Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

Extract of a letter from Harrisburg, (Susquehanna) Feb. 9th, 1797.

"After a long and severe winter, and a colder has not been many years past, we have the pleasure of announcing to the public the retreat of General Ice, who for several weeks has closely blockaded us, and laid the country under contribution.—This common enemy to our commerce, began his retreat at the approach of General Thaw, on the 3d inst. by partial and small detachments, and we have reason to expect from his progressive arrangements that his retreat will be orderly, and with as little devastation, as the nature of circumstances will permit.—As usual however a vast number of old settlers and planters have been carried off; among the variety of things found, there is taken up an iron-bound box, directed for Havre-de-Grace, with this curious label on the outside: "A receipt how to make powder for projectors, which will rectify the fumes of an empty stomach; and dissipate their airy castles." This extraordinary appearance being directed to a respectable company in or near Havre-de-Grace, it will be forwarded to the proprietors by the first safe conveyance, and we cannot doubt but its valuable contents will be communicated to the public as soon as the nature of the case will admit, by the disinterested, patriotic and enlightened body to whom it is directed..

"N. B. A box of this description was advertised last year, and a considerable reward was offered to be paid in either Morris' and Nicholson's notes, or Wilson's notes, but there is great reason to believe that the valuable property has not been recovered."