[list-cumbria] Cumberland Pacquet - 71

[Nev Ramsden]

Whitehaven  - February 20,  - 1777. 



Friday last the driver of one of the water carts in this town, was carried before a magistrate, charged with driving his cart over a boy (he himself being riding in it) and hurting him in a dangerous manner. The man, pleading his necessitous circumstances, was discharged; but the Magistrates immediately published an Advertisement, signifying their determination of prosecuting, with the utmost severity of the law, any drayman etc who shall presume to ride in the cart, or upon the horse, in the Liberties of this town or harbour, without some person going on foot, and leading the horse by the head, as the law directs.



It is with pleasure that we communicate that the worthy inhabitants of Liverpool, highly to their honour, have collected £100 for the unfortunate young woman, of whose sufferings our last paper contained a melancholy detail. The Corporation, it is said, have taken the money, and settled upon her an annuity for life.



The London papers for some days past, have given us various accounts of General [Charles] Lee being taken, and put on board a ship of war to be conducted England. Some of the late papers have indeed contradicted it, Sir Peter Parker (who was ordered by Viscount Howe to send home the Experiment and Asia?) says that nothing material has happened. The account of a general action in the Jerseys, and the great slaughter on both sides, is totally safe.



There follows a long section concerning recent events in Rhode Island and the surrounding area.



The following account has just been received ---- The mate of the Lovely Nelly, Capt. Sherwen, a vessel belonging to this port and lately taken by the Americans, shipped himself along with some others  in a provincial vessel at Newbury bound for Virginia, to take a cargo of tobacco to France; the mate thought proper to alter her course, and, through the ignorance of his companions, carried her, without ant interruptions, safe into Halifax [Nova Scotia?]  --- The obvious question must be – “where was the captain?”



The latest West India Paper received in England contains the following Extra-ordinary letter from VIRGINIA, dated 28 September 1776. It was found on board the sloop - Content, American Privateer, carried into Montserrat, by the crew, and will determine if they prove authentic, the doubts which have prevailed of our having secret enemies interfering with the present disturbances. The subsequent letter, and the address of the Congress, the latter of which was published by Lord Howe in the New York paper, and recommended to the notice of all the English papers.



There follows a very long description of meetings whereby Americans, authorised by the Congress, that would set up a business of purchasing goods in the West indies, that originated from Great Britain.  Followed by more observations of military activity in and around Rhode Island         



List of the Provincial army in and about Providence

Providence                             2000 men         

Bristol                                     2000

Howland’s Fery                      1500

Greenwich                              2000

Connecticut                            4000

Neighbouring Towns              1500



“Total 13,000 within 20 miles of each other; but from a want of clothing and common necessities of life, they are daily deserting, and it is supposed that in 2 months they will not be able to raise an army of 4000”



Extract of a letter from Ulverstone – February 15.



“Monday last the son of Wilson Braddyll Esq. of Conyishead Priory was baptised by the name of Thomas, by the Rev. Dr. Scales of Ulverston. The sponsors were John Gale, and Thomas Hunt of London; Mrs Gale of London and Mrs. Wilson of Bardsea. The same day Wilson Braddyll esq. came of age. A great number of ladies and gentlemen, from Whitehaven and different parts of the country met by invitation at Conyishead to celebrate the day. There followed a MAGNIFICENT ENTERTAINMENT for all concerned and beer was provided in a barn for numbers of tenants & labourers etc” After dinner the company were entertained with a concert  provided by several performers from Labnaster; to this succeeded a ????, which continued till 12 o’clock, when supper was served up.

The Bradyll’s of Connishead Priory, the Wilsons of Bardsea Hall and the Gale’s of Whitehaven & London were all related by marriage.



The following is an extract of a letter from on board the Resolution, Capt. Cooke, Oct 22, 1776 at the Cape of Good Hope, “we arrived here after a voyage of 3 months, and will proceed on our voyage of the discovery of the N.W. passage with all possible dispatch.” There follows more about their skills of playing cards etc

If we find the North-West passage we shall be in England next winter.

This concerns Capt. James Cook’s third and last voyage.



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For the next several issues of this paper there is a problem brought about a fault in the copying of the papers, the result is that each page image has a black strip across the top  making it either difficult or impossible to read the top two or three lines of that page.



Nev. Ramsden
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