
clock was fixed, the spindle of which to the dials,
I carefully'traced to the case for the weights, which
being neglected, had run down. I let myfelf down,
and in two minutes was in the State-house yard (a
pannel being broke out of the bottom of the case)
although it was dark, was difeovered by the
walking centry, who followed me to the neces
sary, which I entered, and immediately got
through the window, and on my hands and knees
crawled to the ditch of the wall, over which I got:
being then in ifiy uniform, I proceeded to a Qua
ker’s house, who had frequently proffered me friend
fhip, in order to change my clothes, but could gain
no admittance, unless I could lay concealed on the
foof of the house: I then proceeded to Captain Har
ris’s, where 1 was well received, and lodged in the
cellar under the woods for two nights and a day,
where I disguised. myfelf until I could’devife a me
thod of getting out of the city. On the lecond morn
ing disguised like a porter, with a bag on my shoul
der as if going for potatoes, passed their lines, and
got toGlofter Point about two miles below the city,
where I swam one mile and a quarter to League
island, in the time of year when the water was fro
zen on the meadows ; after which I was obliged to
walk near three miles without hat, coat or shoes,
before I could get on board any boat to take me
to the fleet at Mud-island. Atlength, I got on board
the brig Andra Doria, where I was supplied with
a jacket and trowfers, &c. for which, in the settle
ment of my account, they have charged me five
pounds, equal to hard caffi. Here I commanded
the gun-boat, and was in every' affion for near five
weeks, either on board the floating batteries or the
gallies, particularly in the last affion at Mud-
At the particular request of an American Navy
OfFiCERm the late war, the following narrative
is published—the cortclufion of which will (hew
the intention of its publication.
TheDey ofAlgiers has demanded of theNeapolitan
Ambassador, for the release of the unhappy natives
of that country whs are at present held in slavery
by those insolent murderers, the enormous sum of
550 sequins for every lailor, and 600 for every soldi
er, excluiive of the expences pretended to have been
incurred by the proprietors of such Raves.
The price of insurance on ships and merchandize
bound to the Mediterranean, is lately raised, on ac
count of the expectation of hostilities between Rus
sia and the Ottoman Porte, il. 10. per cent. The
insurance on American fhipsand property, bound to
the Mediterranean, is 101. per cent, and that on the
island ; the firft Lieutenant of the floating battery
being under arrest, I was ordered on board to taxe
the command of the gun-deck, when we ay ex
posed to the fire of three two deckers, and the Vi
gilent floating battery, for three hours within mus
ket shot ; when night put an end to the affion, and
wc towed on flxore, with twenty-eight 24 pounders
below water, and the spar deck (hot entirely away ;
during the aiftion, we had three rein ci cements.
While commandingjthe gun-boat,l cut away' at mg
at two different times, the buoys laid out at the
expence of many of their lives, in order to, warp
up their floating battery, on which their whoie de
pendence lay, in the reduffion of Mud-island.; this
greatly protraffed the liege. On out evacuation x>t
the forts and the destroying of our fleets, was the
only boat that arrived fafe at Bordentown, loaded
with powder, the remainder were drove on shore
in palling the city, by the very severe fire from the
enemy. Our ftiips on fire making it as light as
day, the gallies luckily’ escaped the night before.
(To be continued in our next.)
DUBLIN, May T.
Although the temper of the times was against a
difeuffion of the great question of tythes, brought
forward by Mr. Grattan, it is to be hoped that gen
tleman will not relinquish the idea. It is not one
of these queftioas whole rejection may be overlook
ed with cool indifference; not the offspring of busy
(peculation, or the child of party. There is no clals
of men in Ireland unaffeefted by it, from the peer
to the peasant from the most exalted to the most
inferior rank. Tythes, if exaffed in their full
extent, are universally admitted to be grievances—
and the very fame identical laws that fanffion the
cclleffion of one fifth, will apply equally forcibly
to the recovery of the one tenth. Who then will
fay, that some modification of the tythe laws is not
neceflary ? That at the fame time an honorable
maintenance fiiould be provided for the clergy,
‘ thus far you fliall go, and no farther ?’
The tragedy of Douglas was represented on
Wedncfday night last, at lady Ely’s theatre: —
Douglas by' Lord Henry Fitzgerald, and lady Ran
dolph by Mrs. Trant of the performance of both
which charaifters fame speaks in .the highest strain
of panegyric.
Such is the rage of private plays, that it is an
absolute faift, that at the representation of Douglas,
a few nights fmee, at the theatre in Ely' place, a cer
tain General performed the ebaraefter of a footman,
and a lady' A. that of a waiting maid. Thus we
find the most elevated in rank are so amiable in
disposition as to condescend to exhibit themselves in
the most menial stations — -for their^leafure^,
May 2.2'
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FOREIGN ADFICES.
A letter from Antwerp fays, that the Emperor
has ordered the fortifications of that town to be sur
veyed, and two new batteries to be ereffed at the
entrance of the harbour. The letter fays, that from
many circumstances, they have yet reason to think
that the Emperor has an intention to make that a
free port.
It is currently reported at Barcelona, that the Dey
0^ Algiers has declared war against the Emperor of
Morocco ; and that one of his cruizers has lately
taken a bailee rover, after an obstinate resistance, and
brought her into Algiers. It further fays, the Cap
tain and crew were treated in a very cruel manner,
because they did not strike immediately after the
Algerine Captain commanded them.
There has for some years a melancholy %ut true
observation been made, that a general coldness or
indifference For religion, is rapidly pervading this
kingdom; in order to remedy, ifpoffible, this evil,
and stern the torrent of infidelity, a society we hear
is forming to promote a kind of miflion throughout
the island, by' feleifting a number of preachers of
great fanffity and elocution, who shall by their, ta
lents and good example, endeavour to rouse the
nation to a sense of religion. Some Calvinist divines
and a few of the eftablilbed church are at the head
of this prbjeift. In one point, however, they are
not entirely’ of opinion ; the firft think that it would
be best to import a few young men of talents from
Great-Britain for this purpose, as the charm of no
velty might assist the undertaking, while on the
other hand it is alledged, that there are enough
young men of talents to be found in Ireland, who
if their liv.es were consonant to their doiftrine, would
have a greater weight than strangers.
The following parody' was written with a dia
mond upon the pane of one of the inn windows be
tween Dublin and Cavan ; —however, the author
has left us at a loss for the charaifters :
“ Three scoundrels —in three diff ’rentcountiesborn;
“ Of Dublin—Meath—and Cavan were the scorn;
“ The firft in every villainy furpafs’d,
“ The next in pilfering,—in both the last;
“ The force ofknav’ry cou’d no further go,
“To make a third —she joined the former too.”
By a gentleman arrived here, two days ago, from
London, we learn, that an expedient has at last been
found to keep Lord George Gordon within the
bounds of moderation ; it has been difeovered, that
his Lordlhip does not, amidst his many virtues, pof
feli a urmneft of nerve, fufficient to prevent him
being almofi frightened to death, at any man who
threatens him with manual correffion ; his friends,
therefore, when they want to bring him off from
any of his visionary projeffs, employ a confidenti
al person, who they lay is a countryman of ours, to
wait upon him, and lignify his disapprobation,
which admonition, is accompanied by the monitor's
laying his hand upon his sword, or brandiffiing a
cudgel. This method has always the desired effeff.
L O N D O N, May 18.
Mention is made, that Capt. Sydney Smith has
lately had an audience of leave of his Majesty, pre
vious to his departure on a voyage, for the purpose
of making an effeiftual experiment of a new pump,
which the Captain has had the merit of inventing.
The conftrucftion of this pump is such, that it is
worked, in common, by the Ihip’s motion alone.
In distress of w’eather, when every hand on board is
wanted for other employment, the labour of two
men will supply that of thirty i*? the ordinary way.
T. he efficacy or this pump, it is laid, has already
been proved on a coasting voyage, and found fully
to answer expeeftation, to the great joy of the sailors,
and entire fatisfaeftion of the officers then on board.
Since the month of November last, the French
have lent no fewer than 2,600 recruits, and near rco
officers, in Dutch bottoms, to the Cape and to the
island of Mauritius, and they have reinforced their
fleet in India with one fifty gun and three frigates,
which all failed fmgly, the better to elude observa
tion. These additions to tne French force in India,
joined to the known superiority of the Dutch navy
in those seas, must make every man that feels the
value of our oriental poffeflious, tremble for the
consequences.
His Most Christian Majesty has issued an arrety
that no person shall be promoted in the navy, but by
the regular routine.
Portuguese property 61. per cent, on aeconnt tfiaf
the latter has a squadron in the Mediterranean to
proteeft trade, and the Americans none.
House of Commons, May 15.
Sir Adam Ferguson begged to call the attention of
the House to a matter of very great distress. He
laid several merchants had sent goods out to supply
the British army at New-York, in America; that
these goods, which were in a merchant ship, had
been taken by an American privateer, and recap
tured from the Americans. 7'his had been the ruin
of several most reputable merchants. Ik acknow
ledged that this trade had been carried on, contra
ry to the letter of an aeft of Parliament. But, he
said, it was reilly necessary for the comfortable sub
sistence of the army-; or, perhaps, to their exist
ence at ail. It was therefore overlooked and those
merchants, had they not -thought themselves per
feiftly secure, would-never have ventured to engage
in a trade of this fort. He said, although the^fhip
had been taken by an American privateer, this
would have been noground for them to have appli
ed te that House for redress ; but the goods in this
case were recaptured from the Americans, and,
dieiefoie, the proprietors ought to receive an in
demnification. What he moved for Was that a
committee ffiould be appointed to enquire into the
faffs-of this case, and he hoped it would be found,
that the claim -of these petitioners was just and
equitable.
BOSTON, AuguJlZ.
7he great progress which is making towards the
completion of the bridge, now building across My
ftick-river, is really surprising, and /hews, that no
undertaking is to be defeated or neglected by A
mericans, from an apprehension that its stupendous
dimensions are greater than can be encircled. Al
ready, we are allured, near two thirds of the piers
are lunken, and that the work will be completed bv
the beginning of November next.
T he happy State of Connecticut has hitherto been
unrivalled an the charms of poetry, and the magic
of verse ; but to the everlasting honor of Massachu
setts, a neighbouring •village bids fair to wrest the
laurel from that harmonious climate, and cultivate
it with the most brilliant fucoefs on the claflic banks
of the Charles. • Two elegant Jpecimens have been
offered to the public, in two late papers, These
The following narration appeared in last Satur
day’s Cornwall Chronicle: “This day failed from
Savanna-la-Mar, the Hoop Cygnet, Eliflia Hinman,
Commander, with whom went passenger, a mulat
to woman named Jenny Campbell; the tale of
whofe^ lufferings has for a long time engaged the
attention of the public in this quarter. —She was a'
few days ago brought to trial by her mafler and mis
tress, for having struck the latter about Jix years
ago, for. having robbed her of some trinkets, and
for naving fled from her prilon. On hearing the
evidence, a humane jury released the woman from
her apprehensions, by baniffiing her from her coun
tiy, her friends and children. Several gentlemen
of refpeffabiiity in the pariffies of Weftmoreland
and^Hanover, immediately fubferibed towards pur
chasing her freedom, which was done; herpaffage
was paid for, a small sum was given her for imme
diate support, and letters sent to secure her a re
ception fuirable to her station A most unequi
vocal proof of their sense of the treatment ffie had
met with; a most honorable testimony of their va
lue for the rights of human kmd.”
The Chancellor of the Exchequer said these mer
chants, like-many others, had-carried on an illicit
trade, direffly contrary to an ass of Parliament.
Others had been fuccefsful in it, and because they
had not, they now come and apply to this House, to
supply the loss they had sustained, by adventuring
in trade which was illegal, and which they knew to
be illegal. He said, he ffiould therefore direffly
oppose this application. 7
Aiderman Watson gave a very diftinff account
of the manner in which this trade was conduffed ;
‘i^d laid, although it was contrary to an express ass
of I'aiiiament, yet, from a proclamation made by
Sit William Howe, the then Commander in Chief,
the trade w’as not at all conceived to be illicit. He
laid, in this case the goods had been recovered, and
therefore the proprietors nad a just claim to repa
ration. 1
KINGS 1 O N, June 20.
An ordinance has been issued through the king
dom of Hungary, allowing liberty to the Jews to
exercise the profeffion of agriculture, and to be al
lowed taking ChruLans into their service, to learn
from them the art of cultivation.
Mr. King the comedian, who was in the gallery
of the House of Commons, when Mr. Sheridan de
livered his celebrated speech, observed, “ That, if
Mrs. Siddons had been prefect to perform the part
of the Bhow Begum, it would have been the most
perfeff piece of affing in the world.” A Grecian
orator, or a Roman senator, would have blushed at
such applause. It was on a similar occasion that
Phocion turned round to his friends and alksd
“ what error have 1 committed ?”
UNITED STATES.
fdgerly forwarded ta
Philadelphia by a correspondent of the editor of this
American Museum, to enrich that pleasing reposi
tory with such inejtimable produffions. We con
gratulate our readers on this new emanation from
the “ Phoenix,'’ and indulge the agreeable hope that
the revival of letters will keep pace with the rapid
renewal of that modern Athens.
Maflachuietts-Bank. August 7, 1787.
Four Hundred Dollars Reward,
Win be paid by thePrefident andDireffors of the
Massachusetts hank, to any person or persons who
shall apprehend and secure, so that he may be
brought to justice, Lieut. Col. Farringtou, charged
on the oaths of Robert Davis, Esq. John May,
Esq. Mr. William Smith, and Mr. Jeremiah Wil
liams, of forging and counterfeiting their several
names, as promifers and indorfers of sundry pro
mifory notes, which were by said Joffina Farring
ton, presented for difeount at the Maflachufetts
bank. The said Joshua Farrington has for many
years past kept a large Weft-India ftoreat the south
part of the town of Boston ; is about 38 years old ;
a Imall thin man, of about five feet seven inches
high, wears his own Lair, which is black, turning
grey, short at the fiftes, and beaver’d on the fore
head, with a ffior’t queue behind ; low broad fore
head, along nose, large dark eyes, thin vilage, very
dark complexion, and somewhat pitted with the
small pox; has a fear on the left cheek, occasioned
by an ulcer tooth, and is somewhat round ffioulder
ed. He abfeonded from joofton on Saturday morn
ing, the fourth instant.
New-York, August 17.
We are informed, that the Honorable Henry
al rens, Esq. of South-Carolina, with a liberali
ty habitual to his great and good mind, hath pre
lented,^ through the Lands of Samuel Vaughan,
Pounds sterling, to the -dmericart
Iyilofophical Society, to assist them in carrying on,
tne budding they have undertaken in Philadelphia.
VVe learn oy the Mediator, Capt. Brougham, just
a> 1 ived at Philadephia from Cadiz, that there "were
three stout Algerine cruizers in that port repairing
and fitting for sea at the King of Spain’s expence,
and that they were expeffed to fail about the latter
end of July, to cruize in the western ocean.
Ihe I ai Lament of Pans has just issued out new
letters-patent against the employment of prepara
tions of lead for 'the correffion and purification of
bad wmes. Thole persons in America, who-drink
or intend to drink the wines of France, would do
well to imitate the natives of that country in the
use of coffee immediately afterwards. This berry
fortifies the stomach against the deleterious quali
ties of adulterated wines.
Dn the Bth inst. at Aloany, the Honorable tie
Supreme Court of Judicature of this State adjourn
ed ; having previously appointed the circuits to be
held as follows, viz.
County of Montgomery, atjhe Court-house, the
i6th inst.
Washington, at the house of Ariel Sherwood, Esq.
at Fort Edward, the 28th inst.
King’s, at the Court-house, the 27th inst.
Suffolk, at the Court-house, 4th Senteqaber.
City and county of Albany, at the City-hall of
the city of Albany, 25th September.
We think it neceffiry thus timely to remind our
readers, that on the 16th of October last, Con-rest
resolved, “That no foreign copper coin whatsoever
shall, after the firft of September, 1787, be current
within the United States: And that'r.o copper coin
struck under the authority of a particular State, fliall
pats at a greater value than t one federal dollar for
two pounds and one quarter of a pound avoirdupoig
weight of such copper coin.”
, A late letter from Ireland, contains the pleasing
intelligence that every thing was quiet and peicea
ble in that kingdom at the date of this communica
t‘on‘ A ven the White Boys in the southern parts of
the island, whole abominable riots and cruel
Keeffes had spread an alarm all over the British do
minions m Europe, were reposing in the bosom of
profound tranquility; which happy change for the
better is principally ascribed to General Lord Lut
trell s diftmguifhed humanity and prudent conduff,
when he commanded' the army emuloyed to
reduce those deluded insurgents to obedience; and
it is infinitely to the honor of his Lordffiip, that he
appeased the dangerous tumults which degraded
his country, without blood-fficd.
The genealogy of a duellift.—His father Foil begot
him on Miss Petulent. He was nursed by Dame
touch me-not, and tutored by that pedagogue False
Honor. From him he has received the principles
of an idolater, whose religion, consists inhuman
iaci ifices on the altar of Vanity. Its chief tenet is,
“ facrifice your friend rather than lose your conse
quence.”
1 he thieves who lately broke open the store of
Stephen Hooper, Esq. of Newbury-Port, were ap
prehended at Old-York, and proved to be three ne
groes, who came in there in a boat with fe'veralfwi
vels, and said they came fromNova-Scotia. One of
them, a very stout, strong made fellow, pretending
he was lame, the Sheriff took them on board a large
decked boat to proceed to Newbury-Port ; but the
wind being contrary, they ?put into Portsmouth,
from whence they proceeded by land with two of
them, leaving the one who pretended lameness on
board the boat under the care of Captain Low, of
York, who had only a woman and a boy on board,
behdes the negro, who was handcuffed—On Thurs
day night, the 9th inst. about four or five miles from
Newbury-Bar, the negro caught up an ax and
aimed a blow at Captain Low, who evaded it, and
took up a hatchet ; with it he kept the negro off for
lome time but the negro swearing that the veffei
was his—that he would kill them all if they were
thrice as strong—that he would neither give nor
take quarter, and that ha never would be carried
alive into Newbury-Port -Captain Low finding
he must cither kill him or submit to be murdered by
him, called for his gun, and presenting it at the
fellow s breast, again offered him quarter, but he
still perilling in his threats, with the ax raised over
his head, the Captain fired and killed him on the
spot—previous to this they had several feuffles, i n
which the Captain received some flight wounds and
bruises. Captain Low on coming into Newbury-
Port, immediately informed of what had happened ;
upon which a Jury of Inquest wasfummoned, whose
verduft was, Juftifiable Homicide, and Capt. Low
was accordingly dismissed.