The New York packet, and the American advertiser — New York [N.Y.], 1776-04-25 00:00:00, page 2

L ONDO N, fanuary,.
LETTERS from Rome bring an account of
the death of Cardinal Vorfy whohad been
in a decline tor three months before he died,
which happened the 26th of O&Qber,latf. The
letter adds, that it was thought the disappoint
ment he met with in not being- chofep. Pope,
tied brought on his disorder.
January 9. The prisoners brought from A
merica, and now in Cornwall, were taken by a
small partyef Indians inhabiting the back fettle
merits of New-York; two of their Chiefs are
row in town, and lodge in Lad-lane, with seve
ral other American Gentlemen lately come over
with Col. Johnson ; the Chiefs are come with
an offer of their services to government.
Extr&Sl of a letter from PortfaQut/j, Jan. 6.
",This morning arrived the Tartar man. of
war from, Boston, After a fine passage of 2% days,
having 6fi board 73 rebels of the American ar
my, which were taken by a privateer the Ame
,ic@s. had fitted out at Boston. She brought
souse fr,h difpafches, whi^h whre sent up to the
Secretary of'Scitc's office on Saturday night.""''
A Commodore.witli fix line bf &ttttedhips -
and eight frigates, Wilt fail, *we arc fold, to 'A-•
- merica, the begiriniiYg'rif March next; the a
bove;fhips ^re toyakeon board their fall comple
ment of marines, and are 'to be ladqt {s deep ai,
polhhle with provisions,, &c.^ _
The Council,-* is said, ismuch agitated with
contrary opinions since. General Burgoyne's ar
rival froth softnh; some, 'we aithold; : 'are for
conciliatory-rheafures. ~ '^.f^. ~ .Y,
By a letter from Rochfort, weweiffured 13
frigates are fitting out at that portonlyffo^their"
Aifterican Settlements; each of which is to carry 1
overhand forces. : : < ;y
We are well allured that the following^ a lift
of the forces government propose to have in A
mcrica in the fpriug: # ^ ^:
Foreign troops for America.
Ffeffians - - - • . *-1200b
Brunfwickers - - - - ^ 4000'
'From Hanau ----- - fyo
"Waldeck - - 500-
17003 *W
British troops.
Go with General Cornwallis 4000'
More to be sent in spring - 4000
At Boston, including marines 8000
Total 33000
Press warrants are sent out to Admiral Graves
to press all American seamen./
Press warrants are expected to be issued out
soon, as the Captains of all the outward bound
ships have been very felicitous to procure pro
tections. '' "
Orders have beenTefft so Plymouth for alt,,
the guard (hips therri to' like on'boardtheir full
complement of inert,'; as in time of war." L
Orders have been fent'to all the put-ports, to
be very cautious and Itridt in* examining all peb
sons, vessels, &c/7hat may be judged the lead
fufoicious.l
Orders are given for a quantity of beef and
pork, fufficient for ten fhip^of the line for fix
months, to.be got yeady as soon a§ possible;
.We,ear from Dublin, that the discontents of
the ^people, .tye'b,^j lately.conlider^bly jh-._
chafed,by the, appQqfyenty given to Mr. Jen-!
kmion, Welbore E^, and Lord Ckre, wham
the lrhh hold in a.v.ery rf (;ontemptible light.; the'
coffee houses in Dublin abound with the most
virulent abuse again, those minifteriaLtayour
ites, for attempting to get ^n increase of salary
ts,odices which are mere sinecures, and a. bur
then to the nation ; nay, the Irish gentlemen, in
the interest, of the crown, think tliemfelves ill
used by having such appointments heftowed on
Jenkinfon and Ellis, who are Grangers to the
country,, and consequently no ways interested,
in its prosperity, farther than it-may answer the
particular views of their patron.t
A compa& is.lately signed between our court
and that of three northern powers, by whjcti
they have stipulated to furnifhGreat Britain, be
tween them with 60,000 troops, the better to
enable the latter to carry on the continental war.
Several transports are brought up to the Tower
in order to take in cannon, balls, and other war
like fores, for Bolton ; which transports are to
be convoyed by fix men of war, to prevent their
being taken by the Provincials.
A final! veflel will be dispatched toAmerica
this week, with orders for all the transports:
that, hare delivered their cargoes a- Bofen, &c. ,
to. leave that place immediately^ .and.return to,;
England vvrith alb expedition, ^.bn,^ so;., ;
Monday a. ; brig from Quebec arrived at Rortf-f
mouthy ..Shearings an accom^t pf. th^Proyin
dials having taken Montreal. fc
"Some distinguished members of the ,minority
have, iris confidently said, beefl offered to have
their name's- infertedrin the commiffiori .Appoints
ing delegates to; pardon the Americahi colonies,-
which federal of themhave accepted.,?; t Azo
A' correspondent fays;, that pfemiumsrof ih-7
Durance, especially to the weftward^ar^ as high
mow as at anytime ifra-French or. Spanish war.
A coniidrirabie general repair ofall the fortiori
fication^ in France on thedrontiers of Germany,
is Mow going on, particularly irt Alfaee , which
tocks fe-iftheCourt of Verfailleshad apprehen,a
fiori of an attack iu that quarter.....)..
_%== ■ ——¥ —*—— ../.-, ; r ---. ■— *
SAV A N NAH, .{Georgia) Feb. >
The petition from the Congfefs of this pro
vince to the King, Was preferftedito his Mafefty
by Governor .Johnfone, on the-3d of Ndvem
berl'aft?
Friday daft our Provincial Congress proceed
ed- to the election of Delegates to represent thi^
province in the Grand Continental Congress,
when, on doling the poll, it appeared, that
Archibald Bullock, John Houftoun, Lyman
Hall, Button Gwinhet. and' George Walton,'.
Enquires, were duln elected, ' and declared dele
gates accordingly, f,
Feb. 14. Friday lad arrived A large transport
with soldiers tpxh Bpfon, , ' -'
F,J. 2 i. The /hip which arrived at Cockfpur,
on Monday the 12th inftarit, proves to be a
transport from Bolton with more soldiers.
* On the 12th instant, our Governor and his
family took thrimfelves on board the Scarbo
rough, from which he has wrote a letter, to en
deavour to persuade us to let the officers, Lately
arrived in ouf river, land in this town, and ' de
claring the fleet only want water and frefli pro
vitions? which they will pay for, /With, .a great
deal ot fluff.to kill the people allrep. _ ..
The following is a copy of his Ex-celleticv die -
Governor's tetter, which was read on? Friday
lad at a meeting of the -inhabitants* ot the "
town and diftrkl of SavunwiW .7-
*^;ty his- MajeftyV services ^' ' '-
To the Hott.'James Mackav, Esq; andthe rest
of the members of hi& Majeffy'fCouhcil,at'
Savannah'."* " ? "D'l„'
') 'ff D^ bq^dhis M&fiy'sJW Scarbprougb,.
at Cockfpur, February 13, 1776. ^j
" Hono^^bl^ Geqrieipen,.
;f.Afte^-ujtyqg in) 6elj endeavours for up
wards of three weeks, so prevalLon? those id'
whole hand's the present ruling powers are, that
the 'Commanders bfhis Majefty'sdrips here
might obtain affiirances that they might come
to town and have a tree, int^rcourfe With me,
without receiving any insult from the people "'
aflembled ih and about town,'alfo that the king's
ships might be lupplied with provisions, oh'pay-'
ing the full price or value of it'; and finding
that the last message relative to these matters,
which I desired the representatives of the town
of Savannah to deliver to the perlons etefeifing*
those powers, was so lightly treated and to little
regarded, as that, although delivered on Tuef
'day morning, the '6th indane yet I received no .
answer to it for five days; nor. did I understand
whether it was meanfto give anyanfwet or not;
and well knowing it was essential to his Majesty's
service, and the welfare of this province, that I*,
should have an interview with the King's officers
here ; for these reasons, and many others which
you were made acquainted with, khd approved
of, I determined, at all events, to attempt com
ing down here, where I arrived fafe at three o'-'
clock.yefterday mornings And after having ex-‘
amjped, and duly weighed and donfidered my."
feyeral letters from England, and General Howe"'
at.Bofon, and. after having had a fulfconverfa-'
tion with his Majesty's officers here, I have the
great fatisfadtion to be able to 'Affirm, from the
belt authority, 'thrift the Tofcci'h&w~here will
not chffiait ahy-hoftiliries^againfUhis province,
although; fully sufficient to reduce and overcome
every oppofifioh that could be attempted to be
niade;''and that hot^in^'is ' meant or; Wanted,
but a friendly, intefc@Vfe, ~and a ' fup'ply offrefh
provisions. This may "be entirely relied upon;'
.this his Mhjety & §"6flk&tVtiaVe "ati' 'tifidbufc^
right to expert, ^rid.whxt they mlift Upon ; arid"
this I not only now folemfy require ih his 'Ma+
jefty¥ name,: but aifo,: as^pTobably) the best?
friend* fhe.pebple orGrorgtedtaVe, 'Advife them^
-withourthedealt h^t^ibiire ^^l,^^?
itmaF not b^iniinffwcr wSnfirte. them the
contiiroatiteofthri peace andqwieedde they ifoty
hast; -'ifit may bellied fad xbberod^ ^ # *: A
.^ His majesty has'beenigraioutty pleufed to
grant me leave to return toLhigl&rrcl, and (what
ever may be thought, my regard for the pfo*- :
virice; and people is such, that I cannot avoid-'
(and possibly for the l.dt time) exhorting the
people to save themselves and posterity from
that total ruin and deftruftion which (although
they may not yet) I mail clearly 'fee it at the
threfholdof their doors ; mid I cannot leave them
without again warning them in the mod earnelt
and friendly mannety to/detift from their pre
fer* plans and resolutions; it is dill intheir pow
er, and if they will enable me to do it, I will, as
far as I can; engage to give, and endeavour to
obtain for them, tull pardon and forgivenefs for
all past crimes and offences; and this I conjure
ithem to consider well, arid indif seriously of, be
fore it is toofate; but-letrhings happen as they
,may, be it remembered, that I, this day, in the
King's .name, offer the people of Georgia the
olive branch, that most derivable object, and in
estimable blessing, the return 'of peace and hap
piness to them and their posterity.
" .Captain. Barclay has defire^,. me to notify,
ithat lie is willing and ready to give every assist
ance in his' bower to \lid Captains" of" all fitch
I merchant ships ^iffify ib&lemdly cleared out, to
.enable Sherri to proceed on their refpe&ive voy
iag^F-l'^m^lfo^CTtqti^^ you that ' thetie
• teittion CTf*he ftfepe dhiday orSaate&y
lafl, prpfceded-ch^ front; ^foiftakcsy the
1 officer who (conimaricled the armed' (loop, arid
that if the"6wner prill fend 'down, the fch'&mer
will not o,lf be delivered up, btit apy reafoh
able price paid* for the daniaged rice that Was
; on board (part"qf 'which had been uted to feed
hogs and poultry, or they 'may take it awriy h
gain. "I am also to mention that the fame anh
ecl sloop will be sent up to-morrow to Four-
Mile-Pdinrfin 'of&rtb get frhffi water, and for
no other purpose. ' ' • :
" This letter, which I confider as of the ut
most importance to the wlhife'people of Georgia,
, I must desire you will be pleased to communi-'
cate to the Congress,- if' fitting, and if not, to
those who are called the Council of Safety, and
especially to the.in habitants of the town and
province in general, and acquaint them that I
shall expert th^irfull and clear answer to every
• part of it in a reafonhble time. J am, with per
feft esteem, Gentlemen, your mod obedient and
faithful servant,
I. FLr JAMES WRIGHT."
<*-March 4, 1776.
THE intimate connection between this and
your province, in.a-particular manned renders
* it necessary to acquaint you with the occurren
ces. in the-forrner, since the date of our last ; to
which, and the dispatches -preceding, we refer
you. '
Our dispositions in the evening of the 2d,
were such as appeared to our officers the most
likely to prevent the landing of our enemy;
and so as; if they fliould make their landing
good, either above or below the town, to pre
vent their getting in; however, notwithstand
ing our vigilance, they, by collusion with the
.masters and other, pn board the merchant Whip
ping, which hawled near the Chore of Hutchin
fori', i&ind in jhe night time, got on board
these Chips, about four o'clock yesterday morn
ing ; to the number; as far as. we are competent
to judge.:from the obfervatioris.we made, and
the intelligence we received; of between two
and ttirfthundred, where they affefyd to con
ceal, fheinfelves.' -"
We. had 0^ fears refpe&ng these shipping,
and therefore kept a good watch upon them ;
but it was impossible for centinels, on this ihore,
to descry them in boarding from the other, the
veflels being betwixt.
Capt. Rice, who commanded a boat ofobfer
;vation, was fcnt. on board the Dipping about 9
o'clock, to order the rigging on shore, and was,
without any noise, or the smallest knowledge of
us, kidnapped. This we did not know, till a
bout half an hour afterwards: Two sailors, un
der pretence of coming on shore for cloaths,
gave information of the troops being bn board
the shipping, and of Rice's being taken ; about
three hundred men were then immediately
marched to Yamacraw, opposite the flapping,
with three four-pounders, and threw up a bread
work. The armed schooner Hinchinbrook, of
'—-— ^PC- with a number of men on board,
which with others, went up the Back river, in
the afternoon of the day preceding, about this
time set fail down the South River, with intent,
no doubt, of covering the landing of the troops,
from on board the merchant shipping: But be
ing continually fired at, by two companies of
rifle-men who were placed ih ambuscade, she
was obliged to come very slowly, and often came
too, and returned a very smart fire at every place
where the riflehUen fired from; until the tide
/was fpcnt, and fhe.could not get down. During
• the course of their firing, only one of our men
, got wounded, and that Rightly in the thigh 1 ;
but on board, several were seen to fall.
Tn the,town we had exhibited a still more in
tererting scene, we found the officers and men
clamorous, about the capture and detention of
Rice; and two Gentlemen; Lieutenant Daniel
Roberts, of the St. John's Rangers, and Mr.
Raymond I Demere of St. Andrew's parifb, soli
cited and were permitted, to go on board, to
demand a ; furrehder of Rice and his people.*
They accordingly diverted themselves of arms,
and were rowed by a negro on board the veflel,
in which were Capt. Barclay the Commodore,
and Major Grant; and these officers, contrary
to all the principles which cement society, and
govern mankind, immediately arrerted our de
puties, arid yet detain them as prisoners. We
waited with anxious expectation for near half an
hour,when we demanded our deputies; by the
help of a trumpet, without getting any other
but infultiriganfivers ; whereupon we fired two
four pounders directly int® them, and then
) F^ b *#. The Cherokee, the two transports
from ,Bolton, a sloop and three small vcflels, are
now lying at anchor within three miles of this
town. . „>F
Besides the militia of the town arid fliftria of
Savannah, there are* a number of companies
from the country now in this place. - " '"' :<
■ae^A! —- "~D.
C HARLR'S - T OWN, Fib. 16.'
We hear trom Georgia, that the Scarborough
man of war, of go .guns, lately arrived in Sa
vannah river, With *a prize fchoorier, having
400'Q lb. of gunpowder on board. Probablythe
Scarborough qyas' the ship that was * fecn off
Geotge-towp bar, about a fortnight since, and
which took -he pilot-boat meritioried.m.our last.
. The toMo'wirig'is the belt account we have
been able to obtain of the Georgia squadron :
Syren, Capf.rurnehuxf-aS guns; Scarborough,
Capt". Barclay, 20 ; Tamar, Capr. Thorn
trough, 48 f Raven, Capt. Stanhope, 18; Che.
[okee, Capt. Ferguson, 10; with some armed
fchboriers and tenders. ^ &m- ',
I March. 8. Ori Sunday a detachment of 120
men of the Charleftown volunteer companies,
let but for Srivanriah. % *.: # ~ ; *
, On the 24th of last month, the Provincial
Congress appointed the following Gentlemen
to be. Delegates- to represent thib province in the
Continental ' fyngrtfs viz. John Rutledge^
Thomas Lynch,. Edward Rutledge, Arthur
Middleton,;, and Thomas Heyward, junior,^
Esquires,. - ?:
We hear from Savannah, that two armed
schooners and a sloop had got above yhe tqwn,
through Back River, arid had taken 3 brig.and
a fchowner lying there ; that the Syren was
arrived in the river ; and that some more large
vessels were in.the offing: That the troops, fajd
to be about § or 600, were in transports near
the town :~That it was expended they would at
tempt to land, to prevent which, upwards of
loop Georgia and Carolina militia-men were in
Savannah ; and that there is too great reason
to fear there will be much blood shed.
Thetroops are said to be the 40th regiment,
and a detachment of marines : Majors Grant,
and Maitland are amongthem, also Captain Pit
cairn. , .
Copy of a letter just received by express from
''Georgia.
In the Council of Safety, Savannah,-. ,
BOLTING CLOTHS.
AND
, Few CASKS.., NAILS, /
To be Sold byJos iah Shipfey, at Mr. Ifaae
Roosevelt's, near Peck's Slip,;
TO B^ ^
I''At Private Sale,
A FARM, ^maiwmg one hundred and
I Freight acres Poland, lying in Neele,
towri, and about j-Jths of a mile from Mr, An
nan's mbetirigToufe. There is about goacres,
upland, cleared, &c. about 16 acres of meadow,
i n g o °o knghfh grass. I here is on it, a young
orchard, of about 60 or ;o apple trees, and sun
dry peach trees; all, a .good Englilh barn and
hay house, with a log dwelling-house. It is a
bout 12 miles 'from New-Windsor, in the heart
of a fine wheat country, and on the public road.
It is very suitable foreither store or tavern. For
further, particulars enquire at Matthias Warber,^
Joinerand Carpenter in' 'New-York, or fian---
cis Yeoman, .living on the premises./
N. B. Whatdaw is not cleared, is well tim
bered.
they informed us, that they waul? fend an an
swer in writing;, which they preventl,. after did,
signed by Lieut. Robert arid Mr. Demere,pur
porting, that if we would fend two of the persons
in whom the people most confided, they would
treat with them.
Capt. Screven, of ,the. St. John's Rangers,
and .Capt. Baker of the St. John's rifle-men,
chagrined^ no doubt, (the former particularly,
on account pf his Lieutenant) by the detention
of our deputies,, took about a dozen of rifle
men in a bo>t, and rowed dirp&ly under the
stern of Capt, Inglis, in whose vessel were a
gre^ part-pf the; soldiery, and, in peremptory
terms, demanded, the deputies, and were an
swered, .after one foot from Capt. Baker, by a
difebarge down dire&ly upon them, of near two
hundred fety both from drivels and final! arms,
which was kept .up while they were inreach ;
the Captains and men in the boat, not one in
dierfmalleft degree eonfufqd, or even, perhaps,
dif&ppQm@ : b% tire attack, fired their rifles,moft
of them, three federal times, and as they fay, 7
not without execytjQ^ and wonderful to tell !
not a man. of ,tb$ m filled ; .one man only re
ceive^a slug in the flefhyj part of his fliQulder,
which 'was iirimediately tut out, 'without the
fm^jeft intyhvffl^-The fpe&a-•
tors' all declared hs'We now do, that such a pro
vidential Befiverarice has not yet been known.
Thi^tinriMrily -attack, upon a few men ih an'
ppen boat, produced a general fife ftomour field -
pieces arid iritfehchiri'erits fti#'as™fm ^ re-.-°
!ufh from two four pounders and feva*al fwj..:
vels' from the shipping ; which lasted from about
twelve' o'clock tb four ; and Although - they of-"
ten fired brigridge, which continually Whittled
about bite men, not a Tingle man Was even
touched ; bufwe hate rib doubt, a numherof
the enemy metwith a worse fate, as they were
seen frequently tofall.
About four o'clock we called a council, and
determined to have the vessels immediately
burnt ; and issued orders to Col. M'lntofh ac
cordingly, whereupon the Inverness, late Capt.
McGillivray, loaded with rice and deer skins,
was set on fire, and cut loose, to the amount of
ig,oool.Sterling. Upon this, the soldiers, in
the most laughable confufion, got ashore in the
marsh ; while our rifle-men, and field pieces
with grape ihot, were inceifantly galling them.
The shipping were now also in confufion, some
got up the river, under cover of the armed
schooner, wlfle others caught the flame, and, as
night approached, exhibited a feene, as they
palled and repaffed with the tide, which in. any
other, but the present times, would be truly
horrible, 'but is now a subject only of gratulati
on and applause. ?' : .
The ships of Captains Inglis and Wardell,
neither got up' the river, nor on fire, they were
ordered on'fhor&, and now are prifonersof Cap
tain Screven, in the-country, arid their vessels
brought elofe into a whart. They were per
mitted to write to Capt. Barclay in the evening,
to inform him of their fttuation, and to reqtieft
an exchange of prisoners, which the latter pe
remptorily refufed.
1 We "have thus given you a particular detail of'
things, as they.really happened, to prevent th^.
belief of any efroneous intelligence, and, from'
which, you will be competent to judge of our
situation. ;
I. Col. M'Utb^hil before the.board,.a refold'
tion of youriCa^grefs to aid u% accompanied by:
a letter from Mg Lowndes ;.and we are. very:
glad, that you have determined to afford u$
farther alhftance,.- We wiffi it may arrive in
time. ;
By order of the Council of Safety,
William ewen, Preiident.
To. the Hon. Congress, or Council
of Safety, for South-Carolina.
The Duke of Cumberland packet arrived a
few days ago, from Falmouth, with government
dispatches for Lord Dunmore. It is said she
, left England the 23d of January, and brings
advice, that Lord Cornwallis failed about the
fame time, with a number of transports, under
convoy of twelve frigates; the place of their de
stination uncertain. The packet was at South-
Carolina, but found that Lord William Camp-'
bell had left the province, and joined Governor'
Martin at Cape Fear. Some Gentlemen from
below fay, that soon after the arrival of this vef.
fel they published a paper which was called a
declaration of war against the colonies, and re- :
ceived it with loud acclamations.
WILLIAMSBURG, (Virginia) April 6.