The Pennsylvania journal, or, Weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-11-06 00:00:00, page 1

NoveMber 6, i„& %f Numb. 1770;
PENNSYLVANIA J^^^/^^^ JOURNAL;
AND # THE!
WEEKLY ADVERTISER.
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r£DNES Dri r, ^£fo^^ November 6, ,776.
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LONDO N, Au?uft §.
To the L ORD MAYOR.
My Lord, ~„
IWAS last week on board the American privateer called the
Yankee, commanded by Captain Johrifon, and lately
brought into this port by Captain Ross: who commanded one
of the Weft-India sugar (hips, taken Uy the privateer in July
lad ;—and, as an Englishman, I carneftly, wish your Lord
flop, who is so happily placed at the bead of this great city
(jsftly famed for its great humanity even to its enemies) would
Sc pleased to go likewise dr fend proper persons, to lee the
truly Locking, and, 1 may fay, barbarous and miserable con
dhion, of the unfortunate American prisoners, who, howe
ver criminal they may be thought to have been, are deserv
ing of pity, and entitled to common humanity. . ,
They are twenty-five in number; and all inhumanly shut
dose down; like wild beads, in a fir ill (linking apartment, in
the hold of a Reop, about 70 tons burthep, without a breath
of air, in this sultry season, but what they received through a
small grating, over head, the openings in which are not more
than two inches square in any part; and through which the
fan beats i&tcnfely hot, all day, only two or three. being per
mitted to come oh the deck at a time; and then they are ex
posed in the open fun, which is reflected from the decks and
water like a burning glass.
Ido not, at all, exagerate, my Lord, I (peak the truth, and
the resemblance that this barbarity bears to the memorable
black hole, at Calcutta, as a gentleman prefect, on Saturday
observed, strikes every one at the Sight. All England ought
to kaow that the fame game is now acting upon the Thames
00 board this privateer, that all the world cried out against,
and Shuddered at the mention of in India, some years ago, as
pra&ifed on Captain Hollowell, and other of the King's good
fubje&s.
The putrid fleams issuing from the hole are so hot and of
fensive, that one cannot, without the utmost danger, breathe
over it; and I should not be at all furprized, if it should
cause a plague to spread. The miserable wretches below
look like persons in a hot bath, panting, fweatiog, and faint
ing for want of air ; and the Surgeon declares, that they
must ail soon perish in that fixation, especially as they are
almost all in a sickly ffate with bilious disorders.
The Captain and Surgeon, it is true, have the liberty of
the cabin, (if it defetves the name of a cabin) and make no
complaints on their own account. They are bo?h feofibic,
well behaved young men, and can give a very good account
of themselves, having no Gghs of fear, and being supported
by a confeiaufnefs of the justice of their cause. They are
men of character, of good families in New-England, and
highly reformed in their different occupations; but being
Gripped of their all, by the burning of towns, and other
deftiuaive measures of the prefect unnatural war, were
forced to take rhe difagrceable method of making reprisals to
maintain themselves, and their childreQather than Rarve.
Numbers of gentlemen, and frieodST government, who
were on beard at the fame time, will confirm the truth of
this my representation, being very fcnfibly touched them
selves at the horrid fight.
English prisoners, taken by the Americans, have been
treated with the most remarkable tenderness and generofity;'
as numbers, who arc fafely returned to England, most freely
confefs, to the honour of our brethren in the colonies. And
it is a fa<ft, which can be well attested in London, that this
very surgeon on board the privateer, after the battle of
Lexington, April 19, 1775, for many days voluntarily and
genernufly, without fee or reward, employed himfelf in drif
ting the King's wounded soldiers, who but an hour before
would have (hot him if they could have corae at him, and in
making a collection for their refreshment of wine, linen,
money, &c. in the town where he lived. This is a real fad,
of which the most ample testimony may be had.
The capture of the privateer was solely owing to the ill
judged lenity and brotherly kindness of Capt. Johnson, who,
uot°confidering his English prisoners in the fame light that he
would Frenchmen or Spaniards, put them under no fort of
confinement, but permitted them to walk the decks as freely
as his own people, at all times. Taking advantage of this
indulgence, the prisoners one day watching their opportunity
when most of the privateer's people were below and asleep,
Glut down the hatches, and making all faft, had immediate
poffeflion of the vessel without uting any force.
I ihall conclude with faying, that though this letter is ad
dieffed to your Loidßiip, L hope that all who may read it,
THE Publishers of the several weekly News-Papers
in this City, are under the diftgreeable necessity
©(informing their Subscribers, that the extraordinary
advance in the price of Paper, and other Materials in
the Printing business, has obliged them to raise the
Price to Fifteen Shillings per Annum; —they therefore
hope their Customers will not take it amiss to find that
price charged from and after the firft day of January
next. —Those who fliould not incline to have the Papers
sent after that time, are desired to call and difeharge
their arrears; such as do not, we ihaH conclude, agree to
the advanced price, and we Ihall continue to fend them
accordingly. Persons Subscribing for the Papers after
this date to be charged Fifteen Shillings per Antrum, one
half of which to be paid at entrance.
W. & T. BRADFORD,
HALL & SELLARS,
JOHN DUNLAP,
JAMES HUMPHREYS.
and have any influence, will do all in their power to gain the
necessary relief; and it is humbly apprehended, that the well
disposed, who are blessed with affluence, could not better be
stow their bounty than upon those poor objects. Vegetables
and ripe fruits of all kinds, with porter, &e. must be very
useful, as well as the meany to procure other necsffaiies. The
privateer lies opposite to Ratcliffe CroG, a mile and a half
below the Tower, and by asking far Captain Johnson admit
tance may be obtained., , .... HIT M ANITA S. ,
*, W« have beeri informed, since the receipt of the
above letter, that the crew of the American privateer the
Yankee, were yederday morning, at half past three o'clock,
conveyed on board a vessel; and carried down the river to be
secured in Dover Cattle. ~ ^ ~ , ^
Augusts. A very extraordinary anxiety about the next in
telligence from the, army in America is discovered at Sr.
James's ; arid though every person wife approaches the King,
clearly fees and foretells the total overthrow of the provide als,
yet an uncommon uocafmefe fa *„y manifest in ferae ccun
teqances at court. It is whifpersd there, that (howd any mis,
fortune happen to the tropps on their landing,, which might
be likely to impede the future operations of the campaign, a.
body of twenty or thirty thousand Ruffians will be immedi
ately applied for, and sent over to reinforce the army, let
the step be ever so disagreeable to the court of France, or
let the consequences of it be what they will. , , ;
The true reason of General Howe's, embarking his troops,
before the arrival of Lord Howe at Halifax, was entirely ow
ing to the great desertion which prevailed among them. It
alarmed him so much, that he thought it mure adyifable to
set out on his expedition without waiting for his brother, than
to day arid fee his army flying away alinbft by whole compa
nies.
A report is current, said to have come by way of Glasgow,
that one of the transports wrh part of the 71st regiment
(Frazer's Highlanders) was taken on the coast of America, by
the provincials.
Letters from Peterfburgh, by the Withemas, Janffon, arriv
ed in the river on Fr/dafa fay, that it may be depend'd on as
a fa^t, that the Ruffian fleet lately failed for the Mediterra
nean, is zbfolQtely in the pay of Great- (Britain, arid arc to
a& in conjunction with our men of war against the Americans,
and to endeavour to stop, France, Spain and Holland, &c.
throwing in fuccours to them, or giving them any affiliative
whatever._
Letter, from Cadiz lay, that the Sally, Ofraan, and the
Patty, Macquehes, which are arrived there from Philadel
phia,, were chafed' for eight touts by an Englidr man of war,
who would have absolutely have taken them, had not some
Spanish men of war, upon the coast, taken them under their
protection.
Friday failed from Spithead, five Ruffian men of war
bound for the Mediterranean.
August 6. Advice is received from Russia, that seven fail
of men of war, under the c'mmarid of Vice Admiral Telma
now, arc failed from Cronfladr, but to what part they are
bound remain a secret.
The firft of July a French brig put into Fyal, the Capt.
of which faid' ,in his voyage he spoke with twenty fall great
and small, of Spariifh men of war, bound to America,
A Pcirtuguefe man of war, of do guns, commanded -by
Captain Shitzei has taken, on the edaft of Brazil, two Spa-
Di(h merchant Grips, and lent them to Lisbon.
His Majesty's (hip the Wercefter, of 64 guns, cast anchor
at Fyal, the' latter end of June, at which place'(he is Ration
ed to cruize off, to intercept the American vcffels.—The Gert
aid of the Grip was sent on shore, at the above place, danger
ously ill.
John Wilkes, Esq; is raid to be extremely ill at Brighthelm
ftbne.
We hear, that a petitibn will be presented to the Secretary
of Stale, for the American department, by the merchants, to
cause the Captain of the Yankee privateer to be kept in cus
tody to answer to them for the property he has illegally
taken, he being -the fele owner of the privateer; and the
prizes of course, will be fold in America, for his account and
emolument.
Extras of a letter from Salisbury, AUgufl;.
'' A letter from Exmoucti, dated July 31 fays, ' Ori Sa
turday the x7th inst. off the Start, and on Sunday the 28 b,
in Torbay, our pilots spoke with a large New England built
(loop, which mounted 14 carriage guns, and a number of
swivels; they counted above 40 men on board, some of
whom, on the pilot boat's apprbach, had their naked (words
drawn; they enquired of the pilots if any Eaft-Indiamen
were expefUd; and hiked many other question; which plain
ly proved it was an American privateer."
Augufl 9. Capt. Johnson, of the Yankey privateer, and
Ross arid 'Lodges (Captains of the two Weft Indiamen taken
by the above privateer) were fitting together in Jdhnfon's
cabin a few days after they were taken, when Johnson having
inadvertently laid down his cutiafs, Ross and Hodges l took
advantage of'it, by throwing him on his back, and seized
the cutiafs.,
The guard Rationed on the quarter deck; having also laid
down his cutlass, in order to go forward, one of Ross or
Hodges's people, who had been let into the secret, immediate
ly seized it, arid gave the alarm, on which the men belonging
to the Yankee, and chose of the merchantmen (who ought to
have been confined) run up, and one of the Americans having
caught up a scrubbing bru(h; and advancing in a threatening
posture, was told by the man who held the cutlass, that if he
advanced a step further he would take his head off, and orders
ed him, aud the rest of the men belonging to the privateer,
to go forward; Ross and Hodges, in the me^ time having
broke open the armed ch4ft
Captain Johnson and his crer were removed from the
Yankee about two o'clock on Sunday morning, and it is laid
are now on board the Corqueßadore man of war.^
Capra » Johns n complains of Capt. Rofs's illiberal beha
viour, in fuffering several people to come on board since he ar->
rived, and insult humin the most cruel and gross terms,
though a prisoner ; and when his brother came to fee him,
after three years abfice, Captain Refs would not permit
them ro talk^a minute in private. ^ # •", t^ ? • -
0 If Capt. Ross has secreted his prisoners, is it not worthy
the inter position of the civil power to compel him to pro
duce them, that no foul play may be offered them, till they
have taken their trials? %, . } - <?% •-? .gfr
, Capt. Johnson, of the Yankee privateer, lately taken and
brought into the river,- is a native of New- England.. . Previ
ous to the prefect unhappy differences between this cou try
and America , he lived as a merchant,, in great-repute, a^
Portsmouth in N«w Hampfliirr., ,Last winter he had the mif
fortune to have his hoUfe burnt down at the time, when the
greater part of Portfm tub was destroyed by the Swarf, and
o her Grips of war, at which time he loft the whole of his pro,
perty. The retraining aft taking place, and depriving him
from carrying on his trade, he refolv d to go to sea in a pri^
vateer, and accordingly hired the Yankee for that purpose.
, The people of Ireland, ,ih the linen,trade, have fuffered
very much by the (toppage of the importation, of flax feed
from North-America, from whence they us d to have great
quantities,; at present they, indeed, have some from Ameri
ca, but then they receive it, by the way of St Euftatia and
Amsterdam, by which means the price is greatly enhanced,
and a loss fuffered by the country id the employment of
Dutch bu toms in carrying the fame, ~?,,.;
The fill wing i$ an authentic account of what has lately happened
beiw en Spain and Portugal.
" In the course of last ye r General V-rtis, Governor of
Buenos Ayres, repeatedly wrote to the Court of Madrid, that
the Portuguese daily encroached upon the rights of the Spa
niards, and laid violent hands on those who dared to oppose
them; but as often a, the Spanilh minister complained abouc
it to the court of Lifoon, he received for answer, " That it
must be some party quarrel among the neighbouring inhabi
tants, and cutirly without the knowledge of the Court." The
Minister implicitly was fatisfied wih that answer, and wrote
to the General that the two Courts were, in the best harmony
and friendship, and whatever happened between the Spanifti
and Bortuguefc fubje&s in that quarter of the world ihculd
be adjufh d there, as it did not deserve the particular notice
of these Courts.
" In tie month df November last, the General sept a ver,
alarming letter to the minister, infixing that the Pqruguefc,
whose forces encreafed daily, and who continued ^ commit
very daring arid outrageous actions, nuR have some hoftite
views, and herefore a proper and fufficient reinforcement
was highly necefLey; upon which the Mi^ißer complained
agam to the Court of LiAon; and as the answer did not fol
low immediately, a reinforcement of three regiments was fen;
to Buenos Ayres, wit' l orders to jt in the land militia there.
" In the month of December the Pwrcuguefe Ambafladofc
at Madrid, waited upon the Minder, declaring in his Most
Faithful Majesty's name, that he had not the lead boftile in
tentions, and that dispatches had just been sent to all the
chief officers in that quarter to reprimand them for their past
conduct arid to givethe Rrideß orders to keep their soldiers
in due dife piine alluring him at the fame time that nothing
hoßile fhoud be heard in future.
“ The latter end ot April the min^Rer, to his greareft afto*
nifhmerit, received the following Intelligence from the above
G verriot: That on the 17th of March a Urtuguefe Squadron,
confiding of ix flap's or diffcren sizes; commanded by aa
English officer, attacked near Las Patos, five Spanish vessels,
but the wind (which blew very violently) happened to be in
favor of the latter, so that the former were fcatteied and
obliged to retire; however, some hundreds were killed and
wounded in the engagement; and that the English officer who
had the command, in a fit es despair, threw two English offi
cers (whom he accused of cowardice) over board, and shot
himfclf through the head. This was immediately sent to the
Court of Lisbon. The answer was, that it might have been
done previous to the late orders having been received; but it
was without the least knowledge of the Court. The Court of
Madrid, not^ithftanding this anfw^f, became suspicious, and
orders were given for an armament.
“ In the beginning of May, the Court of Madrid received
dfpatches that open hostilities were commenced by the Portu
gnefe; that on the 2d of April 30 Portuguese transports, hav
ing on board nine regiments and 300 pieces of cannon, com
manded by German and Eng'ilh officers, failed up the rivet
Rio Grande, attacked the For; St. Thecle, which was soon
delivered up to them; they further advanced and attacked the
Fort St. Theresa (which by this time they are in possession of,
as also of that of Monte Video;) General Vertis, in a burry;
went with the girrif@n of Monte Vid: 0, and some artillery,
to oppose them, but was defeated ! about 400 of his men were
killed, and about 100 wounded; and when the difpatebes
came away they were marching towards Buenos Ayres.
" Upon this alarming intelligence a general armament was
ordered throughout Spain, arid some of their fquadions united
with the French, and the matter rests now thus; the Court of
Lisbon still insists that all this was done without their order or
knowledge; but as the latter two forts, viz. St. Theresa and
Monte Video were not taken before the ayfh of April, a time
when the orders of the Court of Lisbon (which according to
the above-mentioned declaration were sent in the beginning
of December lift) mnft have been received, and confiquendy
the officers have a&ed contrary to the royal order; the Course
Madrid insists that theft offenders (hall be punifttd withde^a.