The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1780-04-12 00:00:00, page 2

But, to be in a capacity to proceed on the original
plan, 1 have dispatched a packet-boat to New-York,
with a demand on that garrison, of which the inclof
ed is a copy. Your Lordfllip will perceive, that the
fuccour of men only, is made provisional ; I hesitated
on the measure I have taken; I hesitated, between
the danger to which New-York would be exposed,
and the necessity for prosecuting the views of govern
ment, in such a manner as to give them a moral cer
tainty of success ; and I cannot but persuade myfelf,
that my decilion on this matter, will meet the sanc
tion of your sentiments.
Till the result of this dispatch is felt, I fear left
every move we Ihall make, should fall Ihort of the o
riginal purpose ; and in this case, every move will be
a real misfortune : And yet, unhappily as we are cir
cumstanced, it appears of the utmost expediency that
we fhduld do something ; that we should approach
Charleftown, and either make a sudden attack upon
the place, or await favorable conjunctures, in its vi
cinity: We are preparing for this purpose, and with
every possible expedition, for every day raises frelh
bars to our expectations.
My advices from all quarters serve only to confirm
what I forefaw, previous to out. landing in this pro
vince. We no longer rest upon our firft foundation.
Our bad fortune has afforded Carolina leisure to think,
and to adopt itfelf to the degree and nature of the dan
ger, with which it was threatened: It has received
aids from North-Carolina : Reinforcements of caval
ry have also arrived from General Washington ; and
other reinforcements are also on their march. I,in
coln has been industrious and fuccefsful in putting
Charleftown in the belt posture of defence: A very
refpedable line of abattis is nearly compleated : The
advanced ditch is enfiladed on right and left by 24
pounders; and its scarp armed with fallen trees, the
trunks of which are obliquely funk into the earth,
in the manner of a fraize-work : The profiles of the
batteries are of the firlt rate, and the whole formi
dable by its artillery. The approach on either fide of
the neck, will be opposed by a number of armed ves
sels and moveable batteries, capable of giving us ex
treme annoyance. A defeent on the southern fide of
the town can only be attempted in flat-bottom boats;
and in the face of a numerous artillery ; and without
any on our part to cover the debarkation, when we
have forced the passes of Ashley river, and formed the
fiegc. These are but afew of the obftru€tions we must
encounter in a land attack : But should we succeed in
deftroyng the naval strength within the bar, we shall
have little to apprehend from these. The garrison,
in this case, must evacuate the town, or become pri
soners. The naval force of the harbour consists in four
continental frigates, two French armed ships, two
provincial ships, and fix vessels, molt of which are
mounted with heavy cannon. Now, my Lord, the
continental frigates only, anchored within distance
for defending the bar, are at haft formidable, if not
superior, to 'any naval force that can be brought a
gainst them. Your Lordship is well informed, that
nothing larger than frigates can enter with their guns
on bo ird, and evenfrigates must approach singly, and
be successively fubjedt, for a considerable time, to the
broad tides, which will rake them fore and aft ; while
theleaft falfe movement is lufficient to throw them
on the breakers.
This, my Lord, is but an incomplete fpecification
of the change in their circumstances. The policy
which you so much dreaded, is at length embraced by
South-Carolina. The people seem to have got over
their vain apprehensions, and have resolved on mak
ing foldicrs of a proportion of their working negroes.
They now perceive, that their fears on this head
were vifiouary, or founded on the deftrußive princi
ple of feh-mtereft ; which yields even less than the
» dow's mite with reluctance. They are now con
vinced, that a superior influence in the officer, will,
in every conjuncture, be the fame over men of a black
colour, as over ihofe of a different complexion. Nay,
that this influx nee will have a greater scope, as the in
tellects of those it directs have been deprived of the
advantages of improvement. That there are no bet
ter reaibns for presuming, that the negroes would be
averse from refiiming their old employments in the
field, than that the men which composed the Ameri
can army, would not at the conclusion of the war,
return to their former occupations. That, while the
black soldiers would augment the military strength
of the rebel state, they, at the fame time, would
guard the allegiance of those that remained on the
farms: And so far from leading to their desertion,
that they would stand as an insurmountable barrier
between them and us. That the blacks on the plan
tations would be flattered by feeing a part of their
brethren sharing in the dangers and honors of the
whites : And that, while this would serve to reconcile
those at home to their situation, it would form those
who were to become soldiers, to sentiments of coun
try, by interesting them in the foil which they were
called out to defend.
Thus, my Lord, are we deprived of another prin
cipal funport: But you may be assured, that all and
each of these sentiments have been severally and sepa
rately combated ; and that all and every means have
been pradifed against what has happened, and that
necessity, more than the reasoning of our enemy,
has forced the measure upon Carolina. There are
moments which will operate to the good of a com
munity, nothwithftanding the utmost policy to the
contrary.
Under the present circumstances of this people, even
the loss of Charleftown will but inconfidcrably affed
the province. In this case we should only have gained
a healthy situation for an unhealthy one ; or a place
where we might spend the hot months with least in
terruption. If we cannot, my Lord, deJiro, the spi
rit and resources of the province, by extending ourselves
to the utmost limits of your Lordship's inftruhtions,
we shall accompliih nothing substantial for Great-
Britain. The strength of North-Carolina, and the
neighbouring provinces, will keep gathering round
us, till we shall become contemptible in the eyes of
Europe, or fall an easy prey to a combined operation.
In these my confidential communications, I would
hope to be considered as only difeharging a part of
my duty to the state; I may regret, I may lament ;
but it ill becomes a servant of his Majesty, and an
Englishman, to misrepresent.
It is necessary, my Lord, that I should attach to
the state of rebel affairs, transmitted in my con
fidential letter of last September (No. 14.) my ob
servations since that period, down to the present:
The amount of my information does not leave a
doubt, but that Washington's army altho' crumbling
away bv the expiration of the times of service, of
his oldest and best soldiers, will be vigorously recruit
ed. Orders, Administration may rely upon it, have
issued from Congress, for the filling up and compleat
ing the quotas apportioned on the different Rates,
and which Ido myfelf the honor to enclose. And I
fear that the rebels will not leave a single expedient
untried to effect this business: They find themselves
impelled by the most powerful motives, to be in a
condition to force us from the continent, or in a capa
city to cope with the King's army now anting in A
merica, when joined by the fuccours which may be
expetted from Europe. Experience has taught them
the precariousness of that situation, which is with
out a superior army for its support. And lam oblig
ed to fay ofthefe people, that when they have once
afeertained their true policy, none are more obstinate
in its pursuit. Calculating, my Lord, upon this, and
my preceding information, it is, that I do not think
a less number of troops should be sent for the objects
of the present year, than what I have before fpeeified.
But should no reinforcements be sent; and should a
naval armament co-operate with the Americans, un
der the cifcumftances I have described, your Lord
ship at lead will have had prelufions of the result
I should be wanting to my civil commission in clos
ing this letter without a few reflections on the pre
sent state of the money of America.
Every day teaches me the futility of calculations
founded on its failure. No experiments suggested by
your Lordship ; no afliftance that could be drawn from
the power of gold, or the arts of counterfeiting, have
been left unattempted. But still the currency, like
the widow's cruile of oil, has not failed the Con
gress.—My hopes on this head, I must acknowledge,
were much higher twelve months since, than to-day.
With the appearance of an enormous quantity,
still it is all the debt which the people have to Itrug
gle with. And in t' is view, and when compared with
that of other nations, it shrinks into a very incouli
derable sum. The people begin to be sensible of this.
But on the other hand, all men, even the friends of
the British government, residing in the rebel dates,
would be immense fufterers, did the money fall to the
ground without a substitute. The different ads of
the dates, which made N a lawful tender, forced it
into every pocket. The continuance of the war;
the almost total dilappearance of specie, and the ne
cessity there was foremploying force medium for trade,
or auxiliary in the way of barter, assisted further in its
general promulgation ; till at length, every individu
al found his intcreft so closely connected with its va
lue, that it is candidly my sentiment, no efforts of
ours can make it less: If it is to be destroyed at all,
it can be only by Congress ; and in this case it will
undoubtedly be succeeded by some substitute, more
valuable and permanent. I shall nevertbelefs, my
Lord, continue, while I have the honor to command
in America, assiduous in the application of those
means entrusted to my care : If they cannot work its
deftrudtion, yet they may embarrass government,
and make the carrying on of the war more precarious,
burdensome, and less energetic.
I have the honor to be, with every sentiment of
respect, my Lord, your Lordship's most obe
dient, and very humble servant,
H. CLINTON.
The Right Honorable Lord George Germain,
one of bis Majejly's principal Secretaries of State.
L O N D O N.
fan. 4. Yesterday about noon, Capt. Marshall,
of the navy, arrived at the Admiralty, with dispatches
from Commodore Fielding, the contents of which are
as follow
That on the afternoon of the 31st of December lad,
one of his squadron, then on a cruize in the channel,
made the signal for fp,ing a fleet, which he imme
diately ordered to be chafed by his whole squadron ;
and that in a few hours he came within hail of it,
and found it to be a fleet of 17 fail of Dutch and
American merchantmen, under convoy of the Dutch
Admiral Bylant, with two ships of the line and two
frigates. Commodore Fielding immediately ordered
a barge out and sent his Captain on board the Dutch
Admiral, with his compliments, and begged to know
where that fleet was bound; at the fame time re
questing permission to search the merchantmen, agree
able to his inftru&ions : The Admiral sent his
Commodore Fielding immediately sent an officer
on board the Admiral, requeuing him to hoist his
flag again and pursue his voyage, since he (the com
modore) had fulfilled his duty in capturing the mer
chant vessels, which he must carry into pert.
.™ c Admiral xturne 1 for answer, that he thought
himfclf bound to share the fame fate with his convoy,
and should therefore proceed with them; but if the
commodore would*make l.is request in writing, that
he should hoist his colours, he would certainly com
ply with it : This being immediately done, the Dutch
Admiral and his fyuadron displayed their colours,
and saluted the Englifli flag with thirteen g^ns, which
was returned by Commodore Fielding ; who imme
diately after proceeded with the merchantmen, and
four Dutch ships of war, for ^pithead.
The fleet consisted of 27 fail of merchantmen, but
ten of them parted company the night before they
were seen by the English squadron.
Another account fays, that by the broad-fide in
return for the Dutch one received, 16 or 17 Dutch
men were killed.
Paul Jones was not incompany with the above fleet,
as is reported, but failed out of the Texel in a fog
gy night about a fortnight ago in a single fbip (the
Alliance; ) and from, the Dutch Admiral's account
went North-about, to avoid the frigates that were
cruizing for him.
Another account fays, Paul Jones failed from the
Texel with the above, but is put into Dunkirk.
As soon as the above intelligence was received at
the Admiralty, a copy of the dispatches were sent to
Count Welderen, the Dutgh AnAiaffador.
Limerich, Dec. 20. Lase Friday, in consequence of
an order from Lord North, there was a scene of re
joicing in this city, which we Ihgll attempt to describe,
though it would beggar dßefcription. In the morn
ing the bells were set a ringing, and the very children
caught the general joy and congratulated each other ;
at noon the whole body of the Limerick volunteers,
commanded by Tuomas Smyth, Esq ; fired three
rounds on the Mall, and at night they lined the main
street and firedagrand Feu de Joy. On this remark
able day a free trade began for the'llrft time, to the
no final! emolument of chandlers, and a number of
poor men and boys, who brought horse loads of clay
to town for A cieltiug candles to the windows, and in
a short time converted into handfuls of silver and
c Q?P erc oin. At night the illuminations were gene
ral, and exhibited on all sides of the river Shannon a
beautiful appearance, in a thousand different devices ;
the body of light was so ,-cat over the town that it
was ealily distinguished at the ten mile stone on Shal
lee Mountain, and brought thousands of the country
people to town, thinking it was on fire. When the
people were tired of perambulating the streets th p v
retired to their houses, and the Volunteers toL r ^
King s Head tavern, to pour out libations of genuine
whiikey at the Ihrine of St. Patrick, our titular Saint,
which was well drefied on this occasion, and crown
ed with a wreath of verdant shamrocks ; and to finifh
the night of this joyous day with feftivity and loyalty,
the following among other loyal toasts were given,
The King and Royal Family. A free trade and pros
perity to Ireland. The City of Limerick. Lord
North and the friends of Ireland in the British parli
ament. The patriotic Irish parliament, the Speaker
and Thomas Smyth, Esq. The memory of St. Patrick,
May England or Ireland never feel the horrors of a
civil war. The exports of Ireland. Peace with Ame
rica and war with all the world.
[Similar rejoicings were made in many of the trad
ing towns in Ireland on the above occafion.j
Captain back with a very refpedful answer, inform
ing the Commodore, that the Dutch men of war
were bound to different Rations in the Weft-Indies,
and the merchantmen for various ports of France;
moll of which he acknowledged were laden with
hemp and iron, but none with timber or cordage;
but that he must beg to be excused from permitting
their being searched, as his orders were equally posi
tive to the contrary. Commodore Fielding returned
for answer, that he hoped the Admiral would think
better of it the next morning, when he should be un
der the necessity of renewing the application. The
two fleets passed the night in company, and at day
break next morning (Jan. 1,) the Commodore le^
his Captain again with a more proffing message, ad
ding, at the fame time, that search the veflels he mult
at all hazards. The Dutch Admiral's reply was,
That he was sorry matters were likely to be brought
to such extremity, for that on boats attempting to
board any of his vessels, he should not fulfil his duty
without firing upon them—About ten o'clock there
fore the English Commodore ordered a boat from
every flop to be manned, and to row down to them
with colours flying, which was instantly complied
with ; but no footer did the Dutch Admiral perceive
the boats bearing down, than he fired a Riot at them :
Commodore Fielding immediately fired a shot a head
of the Dutch Admiral from the Namur, which the
latter returned with a broad- fide ; on this the Na
mur and Vigilant fired erch a broad - fide at the
Dutch flag-lhip from their upper and middle tiers,
when the Dutch Admiral struck his flag, as the rest
of his squadron and fleet. Fortunately, no lives were
loft 011 cither fide.
PROVIDENCE, March ir.
A flag of truce arrived at Marblehead a few days
since from Bermuda, and brought 39 American pri
soners, some of whom puffed through this town 0^