The royal gazette — [Charleston] S.C., 1782-06-19 00:00:00, page 4

foreign to the intention of Lord Sandwich: ne Affixed the
enemy to equin those ships which he might have destroyed in
the Texel ; and then brought them to an adion, which cer
tainlv redounded greatly to the honour of Admiral Parker and
Bis officers, and of the enemy too; but which was far from
ending in so decisive a victory as might have been expend over
an enemy who was represented as weak and enervated. In
this case a!fo, as that ofthe St. Euftatius cohvoy, Lord Sand
wich had many ships which he might have sent to reinforce Ad
miral Parker; the Sampson of 64 guns was one which inltead
of fending directly to the Admiral, Lord Sandwich lent to the
Gun fleet, to which place she was to be sent for, it ","'^
Fere he took an opportunity to retrad a thing which he had
averted, in a former debate, viz.—that it was mere chance
that had made the Berwick fall in with the squadron in the
]<orth Sta. This he found not to be true,, for it now appeared
that it was by order of the Admiralty die had joined the squa
d, on. The squadron under a very gallant friend of his, and a
Member of that House, (Keith Stewart) had been kept in the
Downs for the purpose of watching the Dutch; how well they
had been watched, the fafe arrival of Admiral Byland had pro
claimed to the world: yet in this, he prefamed his gallant
friend was net to blame; at lead, he had never been called to
an account for it. > cm.
As an epitome of all the other charges ne fubjoineda fifth,
drawn from the latest circumstance, that of the meeting be
tween Admiral Kempenfelt and the Brest fleet. He did not
throw any new light on the ful)ie<fl, except that he read the
names ofthe ships which might have been sent out to join dur
Rear Admiral ; and which, includingthe squadron in the Downs,
made about twenty fail of the line: with this force, which
might, he said, have been sent out, it was not to be doubted
but through the known bravery and abilities of Admiral Kem
pi nfelt, we should have completely destroyed the French fleet
2nd convov. . , ~ , , r
He concluded by obfervmg as he had done already, on a for
mer occasion, that his firftmotion ought to be for a removal of
I.ord Sandwich from his Maiefty's councils; but he thought it
inexpedient now; he would firft move a cenfirre upon him,
and if he should carry that, he would follow it up with an ad
dress to the Kmg which no doubt would have its effects; and
-then undoubtedly, he would pursue the enquiry through every
part, when the Minister whose Administration should be the
fubieft of it, should no longer be vested with the power to de
feat it. He then moved the following revolution;
66 That it appears to this Committee, that there wa^grofs ms
" management in the Adminflration of nerval affairs, in toe
" year 1781." .
Lord Multrave expressed his surprise at hearing a motion
which could not be passed but in direst opposition to the mass
of evidence, which the Committee had heard leak He trust
ed, however, that though there had been found one Member
who was not afraid to fly so openly in the face of evidence,
there would be very few who would fuppoi t liim. In common
questions in that House, gentlemen might make it a point to
adhere to their leader,' and carry him through with every thing
be proposed: but in such a case as the present, he conjured
gentlemen to reflect how improper, how unjust, how unfair,
it would be to pursue such a principle, when the private hon
our character, situation, and fortune of an individual was at
fake; upon these they were going to give judgment; and he
trusted that all party considerations would be absorbed in the
sense of their own private honour and conscience; and that the
principle of Mr. Grenville's law in the decision on contested
eleeions would be found to operate in the present case. Much
had been suggested about treachery; to that he would make
TO reply, because he was convinced that no one in that House
believed it, nay not even the accuser himfelf. Much had also,
on many occasions, been said of the regard the noble Earl,
whose conduct was the fubie& of the enquiry, had for his fitua
ti in. and the great desire he had to retain and preserve it : but
rght it not he inferred from this, that it was improbable he
Should do any thing, by which he might forfeit that situation ?
If he had an interest in preserving it, might not those who
charged him with mismanagement have an interest in driving
him for that situation? They certainly might: and therefore
gentlemen should be on their guard, left they should mistake
fr the enemies of Lord Sandwich, a fdndnefs for his situation,
ior a love of justice. .
The Hon. Member blamed the Admiralty for not having
tioned frigates off Brest, from January 1779 to March 1781.
The fad was truly Rated, but no charge ought to be deduced
from it; because little or no intelligence could be procured by
frigates looking into Brest, unless they had been sent there
from a squadron, as it were to dare the enemy to come out ;
the reason why in other cases no benefit could be derived was
this, the frigatemuft pass by Ufhant, and immediately fignah
would be made along the coast to Brest, to give notice of every
thing that was in the offing; and ships would be sent out to
drive away the frigate. Another charge made by the Hon.
Member was, that'no ships had been Rationed off Jersey, to
prote& that island: It the gentlemen knew what a dangerous
station it was for men of war, he would not be surprised that
there were none Rationed there in winter. The people on the
Bland had been always given to understand, that in case of a
sudden invasion, thev must trust to the forces on the island for
defence in the firft inflance; and that on the firft intimation in
England, of their danger, relief should be instantly dispatched
tothem.
With refped to the firft charge relative to the Comte de
Grade, the evidence which had been read, fufficiently pointed
out a reason, why he had not been intercepted. The relief of
Gibraltar was looked for by the whole nation ; and from the
best intelligence, which the Committee had heard read, it was
vnderftood that the Spaniards intended to meet us, and give
us battle. The intelligence, as the Committe had heard, bad
held this language for two months: the Spanish force was feme
times varied in the accounts ; but the force was generally fluc
tuating from 30 to 36 fail of the line, besides frigates, and 18
fire ships, cohered for the purpose of burning the British fleet
in passing through the Streights. To oppose such a force, it
was highly necessary to get together a fleet that should put it
out ofthe power of chance to defeat our expedition : such a
force was collected; and would it have been prudent to have
rifqued the loss of Gibraltar on the bare chance of meeting
with Mons. de Grade? Would it have been confident with the
spirit of the nation, to have taken any step that would look as
if we had been bullied out of our purpose of relieving Gibral
tar, after the Spaniards had in a manner challenged us, after
they had thrown down the guantlet, when they drew their fleet
in line of battle across the mouth of the Streights ? All Europe
looked at the time for an engagement between the two fleets ;
the Spaniards were sure of it ; and, when the British fleet ap
peared in fight of Gibraltar, the besiegers could scarcely be
fieve their eyes; and on that day they firft opened their batte
ries against the town. In themean time out fleet in the Weft
indies had not been forgotten; information was dispatched to
Sir Samuel Hood by a frigate, ofthe failing of Comte de Graffe,
and when she latter arrived, he did not feel himfelf fupcrior as
the Hon. Member seemed to represent him, for he three days
conftanfly refufed the challenge which Sir Samuel was daily
giving him to renew the engagement. But, the Hon. Member
would fay, why were not some flips detached to the Weft-
Indies from Admiral Darby's fleet? The reason was obvious;
it was upon that fleet alone we had to depend for the defence
of our coasts, the protection of the channel, thc&fety of our
envoys, old the annoyance ofthe Dutch.
As tb the fecorid charge, the loss of the St. tuftat^ can
voy; he would fay that there had been much mwe reason to
suppose that Mons. de la Motte Piquet was bound for America,
than for the coast of Ireland; but that as soon as his real defti
nafion was known, two frigates had been dispatched to meet
the Jamaica fleet and the St. Euftatius convoy: one of them
was fortunate enough to fall in with the former, which went
North about and eleaped all danger: unfortunately the other
frigate did not meet with Commodore Hotham; and the mif
fortune, which it was the with of the Admiralty to avert, fell
upon the convoy. The Hop. Member ridiculed the idea of fend
ing a frigate to Admiral Darby long after the capture ofthe
convoy; but the convoy was very near being re-taken ; for as
soon as the frigate reached the fleet, Admiral Digby wa> de
tached with ten fail to look out for Mons. de la Motte Piquet,
and he came so near him, that one night a snip of each squa
dron had a very fhaip engagement.
The third charge relative to the combined fleets, and the
letter to the Mayor of Bristol, was of much less weight than
tiie gentleman seemed to think; and firft as to the combined
fleets; the matter of a brig said he had been boarded by a Spa
nish frigate, and that die belonged to a very large fleet of men
of war ; and the Admiralty did not believe the intelligence.
Truly it would be a dangerous thing to be in office, if. a Mni
fter was to have a charge made against him in Parliament every
time he should be found not to have believed the story that
should have been told him by a merchantman! Oh! but the
matter of the brig was an Englishman, and therefore his intel
ligence might be relied on. This war had afforded instances
that an Englishman could betray England as well as an enemy
could. Well, but his journal confirmed his story. Yes; but
it was possible it might have been made for the very purpose of
confirming the story. The reason why the Admiralty did not
believe the intelligence, was, that it was direeftiy contrary to
the whole tenor of the information they had from Spain; from
which it was conjectured, that most probably a part of the
fleet was cruizing off Cape Spartel, while another part was sent
to Minorca. On the other hand, the Admiralty fnppoling
the matter of the brig not to have imoofed upon Admiral Dir
by, accounted for the fleet he had seen a* a great distance, m
this manner: just about that time a very large convoy of 100
fail of transports was to fail from the Isle of Rhe and might at
the time bejuft in the latitude, in which the matt r of the brig
said he saw a large fleet. It was upon this principle that the
answer to the Mayor of Bristol was made, and not for the pur
pose of decoying the trade of Bristol into the hands of the ene
my. just as Capt. Moutray, as the Hon Member was pleafcd
to fay, had been sent to deliver up his convoy to the Spaniards.
Asti Captain Moutray, (it was with real concern of mind he
said it) he was censured by his judges for his conduct in that
affair; and indeed it was not without pain that he heard that
officer's name mentioned so often with very little refpec't; be
cause until that fatal day, when he loft his convoy, his name
flood high and unblemished in his profeffi in; and therefore he
had rather pass his name over in silence, than speak difrefpe(R
fully of a very gallant officer. The loss of the convoy might
be attributed to the merchants, who had ordered their hups
to touch at Madeira for wine. He did not blame Admiral Dar
by for returning to port for orders ; on the contrary, he thought
he aded for the good of the service, and confidently with that
judgment and skill which he displayed in the expedition to Gi
braltar. There were two reafens, why he won d neither blame
the firft Lord of the Admiralty, for having told the Mayor of
Bristol, that the fleet had put into Torbay, only to watei — we
was, that he did Hot think it necessary, that the Miyor ihould
be made acquainted with the reasons of our manoeuvres at Ra
the other was, that the Admiral had, in one of his letters said,
he would put to sea again with the firft fair wind ; this did not
look like an intention in him t)remain cooped up in Torbay.
The fourth charge had perhaps less. in it than any of the
former. The reason Admnal Parker did not flop before the
Texel to prevent the Dutch from coming out, was, that he
had a very great convoy to carry out, and another frill more
valuable to bring home: perhaps indeed this latter might be
called the matt valuable that ever reached England; for it
brought ns home naval fapplies of all forts, fufficient for the
exigencies of our whole navy for two years. He was free to
confeft at the fame time, he did not think it would be a mark
of very great prudence in Government to Ration a fleet in the
'Lexel; he had never indeed served in the North Seas; but
still was of opinion, the Texel would be too dangerous a Ration
for a squadron. The uncertainty of the latitude in which the
Vice Admiral might be met with, was the reason why the
Sampson had not been sent to him direffly : but she was sent
to the Gun fleet, where the Admiral was acquainted by a fri
gate, which failed before the Samson was ready, she might be
found, if he should stand in need of her. His Lordship ex
prefled his fatisfaftion, that the Honourable Member had dis
covered his error, with refpedt to the Berwick: from that
circumstance, however, he hoped gentlemen would learn not
to trust much to the Honourable Member's assertions, as they
had now a proof that he often mide them without any grounds;
and he flattered himfelf that they would require fufficient evi
dence for every assertion made: though evidence was a thing
which the Honourable Member did not seem much inclined to
wdh for; it was his worst enemy, as it detected in many in
fcances, where he expedited that his friends would swallow, his
assertions, for proofs: they had now a very recent inßance
that if they did, they would be the dupes of their own cre
dulity. .
With regard to Admiral Kernpenfelt's cruise, nothin, new
came out ; that fubjeft was so much difeuffed before the ho
lidays, that not any light was thrown upon it.
As to the honourable Commodore (Stewart) to whom the
honourable Member had alluded, his character did not Rand
in need of his praise ; and therefore it was unnecessary for him
to fay, that he was a gallant and an able officer. If the Ration
in which be had been placed by the Admiralty, had not ap
peared to him the most proper for watching the Dutch, he
would have remonstrated again!! that Ration ; and as he did not
remonstrate against it, it was flattering to the board that an
officer of his skill and judgment should approve of the Ration.
Jf, on the other hand, he did not intercc pt Admiral Byland,
there was every reason to believe from the zeal, a&ivity, gal
lantry and skill of that Commodore, that it was because the
thing was impossible.
His Lordship concluded by observing, that the Committee
was going to pronounce on the character of an old and faith
ful servant of the Crown; and as he t^ußed that in either ac
quitting or condemning him they would be swayed only by evi
dence, so he trusted that they would find in the papers that
had been read to them, ample evidence of the innocence,
merit and activity of the Earl of Sandwich.
Mr. Alderman Neiunham complimented Lord Mulgrave on
the ingenious defence cf his friend, and Rid it did justice both
to his head and to his heart. He blamed Admiralty for having
so far given way to the merchants, as to fuffer their ships to
touch at Madeira; the failing of the convoy under Captain
Moutray, towardthat island, had been the ruin of many men
of property in London,
Lord Howe admitted the doctrine of Lord Mulgrave refpe&-
ing the frigates off Brest ; he thought the intelligence procured
from them very Uncertain; but Rill they were always able to
know, whether the enemy's fleets had failed or not. There
were places at Jersey, where good anchorage might be found,
and fafe riding. The Texcl was dangerous, it was true; but
full he was of opinion, that we might h^e had a naval force
there ; mid he thought Commodore fohnftdne might have been
better employed there, than in failing for the Cape of Good
Hope, at a season when there was little reason to hope for file
cefs against that settlement. He saw no good reason for fend
ing leinforcements to the Weft-Indies in large squadrons; and
therefore he could not approve of keeping Sir George Rodney
waiting for a squadron, unless he had some secret expedition
to go upon in his way; but this was a fubjed on which he did
not ask a finglc queßion, because he thought it would be im
proper toaik one on that head. But in general two or three
ships might very well fail for the Weft-Indies; and if Sir
Samuel Hood had only three or four more ships, he did not
doubt but he would have defeated the French. His Lordship
spoke in very high terms of an offiicer, who in an engagement
under Admiral Knowles, had been a Lieutenant, and Rationed
between decks, and had been wounded from head to foot by
splinters. We could not hear the officer's name, but believe
it was cither Admiral'D^rby or Captain Moutray. From what
he had as yet heard, his Lordfhio said he would vote for the
motion ; but if he should hear any thing to alter his mind in
the course of the debate, he was open to conviction, and
would vote against the motion.
Mr. Webb condemned the Admiralty as usual, but particu
larly with.refpe<R to ffiip building in merchant yards. He said
he was glad to find, that what he had said before on the oc
cafron, had produced a good effect; for now he found that
contrasts had been made in all the yards in the river; in one
for a ihip of 90 guns. He would recommend it to the
board to give some expedition money to builders, and they
being enabled to employ more hands, and give better wages'
would launch ships in a very short time; by these means the
Shrewsbury had been built and launched in 14 months A
builder at Bristol had built with great dispatch, a ship of
so guns, and was promised a contrast for another 0f64 guns
but when the former was completed, he could not obtain the
contrast for the second, though, on the promise of it, he had
purchased to, pool, worth of timber; and now the yard lay
idle. Much had been said about the high price Mr. Wells had
demanded: from what had been said, he really had imagined the
price was exorbitant ; how greatly therefore was he surprised
to find that it was no more than two {hidings and fix-pence per
ton. the price for ships of 74 guns being i' 7 1. i zs . 6d. for (hips
?'; It: had been faid ' that the P roird stomach of
Mr. Wells had been brought down ; but in fa& it was the
proud stomach ofthe Admiralty, that had been brought down
by coming up within 2s 6d, of Mr. Wells'sprice: thenavy was
the only, at least the principal instrument of our fafety; and
as he found that it did not encreafe in the hands of the present
firft Lord of the Admiralty, he would vote for the motion.
Mr. % Townfed spoke in favour of the motion: but he
fleered clear of the fad and argument, contenting himfelf with
declaiming in really a very handsome Rile.
Mr. Penton spoke in defence of Lord Sandwich: and many
other Members on both sides took part in the debate.
At half past two 0 clock the Committee divided on Mr. Fox's
motion, when there appeared,
Forthe motion
. Aga ; nft it
Majority in favour of Lord Sandwich's administration, 22
NEWCOMEN & COLLET,
Are removed from No. 8, Bedon's Alley, to No. io Bread-fret/,
two doors from Gadsden's Alley,
, Where they have Opened
A frefh affortinent of DRY GOODS,
Which rhey wiP fell ^n verv reasonable terms for Cash.
WILLIAM SMIT H,
No. 33, Bat,
Has received by the Ships Jenny and Ann, from LIVERPOOL,
AFRESH fuppiy of the best Mess Pork and Beef, fine
Role Butrer, English Hams and Flour, which he will fel on
very reasonable terms.
"I)RUG S, MEDICINES,
AND SUNDRY
FAMILY MEDICINES, %. Wc.
are now Selling off,
At No. 9, in Orange-Street,
By Retail, much leaver than they are fold in Charleftown, bile SA*
scriber intending for England tvitb the firft Convoy;
The ASSORTMENT, consisting of every ufeful article, all
good and recently imported, will be fold at prime cost and charges,
to any perlon taking the whole, or to the amount of not less than
twenty pounds. SAMUEL CARNE.
Cbarleflonvn, February IT, 1,81.|
TO BE RAFFLED FO R,
A pair of compleat Canteens,
Fit for a General or Field Officer. Enquire of Mr. Robertson
Printer.
AS MACNAIR and MAXWELL are about declining
Bufincfs, they once more request all Perlons indebted to them
to call and fettle their Accounts.
They wish to dispose off their GOODS on Hand, consisting df
Wines, Groceries, Pickles, Perfumeries, &c. by Wholesale, on ver,
reasonable Terms, for Cash or Government Bills.
N. B. The House they at present occupy, to be Let, and imme
diate Possession given.
—
To be Let, and mar be Entered on immediately,
A convenient House in King-street,
Capable of accommodating a large family.
Apply to Wittyam Hoptow, or JOHN HOPTON.
To be Let and Entered upon immediately,
nonAT elegant and commodious HOUSE, No. 69, Meet-
I ing-Rreet. For particulars enquire of the Printers.
“(BE P E EMISSION.)
TO BE SOLD,
THE commodious HOUSE and LOT, No. 186, King.ftrp&,
fit for a tavern or a fore, with three rooms, a final! bare s
kitchen and (lore, a very large Rable and other buildings and corive
uiencics. The Lot in width is 50 feet qinches. and in dearth T4< feet.
*i. THOMAS EUSTACE, _
AS Daniel O'Hara intends going for New-York by the
next opportunity, intreats every person indebted to him, im
mediately to pay the fame.
10 be Sold for Cafo only, the remaining ^toch on hand:. l
Consisting of Madeira and Port Wines, by the pipe, quarter calk,
dozen or gallon; with sundry other articles in the grocery way,
fup#rfine flour by the barrel; fh ; n buifeuit by +Le hundred. ||
-— I —• —_ '
RUN away from the fubferiber the 23d of May iaft, a
gro boy named TOM, about feventecn years of age, is
artful, and having a pass signed by Col. Robert Ballingall no doubt]
will attempt to hire himfelf out. This is to forewarn all persons 1
whatever from hiring or harbouring the said bey; and all 1
of vessels from carrying him off the province. A reward of ON /
GUINEA will be paid to any person delive ing him to the keepeff
of the Sugar-House, or to William Burt, at No. I, South-Eap
Gbarlfmn, lstb, 17^