[list-cumbria] Cumberland Pacquet - 51

Wed Nov 13 22:21:52 UTC 2024

Whitehaven  - October 5,  - 1775.

The Assembly last Tuesday night was numerous and extremely brilliant; the first minuet was danced by Mrs. Skelton and George Biglands esq.

We here from Lancaster that the collection there on Sunday se’nnight (for the charity school) amounted to upwards of £50. No less than ninety children are educated and clothed by the voluntary contributions of that town and neighbourhood. A truly notable example, and not without imitation; a school is opened at Wigan on the same benevolent principles, one at Chester enlarged, and some other places are forming designs for establishing the like useful Charities.

The Gazette contains His Majesties Proclamation of the 27th of September, prohibiting the exportation or carrying coastwise , of saltpetre, during the space of three months, from the 23rd of August last, the time when the Prohibition was laid on Gunpowder, Arms etc.

Monday last, the new Peal of six Bells was opened at Workington, by the Penrith Ringers, who acquitted themselves well. The Bells are exceedingly well toned, and answer the expectations generally formed of Messrs. Pack and Chapmans productions. 

That day Miss Curwen entered her 10th year; a plentiful entertainment was provided at the Hall, the town was crowded with company, the ships displayed their colours; the bells were rung and guns fired, at intervals, during the whole day, and all together exhibited a pleasing scene of innocent festivity.

It is said, a man suspected of robbing Kendal Church, sailed from hence yesterday se’nnight, for Dublin.

Friday last, the Laurel, Capt. Stewart, sailed for Boston, with provisions for the King’s troops.

The following quotation is made from an ingenious Treatise published last week in Edinburgh; entitled 

Eight Sets of Queries; by a peer of the Realm:- “Whether Lady Mary Lowther does not take more pleasure in looking at the elegance of forms, upon the carpets of the manufacture established by her husband at Lowther Hall, for the maintenance of ORPHANS; than she does in looking at the Landskips drawn by herself, although these have all the sweetness of Claude Lorrain, and all the grandeur of Salvator Rosa.” [Salvator Rosa is best known as an Italian Baroque painter]

A subscription was opened here on Tuesday, for a Peal of eight bells, for St.James’s church.

The Liverpool Advertiser of last Friday, has the following short Address to the Liverpool Addressers.

“Our extensive trade to Africa is at a stand; all commerce to America at an end. Survey our docks: count there the ships laid up, and useless. When will they be again refitted? What will become of the sailors, the tradesmen and the poor labourer, during the approaching winter?

An Edinburgh paper says “Gentlemen arrived here from America are surprised to find the manufacturers of this country so brisk.” The same paper contains a long complaint from Mussleburgh, asserting that one fourth of the manufacturers in Scotland are starving, for want of Employment.

Kelly (alias Knight) advertised in last weeks paper, [ see Cumberland Pacquet - 50 ] was apprehended the day after his arrival in Dublin; he has turn’d king’s evidence, and impeached his brother (the person who passed for his servant here) and two others.

A pious farmer in this neighbourhood was the other day declaring that since his miraculous escape from the notorious Knight (who had insisted upon accompanying him in a post-chaise from Cockermouth) his gratitude was so great, that in a few days he had read no less than fifteen chapters in the Bible; which was more than he had done for seven years before; and as to the prayer book, he verily believed he had got half through it.

It is now said that the intended Regatta on Windermere is put off till the next summer, when it is expected there will be a great concourse of nobility, gentry etc. ever seen in the North.

Thursday night, Capt. Maxwell was attacked in the market place by three men, who attempted to seize the mail from him, which they undoubtedly would have effected, but for the timely assistance of two sailors; the villains escaped, and the Captain was so much abused in the scuffle; as prevented him proceeding in the Packet, which sailed that tide.

An advertisement from the General Post Office has appeared in the gazette and other London papers, signifying that after the 4th inst. there will be no regular Conveyance of Letters to America, from that Office.

By most of the Country papers, we find, that the extraordinary appearance of the heavens on the 2nd ult. attracted the notice of the Curious in every part of the Kingdom; nor have their been wanting in several places ‘prophetic spirits’, who could easily reading that the fall of kingdoms, calling in the evidence of all ages, from “ A little ere the mighty Julius fell” – when – “the sheeted dead did speak and gibber in the Roman streets; stars shone with fire to the year 1714, when nice observers saw bolts of warriors fighting in the clouds.” All harbingers preceding still the fates, and prologue to the omer? coming on”.

The leading men in America speak of it as a step already Resolved to be taken, That, as there is no prospect of a reconciliation with Great Britain, they will immediately invite the French and Spaniards to share with themselves the commercial advantages of America. This is so firmly believed in Virginia, that many European settlers there consider the Colony as already sequestrated from the Mother Country.

Such an unhappy spirit of dissention now reigns in that once happy colony, that when the above vessel left Norfolk, the current report was, that in a few days every person would be obliged to declare his sentiments, and the adherents to the cause of Government compelled to quit the country. The reasons assigned for proceedings to distressing are, that there humble addresses, for an accommodation on constitutional terms, have been treated with contempt by their sovereign, and their opposition, of what they consider an infringement of their Liberties, has been branded with the title of Rebellion.

The town of Norfolk, in Virginia, on the 12th of August last, was threatened with destruction. Mr. Schaw, agent victualler to the Navy, was judged inimical to the cause of America; and in an advertisement published in the Norfolk Gazette of the 9th of August, it was asserted, that he had occasioned the confinement of a sister of one of the volunteer compames?, on board the Otter sloop of war; it was also reported, that he had said “That if the British Ministry had been spirited enough to send a number of troops at the beginning of these disturbances, all would now have been quiet.

The committee advised a (breaking) off, as usual, of all dealings with him; but the populace was not so easily satisfied, seized him, and treated him in a most inhuman manner; intimation of this was received by Lord Dunmore, who on the 13th ordered the Mercury from Portsmouth to Norfolk, with a commission to inform the Mayor, that if he offered violence to be committed on the persons? Of any of his Majesty’s subjects there, the town would immediately battered down. The Captains language (it was observed) was not of that sort which might lead to a pacification, as ( in the requisition of Mr. Schaw) -  [two lines of print is so blurred to make it un-readable]  

They refused to deliver him; the Mercury’s guns were immediately pitted against the town, and the disturbing business was ready to begin, when Mr. Schaw, by order of the Committee, was sent on board.

When Capt. Sharp sailed, the Mercury was still lying there, and Mr. Schaw was put on board of the Otter, in a very dangerous condition,

By the [ship] Nelly, Capt. Sherwen, which arrived here on Tuesday, from St. John’s in Newfoundland, we are informed that the miseries of the inhabitants there exceed description; they are absolutely starving for want of common necessities of life. They have had no bread for many months past, but what they beg from ships; their principle food is lobsters and other shell fish; they are earnest5ly desirous of emigrating to any country; two of them have come over as passengers in the above vessel, A general account of their distresses would alone employ the greatest part of this paper: but it is a sense too shocking to be viewed long; ultimately presenting us with some thousands of innocent people perishing with hunger.

MARRIED

Thursday Se’nnight at Harewood, Yorks. Sir Richard Worsley Bart. of Pilewell, Hamps, to Miss Seymour Fleming, youngest daughter of the late Sir William Fleming, Bart. of Rydal, Westmorland.

Sunday last in this town, Capt. Skelton of the foot-guards, to Miss Hicks, daughter of William Hicks Esq.

[Arnoldus Jones Skelton to Betsey Hicks at St.James’s church in Whitehaven]

Last week at Staveley church, Westmorland, Mr.Arthur Grigson of that place, to Miss Nanny Atkinson of Broadfold.

A few days ago in Scotland, Mr. Thomas cape of Uldale, to Miss Miss Fleming of Ireby

A few days ago in the Isle of Mann, Mr. Robert Watson, formerly of Ponder’s End, to Miss Isabella Christian, an agreeable young lady.

DIED

Wednesday se’nnight, [Sebergham] very suddenly, at Warnel Hall, John Denton Esq., in the 59th year of his age

Tuesday se’nnight, at Keswick, after a short illness, Mr.John Strickland, surgeon in that place.

Then follows two columns of American News taken from American newspapers brought to Whitehaven by Capt. Sharpe of the Venus. From Hartford, Wilmington, New York, Norfolk and others.

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Nev.Ramsden

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