The American gazette, or, the Constitutional journal — Salem, Mass., 1776-06-25 00:00:00, page 2

" Otter foop off the ruins of Norfolk.
" I have only rime to tell you the rebellious
town of Norfolk is no more ; we have reduced
it to a heap of ashes. Its deftru&ion happened on
the glorious New-Year's day. At four o'clock
in the evening, the Signal was given from the
Liverpool (which is just arrived from England)
when a most dreadful cannonading ensued from
the three ships, which lasted until we had drove
the rebels from the wharfs. Our boats now
landed and set fire to the town in several places.
What a glorious fight ensued ! The ships all in
flames along-fide the wharfs ; we firing as if
heaven and earth were coming together, and
every moment the horrid noise of the buildings
tumbling in the town. The fire burnt with a
jnazing fury all night and the next day ; nor is it
yet extinguished, though all that remains of
Norfolk, is about a dozen houses that have cf
caped the flames, and a vast heap of rubbish.
My joy at the dtSlrudion cf this town * is be
yond expression, as it was a fine resort for the in
fernel rebels ! Our next expedition, I believe,
will be to New-York, in order to destroy that
town, and so proceed through Virginia. They
had 1200 men in Norfolk, but now the town is
destroyed, there are not above 500 remaining
amongst the ruins. I hope, my friend, our dif
ference in opinion will be no prejudice to our
correspondence. Let us reason on the affair like
philosophers, and keep our tempers. You na
turally take the part of your country, but my
Nation in Jife obliges me though (thank God)
my inclination perfectly corresponds with my du
ty, to be a zealous advocate for the destruction
of the Patriots, as you call them, though I stile
them rebels. We are every moment firing at
them, and the noise is so great, it is impossible to
write any longer."
From the Style of the above letter I have no
doubt but you, Mr. Miller, conclude the writer
a Scot ; no such thing, the Slave is an Englishman,
who is base enough to dishonor human nature
with such exultations on such a fubjed, because
he knew it would be infpeded by those that
would add to his wretched pittance. How are
Englishmen fallen, when they can condescend to
affed barbarity, for so unworthy purposes.
* As barge as Briflol, and thought to he the most
loyal tozun in Virginia.
Hague, April 6. The lad advices from
Bremen Lehe mention, that the fiilt Brigade of
Heffe-Caffel troops in the British service, which
are embarked on board 25 transports, are
not yet failed. We are assured that Col. Faucit
had ordered the vessels to depart, but that Ge
neral Heister opposing it, declaring his orders
were, that all the corps Should put to sea at once ;
and as the other transports are not yet arrived, it
is not known when these troops will set out.
In the mean time a courier is sent to Caffel, to
alk permission of the Landgrave for the firft Bri
gade to fail, which it is hoped he will grant.
The Duke of Grafton closed the debate, and
replied to several of the objections made by
Lord Mansfield to the motion, on the ground
of inaccuracy.
The debate continued until half after 10
o'clock, when there appeared for the motion
31 ; against it 91,
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE,
PARIS, March 30.
THE departure of the Duke and Dotchefs
of Chartres is fixed for the^h of April.
Their Highnesses, desirous of feeing fever,al Pro
vinces, will pass through Bourdeaux to Toulon,
where the Prince will embark on board the Squad
ron fitted out there, which is to join the fleet
at Brest. We know not yet the true destination
of this armament.
From the London Evening Post, of
March 16.
ON reading Dr. Price's book, just published,
I confider all the Petition and Remonstrances
which have been presented to the throne, and to
the parliament, when compared with the Striking,
alarming fads there Stated, to b; no more than a
whisper to ten thousand thunders.
I. A national debt of near 140 millions, and
likely to be increased to a much greater sum by
the American war.
From the London Evening Post, of
March 9, 1776.
Mr. Miller,
AS the present wicked administration wiSh to
have it understood, that the large and
populous town of Norfolk, in Virginia, was
wantonly destroyed by the oppressed Americans,
I fend you a genuine extract of a letter lately
received from one of their imps employed in that
cruel service.
8
The AM E R,I CA N GAZETTE, &c. for 1776.
2. Tntereft and annuities five millions.
3. The decay of the revenue from tabacco, 300,
0001. per annum; but greater than can be esti
mated, from all the articles dependent on the
American trade.
4. All the gold and silver specie now current in
the kingdom, but just enough to pay the money
drawn from the public by the taxes, amounting
to fourteen millions at least, exclusive of all county
and poor taxes, and tythes.
5. Millions on millions of paper money ; all
moonfliine at the firft Shock on the bank of
England.
6. The danger of having the gold coin carried
out of the kingdom, on the firft unfavorable ba
lance of trade.
7. Oar horrid State when compared with France.
In Britain, about twelve millions of gold spe
cie, and two or three millions of Silver specie —
In France Sixty seven millions of specie, and
no hazardous paper money—ln Britain, the
public debts in no fixed course of redemption,
and therefore likely to go on pressing the public
until they overwhelm and fi k it—ln France,
the public debts of such nature as necessarily
to be diminished by time, and Likely io a few
years to become inconfiderable<—ln Britain, a
capital of near Sixty millions, for which perpe
tual annuities mult be paid, added to the pub
lic debts during the last war.—ln France, a
- capital of only twelve millions < f such annuities.
8. The loss of three millions per annum &
of exports to North. America ; and of a ballance
of trade in our favor of near a million and an half
per ann.
9. The bills drawn by the Welt-India planters
on their London agents and merchants, all now
protested, and fending back to drive them mad.
1 o. The enormous expence of near eighty thou
sand Seamen and soldiers, (including foreigners)
at^ol. a man, about four millions.
11. Twenty thousand nailbrs out of work, and
ready to run mad with poverty.
12. The awful propped of London bankrupt
cies without end, with a long et cetera of evils
and miseries beyond ail description or conception.
March 29. An evening paper of left night
fays, out of the provision article of hogs lately sent
to Bolton, we can assure the public, that what
from diseases, and other accidents, only /bar hogs
were landed, which, after paying every expence,
flood government in the very moderate sum of ele
ven hundred pounds per h r g ; the four crout, from
Similar cir .umftances, edit them seven hundred.
Query : If an army of fifty thousand men, at the
diHance of three thousand miles, are to be fed at
this expence (allowing them to be victorious) is
it not paying too dear tor such a conquett ?
March 30. Yesterday morning f ur waggons
laden with money were sent off from the bank,
under a proper escort, to Portsmouth, for paymen.
of his Majesty's Ships, and the transports lying
there bound to America.
It is aftonilhing how any man could ever dream
of fending cavalry to America. Only let us for
a moment conceive, a dragoon with his bags,
his bucket, his boots, his belts, his havre sack,
his cloak, his cantine, his broad sword and his
carbine, galloping round a tree to catch a rifle
man or an Indian ! It is a cow catching a hare.
The idea is laughable if the consequences were
not serious.
April 13. General Burgoyne carried with ,
him 1200 flat-bottomed boats (all ready fraimed)
to carry his army across the Lakes to penetrate
into the back settlements of New-England.
Extract of a Letter from Madrid, March 17.
“ Our Court Seems to have quite given up the
proposed attempt of a second expedition against
Algiers. All the preparations forthat expedition
have now another destination, and are said to be
intended to watch over our settlements ia Ame
rica, as the war between England and its Colonies
renders it necessary for all powers who have any
settlements in those parts to put them in so secure
Situation, that they may be in no danger of fuffer
ing from the above- mentioned disputes."
Extraa of a Letter from Bristol, April 13.
" This morning arrived here the Hibernia,
Capt. Knethell, from Cork, who failed from
thence the 9th inst, and informs, that the men of
war, with upwards of forty fail of transports un
der their convoy, failed the Bth from the Cove,
and as the wind blew freSh at N. E. and continued
so for some days, it is imagined they must be got
quite clear.. The Tartar, Capt. Russell, and the
Friendly Trader,.with federal volunteers on board,
failed from this place for Cork and America."
April 16. Letters from Stockholm advise,
that the great a&ivity Shewn in putting the army,
flier, and fortreffes in the belt fUte of defence,
causes much talk ; v hich, added to the like ac-
LONDO N.
PHILADELPHIA, June 12.
On board the prize Ship arrived Since our last,
there were several very fine sea turtle, intended as
a present to Lord North ; one of which, with his
Lordship's name nicely cut in the Shell, was last
week presented to the worthy President of the A
merican congress.
We hear that the inhabitants of the island of
Navis who are Carving for bread have made up a
fubfeription of fifty hogsheads of Rum, as a present
for the English foldie!s to inspire them with cou
rage to beat the Yankee rebels.
N E W-Y O R K, June 17.
Copy of a Letter from the Hon. JOHN HAN
COCK, Esq; PreJident of the Continental Con
gress, to the Convention of this Cit, dated Phila
delphia, June 11, 1776.
THE Congress have this day received advice,
and are fully convinced, that it is the de
sign of General Howe to make an attack upon
he City of New-Ysrk as soon as possible : The
attack they have reason to believe will be made
within ten days ; I am therefore most earnestly to
lequeft you by order of Congress, to call forth
your militia as requested in my letter of the 4th
instant, and to forward them with all difeatch to
the city of New-York; and that you direct that
hey march in companies, or any other way that
will hasten their arrival there. The important
day is at hand that will decide not only the fate
of the City of New-York, but in all probability
of the whole province. On such an occasion there
is no neceffit, to use arguments with Americans ;
their feelings I well know will prompt them to their
duty and the sacredness of the cause will urge them
to the field. The greatest exertions of vigor and
expedition are requisite to prevent our enemies
from getting possession of that town ; Imuft there
fore again moll earnestly request you in the name,
and by the authority of Congress, to fend forward
the militia, agreable to the requisition of Congress,
and that you will do it with all the dispatch which
the infinite importance of the cause demands.
I have the honor to be, Gentlemen,
your most obedient humble Servant,
JOHN HANCOCK, President.
To the honorable Convention of New-York.
Extraa of a letter from Albany, dated June 12.
'Tam this moment informed byGeneral Schyler,
that about 300 of the regular troops came up the
river St. Lawrence as far as the Three rivers,
where they were busy intrenching themselves, at
which time General Sullivan, with his brigade,
arrived at the Sorrel ; he immediately ordered
two thousand of his troops under General Thomp<
son to march down to dislodge them, and by ap
pearance there is not the least doubt he will effeft
his purposes ; Should he fucced in this, he is de
termined to march his army to Quebec, as the ene
my have no fufficient force to withstand them.
Besides, the Canadians are extremely friendly,
furniSh our army with all such kind of provisions
as they have, barely on having a certificate for the
delivery. They also take commifficns, and join
ed our army by great numbers, previous to Gen.
Sullivan's arrival, and finding ©ur little army re
treating, the Canadians begged and prayed that
The Spaniards are augmenting every garrison
of the least cOnfiqaence in the Streights. At Bar
celona an entire new battery is raised of eigh
teen pounders, all brass.
Some new regulations are to be made in
naval departments ; for which orders are sent
to theCommiffioners&f the several dock-yards to at
tend the admiralty board the second ofnext month.
April 19. 'Yefterday an express arrived at
Lord George Germaine's office from • Governor
Tryon, at New-York, which was immediately
sent to the King at Buckingham House.
The last French mail brought certain accounts,
that there was a fleet equipped at Toulon, and
ready to put to sea upon three days notice, con
fining of twelve Ships of the line of battle, three
frigates, and a bomb.
The two French Ships which the Dickenfon saw
up the river Delaware, with ammunition for Phi
ladelphia, were both under French colors.
Extraa of a Letter from Gofport. April 15.
" Since my last arrived at Spithead ten trans
ports, to take on boord the guards &c. going
to America.
" His Majesty's Ship Garland is put into com
mission at this port, and the command given to
Capt. Pearson, and is ordered to fit for Ame
rica."
tivity in the Prussian ports, make some think all
thirgs are not right between the two powers :
Time, however, will clear up this matter
Lecters from Warsaw advise, that the journey
of Prince Henry of Prussia to Petersburg is look
ed upon co relate to the affairs of other nations
besides those of Poland.
June 2s.