[list-cumbria] Cumberland Pacquet - 76

[Nev Ramsden]

Whitehaven  - Tuesday March 25,  - 1777. - 76



Since our last, we are favoured with the Boston Gazette of January 20th, and the Boston Chronicle of January 23rd. The articles copied from them are perhaps more curious than interesting; but as no American papers, except those of New-York and Halifax, have for some time past reached England, a fight for the news circulated in the Massachusetta State, such the Bostonians call the country of their Metropolis, may not be unacceptable to our readers.



The former of these newspapers is ornamented with an emblematic print, representing “Liberty opening a cage, and a bird flying from it”. The latter paper, “ With a Provincial soldier, holding in his right hand a Scymetre raised, as in the act of striking; in his left, a scroll, Independence, and above his head, a motto – Appeal to Heaven”

The papers contains Washington’s letter to Congress, containing the Hassians [German soldiers] taken at Trenton, the total of which is as follows.

3 Colonels, 2 Lieut. Colonels, 3 Majors, 4 Captains, 3 Lieutenants, 12 Ensigns, 2 Surgeons, 92 Serjeants, 20 drummers, 9 Musicians, 25 Officers Servants, 740 Rank & File.

There is much more detail given on this event



Friday last, the woman committed to this workhouse, for the murder of her child, attempted to make her escape by climbing over a wall in the back-court, where she had been indulged to walk. She was however discovered and put to a more close confinement, till she can be removed to gaol.



The Hopewell, Capt. Ayles of this port, (a missing ship) from Honduras to London, is arrived safe at Dover.



Friday evening the “Tragedy of Cass?” was performed at Ulverston, by the pupils of the Rev. Mr. Walker, to a crowded and brilliant Audience.



The following melancholy accident happened at Yanwath near Penrith, the 15th inst. – one Sarah Boak?, a well respected young woman of that place, went late the yard to take sc?? off a well; about an hour and a half afterwards, she was found drowned, or suffocated in it. It appeared that in stepping over the well (which is scarce above a yard deep) she had rested one hand upon a stone, which giving way she had  fallen headlong into it, and the narrow ness of the wall had prevented her revovering herself. In this situation she was found, the water being only deep enough to cover her face. The alarm soon spread through the neighbourhood, and the melancholy scene was rendered more dreadful by the ????? and cries of a numerous family, almost distracted at the sight of the lifeless female, so suddenly snatched from them. It is ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------two lines unreadable----------------------------------------------------------



We hear from Carlisle, that a Mr. Wilson of Rowcliff, an emminent horse dealer, was returning from market on Saturday se’nnight. In the evening, he was attacked by three foot-pads, about a mile from the town; one seized the horse by the bridle, and another discharged a pistol, the ball from which went through Mr. Wilson’s arm. The horse on this took fright, and very luckily fled from them without throwing Mr. Wilson; by which he saved both his life and cash. He had received a considerable sum that day in a public kitchen.



His Majesty has been pleased to give 100 guineas to be run for this season, at each of the following plates, viz. York, Newcastle, Carlisle and Richmond.



On the night of Sunday the 15th inst., a most unfortunate affair happened at Sebergham in this county. One Joseph Wright, a servant to Mr. Isaac Lowdon of Castle Sowerby, went, it is supposed, to visit a servant gir of Mr. Isaac Barker’s. It is reported that Mr. Barker being from home, but expected home every moment, the servant fearing her master’s displeasure, if he found a young man in the house, advised him to go and conceal himself in the cow house till she called upon him. However that may be, Mr. Barker having come home, a servant man was sent to the cow house to fetch something, and groping in the dark, found a man sleeping there. He immediately informed Mr. Barker, who taking a gun, went to the cow house, and demanding who was there, but receiving no answer, instantly fired,  and then returning to his house to secure the doors, apprehending some design might have been formed to rob it, gave the poor unfortunate fellow  (who had received the contents of the piece in his groin) an opportunity of crawling out of the cow house. He reached his master’s house, languished till Monday night, and the expired in the greatest of agonies.



Since the above, we are further informed, that when Mr. Barker asked who was there in the cow house, he was answered “I’ll soon let you know”, before the unfortunate young man could explain himself. He freely forgave Mr. Barker, who nevertheless is almost distracted at the fatal mistake.



Extract of a letter from a gentleman at New York, to a friend in Glasgow, dated 2nd February 1777



“I arrived here this day from St. Eustatia, where I saw many rebel vessels, and particularly a brigantine called the Andrew Norris, (one of them that engaged the Glasgow frigate last summer, mounts 16 guns and 104 men, and commanded by one Robertson a Whitehaven man, entirely on the States employ, came to St. Eustatia with £70,000, in specle, to purchase clothes and ammunition for the rebel troops, and got loaded in a few days. The rebels since their late success at Trenton, begin to feel a little bolder, and are mustering themselves up with more courage again.”



There follows a long account of an Engagement between the Globe, Capt. Harrison of Workington, and two American privateers.



Yesterday arrived here from New York, but last from Corke, the Dunmore, Lieutenant Edwards, she is the largest ship belonging to this port, and on board of which Lord Dunmore resided so long, after he left Williamsburgh.



The Hope, Capt. Bell, belonging to Maryport, formerly taken as an American privateer, was retaken by the Milford man of war, and arrived at Dublin last week; some passengers in her are come to Whitehaven.

                    There follows extracts from letters describing actions involving local ships with American boats &  taking place in the  waters of the West Indies; including



March 21st, “The Hope, Capt. Price, belonging to this port, loaded with fish, oil etc. and bound to the West Indies, was taken the third of January last, about 70 leagues to the eastwards of Barbadoes, by an American privateer of 12 guns and 80 men, and carried into Surinham; the crew of the hope took their passage on the 5th of the same month from Surinam, in a Brigg called the Betsy, Samuel Gerrith master, for Barbadoes, and, within site of that island, saw a vessel which soon came upon them, and fired on them under American colours of a Union Flag, on which they returned one gun [shot] and the struck [their colours]. The privateer was a schooner called Rattle Snake, David McCullough, an Irishman, master; a party of armed men boarded the brig, took possession of her, and sent the master, mate and crew, with the passengers, on board the schooner. The next day a prize master, and five of the schooners crew were put on the brigg, together with Mr. John Wilbraham of Chester, late supercargo of the Hope, and the carpenter. When the got within sight of St. Pierre in Martinique, for which place they were bound, Hugh Chisham the mate of the Betsey; Mr. Wilbraham and the carpenter, formed a scheme to take the prize; and succeeded by seizing four of the schooners crew while they were asleep below, and afterwards securing the remaining two who were watching on deck; soon after brought the prize into Roseau Bay in Dominica. The prize-master was a native of France, and the other five who were put on board the Betsy consisted of two Frenchmen, one Irishman and two Americans.”

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Nev. Ramsden
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