The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1778-08-19 00:00:00, page 2

" The very signal honor that Congress have been
pleased to confer upon the Volunteer Cavalry under
my command, must give the highest fatisfaction to
every individual of that corps. Such instances of
public approbation cannot fail to stimulate the sons
of America to step forth in defence of her injured
rights. The polite terms in which you have com
municated the vote of Congress claim the particular
Your most obedient and very humble ferrant,
THOMAS NELSON."
The Hon. Henry Laurens,
In CONGRESS, August 8, 1778.
WHEREAS in pursuance of the recommendation
of Congress of the second of March last, a vo
lunteer Corps of Cavalry from the State of Virgi
nia, under the command of the Honourable General
Nelson, are now in this city, on their way to the
army under the command of General WASHING
TON.
Neither can it he doubted, that those, who adminifer
the powers of government within the federal States of
this Union, will cement that connection with the sub
jects of France, the beneficial effects of which have al
ready been so fenfbly felt.
Sir, from the experience we have had of your exerti
ons to promote the true interests of our country as well
as your own, it is with the higheflfatisfaction Congress
receive, as the firfl Minifer from his Mes Chriflian
Majesty, a Gentleman, whose jaft conduct affords a
happy presage, that he will merit the confidence of this
Body, the friendship of its Members, and the esteem of
the Citizens of America.
In Congress,
HENRY LAURENS, President.
Augufl 6, 1778.
The Secretary of Congress then delivered to the
Minister a copy of the foregoing reply signed as above ;
whereupon the Minister withdrew, and was conduct
ed home in the manner in which he was brought to
the House. Extract from the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
WHEREAS George Johnftone, Esq. one of the
British Commissioners for restoring peace in
America, on the eleventh of April last, did write and
fend a letter to Joseph Reed, Esq. a Member of Con
gress, containing this paragraph, viz. " The man
" who can be instrumental in bringing us all to aft
" once more in harmony, and to unite together the
" various powers which this contest has drawn forth,
" will deserve more from the King and the people,
“ from patriotism, humanity, and all the tender ties
" that are affefted by the quarrel and reconciliation,
" than ever was yet bestowed on human kind." And
whereas, the said George Johnftone, Esq. on the six
teenth day of June last, wrote and sent a letter to
Robert Morris, Esq. another Member of Congress,
containing this paragraph, viz. " I believe the men
" who have conduced the affairs of America unca
" pable of being influenced by improper motives.
" But in all such tranfadions there is risk, and I think,
'' that whoever ventures should be secured, at the
" fame time that honour and emolument should na
" turally follow the fortune of those who have fleered
" the vessel in the storm, and brought her fafely into
" port. I think Washington and the President have
" a right to every favour that grateful nations can
" bestow, if they could once more unite our interests,
" and spare the miseries and devastations of war,"
which letters were laid before Congress. And where
as the said Joseph Reed, Esquire, hath, in his place
in Congress, declared, " That on Sunday the 21st of
" June last, a few days after the evacuation of the
" city of Philadelphia by the British troops, he re
'' ceived a written message from a married lady of
'' character, having connections with the British ar
" my, expressing a desire to fee him on business which
" could not be committed to writing ; that attend
" ing the lady agreeable to her appointment in the
" evening, after some previous conversation refpett
" ing her particular connections, the business and
" characters of the British Commissioners, and par
" ticularly of Governor Johnftone, (meaning the said
" George Johnftone, Esq. ) were the fubjeCts of ge
" neral conversation, which being more confined,
" the lady enlarged upon the great talents and ami
" able qualities of that gentleman, and added, that
" in several conversations with her, he (Gov. John
" stone) had expressed the most favourable sentiments
" of him, (Mr. Reed) and that it was particularly
AND WHEREAS the removal of the enemy from
this State renders the employment of this corps at
present unnecessary.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the said
corps to return.
Refolded, That the thanks of Congress be re
turned to the Honourable General Nelson and the
Officers and Gentlemen under his command, for their
brave, generous and patriotic efforts in the cause of
their country. Extract from the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
In CONGRESS, August 12, 1778.
A letter from General Nelson was read in the
words following :
"SIR,
President of Congress.
Published by order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
A DECLARATION.
Done in Congress, at Philadelphia, this 11th of Au
gust, in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven
Hundred and Seventy-eight, and in the Third Year
of the Independence &f America.
By Order,
HENRY LAURENS, President.
FRANCKFORT, (Germany) March 9.
LETTERS from Vienna advise, that they had in
telligence from Constantinople, that the Porte
had declared war against Russia the 20th of Janu
ary last.
Saxony, March 3. Enghnd meets with great diffi
culty in procuring auxiliary troops from Germany,
as it is much against the vill of the people that they
go out of their own county. Of the 900 men from
Anhalt Zerbft, 140 defertd near Gross. One Lieu
tenant left his regiment vith 50 men, at Lose, be
sides many more who dehrted at different places.
Madrid, ( Spain) Manh 13. In all probability our
{qv.~di.op at Cndi? will focn fail, in order to meet the
Vera Cruz fleet that failed from Buenos Ayres. Then
our force will amount to 60 ships of the line, which
will be very refpedable.
PARI S, May 4.
THE Duc de Chartres yesterday took leave of the
court previous to his Letting out for Brest, where
he is to take the command of the Brest squadron,
which, it is said, is to confiftof 30 ships of the line,
and it is to fail soon after his arrival.
LONDO N, May g.
Sir Hugh Pallifer is to have the chief command of
the squadron that is ordered to fail in quest of the
Toulon squadron.
May 16. On the morning ofLord Chatham's death,
he was very desirous of feeing Lord Camden, who
was immediately sent for. When he came, he took
him by the hand, and in the agonies of expiring na
ture uttered the following words : 0 ! save my country.
The German and British recruits only, which were
intended for Gen. Howe's army, will, it is said, be
font to Philadelphia, but no new corps till advices are
received concerning the reception of the com
missioners.
On Thursday evening Lieut. Gen. Burgoyne, by or
der of the King, was sent for to the Queen's palace,
and held a conference with his Majesty for upwards
of two hours.
May 19. On Saturday morning last Lieut. Gen.
Burgoyne was again sent for by his Majesty to the
Queen's palace, and was clofetted with the King till
near two o'clock.
We hear that Gen. Burgoyne has declared to his
friends, that the report circulated of the cruelty of
the Americans to their prisoners, is void of truth; on
the contrary, every mark of refpeft was shewn them
and every necessary procured that could make his
people happy in their situation as prisoners.
A few days ago a French man of war arrived at
Brest, express from Boston, with a full and entire ra
tification by the Congress of the treaty between
France and America.
This treaty was ratified exactly eight days before
the Andromeda arrived at New-York, so that all
hopes of a reconciliation with America are now at
an end.
Letters from Constantinople advise, that the plague
prevails all over that city, and makes very great havoc
there.
BOSTON, July 27.
Yesterday the Hon. John Hancock, Esq. one of the
Delegates from this State, and the Hon. Richard Hud
son, Esq. one of the Delegates from the State of South-
Carolina, arrived heie from Congress.
Resolved, That as Congress feel, so they ought to
demonstrate the highest and most pointed indignati
on against such daring and attrocious attempts to
corrupt their integrity.
Resolved, That it is incompatible with the honour
of Congress, to hold any manner of correspondence
or intercourse with the said George Johnftone, Esq.
especially to negociate vith him upon affairs in which
the cause of liberty and virtue is interested ; and for
the propriety of such :onduft, we make and pub
lish to the world, this our declaration.
" wished to engage his (Mr. Reed's) inteieft to pro
" mote the object of their commission, viz. a re-union
" between the two countries, if consistent with his
" principles and judgment ; and that in such case, it
'' could not be deemed unbecoming or improper in
" government (meaning the British) to take a fa
" vourable notice of such conduct, and that in this
" instance he (Mr. Reed) might have ten thousand
" pounds sterling, and any office in the Colonies
" (meaning these United States ) in his Majesty's
" gift," (meaning in the gift of his Britannic Majes
ty.) To which, finding an answer expected, he (Mr.
Reed) replied, " he was not worth purchasing, but
" such as he was, the King of Great-Britain was not
" rich enough to do it." And whereas, the laid
paragraphs written and sent as aforefaid by George
Johnftone, Esq. and the said declaration made by
Joseph Reed, Esq. call loudly upon Congress to ex
press their sense upon tlem, Therefore,
Resolved, That the contents of the said paragraphs,
and the particulars in the said declaration, in the opi
nion of Congress, canno: but be coniidered as direct
attempts to corrupt and bribe the Congress of the
United States of America.
Wednesday last, to the great joy of every good
fubjeCt, the fleet of his Most Christian Majesty, the
great and wife ally of these States, commanded by
Admiral Count de Eftaign, arrived off Point-Judith,
when a number of pilots belonging to this town went
immediately on board, and brought them fafe to an
chor off the harbour of Newport, whereby our sa
vage enemies are in their turn completely blockaded.
On Thursday two French ships of the line came up
the Weft fide of Conanicut, and took their stations
above the North end of that island ; several shot were
fired at them as they passed, and a few returned ; the
enemy's ship which lay there got under fail on the
near approach of our friends, and entered Newport
harbour by the East fide of Conanicut. Their troops
soon after evacuated Conanicut, and fled to Rhode-
Island, having previously blown up the magazine,
spiked their cannon, destroyed the works, and fit
fire to the barracks. The Kingfifher of 16 guns, with
two gallies, were blown up by the enemy in Seconet
river, on the approach of two other French ships.
The Britons, with their friends the tones, are in
great consternation ; and a few days will probably
produce events of the utmost importance.
The fleet have brought in 15 fail of prizes, one of
them a ship bound to New-York, laden with war-like
stores, among which are fix large mortars, and a
quantity of shells.
The Honourable Major-General Sullivan, with his
suite, went on board the French Admiral's flrip on
Thursday last, and yesterday returned to town.
On Thursday Major-General Greene arrived at
his feat in Bast Greenwich, from the American ar
my: And yesterday came to town Brigadier-Gene
ral Glover.
Yesterday two boats landed on Conanicut, and
brought off some beds, a number of hogs, and twe
Hessians.
The navigation to this port is now open by way
of Seconet and the Weft Passage.
Saturday last 108 of the principal inhabitants of the
town of Salem turned out volunteers, under Major
Joseph Sprague, and have chosen Capt. Flagg, of that
town, to command them on the present expedition.
We hear that the State of New-Hampshire are raid
ing men very faft for the expedition.
Within a few days paftA or 7 prizes, taken by the
French fleet, have arrived at Providence ; one of them
a ship with 500 hogsheads of rum.
Recent advices from the Weft-Indies fay, that the
late alliance between the courts of France and the
United States of North-America had been publicly no
tified in the several French islands, by authority ; and
that the news was received, by the inhabitants in all,
with every mark of unfeigned joy, and celebrated
with the greatest pomp and magnificence. We also
learn, that the militia of the said islands were, at the
fame time, ordered to be held in constant readinefe
for duty.
The ships under command of Vice-Admiral Count
D'Eftaign are,
Guns, Guns. Frigates.
Languedoc 90 Proteßeur 74
Tommant 80 Guerrier 74 Chimere 30
Cesar 74 Jantafque 64 L'Engeante 36
Zele' 74 Provence 64 L'Alemenc 26
Nedtor^ 74 Vaillant 64 L'Arinablc 26
Marfelliors 74 Sagitaire 50
Besides the fleet that failed with Count D'Eftaign,
there are five French ships of force gone to Virginia
with supplies of various kinds for the States, and de
signing to return to France loaded with tobacco, &c.
viz. one of 50 guns, two of 40, and two of 32 guns.
These ships were put under the direction of Beaumar
chais, one of the French ministers, noted for his af
fection to the American cause; and though they be
longed to the King, came out under the appearance
of merchantmen. This fleet, it is said, is soon ex
pected tojoin the Count D'Eftaign, and act for a sea
son under his orders.
Head-quarters, Providence, fuly 29, 1778.
,SI R, " I have the pleasure to inform the Coun
cil, that the French fleet came to anchor off Point Ju
dith to-day at twelve o'clock, and the pilots have all
gone on board. I with the troops to be forwarded
with all possible dispatch, as a delay may prove fatal to
the expedition. I have the honour to be,
Sir, your very humble servant,
JOHN SULLIVAN."
Jeremiah Powell. Esq.
Aug. 6. Friday last the State regiment of artillery,
under the command of Col. Crafts, marched to join
the forces at Providence.
This afternoon the new raised company of artillery,
under the command of Captain Thomas Bumftead,
are to march off voluntarily to the fame place.
We learn that Count D'Eftaign, having ordered a
64 gun ship to Beavertail, where the enemy had
thrown up works, and made an appearance of stout
defence, a few guns were fired from the flrip, which
soon obliged them to destroy, abandon and leave it in
the poffeflion of Americans.
By all accounts it appears', that the enemy at Rhode-
Island have about fix weeks provisions. A vessel laden
with rice arrived there a few days before the French
fleet appeared off Point Judith.
By sundry persons we also learn, that the enemy
have burnt the Kingfifher of x 6 guns, two row-gallies,
and also blew up the fort on Conanicut island, and
evacuated the fame.
PROVIDENCE, August r.