The Royal South-Carolina gazette — Charles-Town, S.C., 1782-03-05 00:00:00, page 1

LONDO N.
Admiralty-Office', qtb\ December 1781.
Extras of a letter from Captain Macbride, of the Artois
of 40 guns, to Me. Stephens dated in the Humber, the
4th infant.
THE information 1 had of two stout privateers having
failed on a cruize, fee med well founded. I concluded that
our east country trade would be their object ; in consequence
I made fail, dire^ing our course to the northward, striking
the Dogger Bank in the parallel of Flamborough-head,
about twenty leagues distant, deeming that quarter the most
likely to fall in with them.
At ten o'clock yesterday morning saw them ; they flood for
us with much confidence. About two o'clock I brought
them both to action, paid only attention to the one on our
quarter, till we had effectually winged her, then pushed for
ward and clofcd the other which was engaged on our bow.-
In about thirty minutes (he struck ; sent a boat on board to
take possession, and wore round after the other who. was
making off; who also struck on our coming up. They pro
ved to be the Hercules and Mars, two privateers belonging
to Amsterdam, mounting 24 nine pounders, and ten cohorns
reach ; are perfeCHy new and alike ; fail as faft as the Artois,
and the bompleteft privateers I ever saw ; cost upwards of
20,c001, commanded by two Hogenbooms, father and son,
inhabitants of Flushing. The father was well known last
war, by the nickname of John Hard-apple, had a fchoote
privateer, with a French commission out of Flushing, and
did much milchief to our trade ; he was sent on purpose to
command those privateers.
They failed from the Texel the 20th of November, had
only taken one of our fifhing smacks.
The Hercules had 164 men on board thirteen were kil
led, and twenty wounded ; the Mars had 146 men ; nine
were killed, and fifteen wounded. We had one man killed
and fix wounded.
I beg you to represent to their Lordships, that I am ranch
indebted to the attention of my offi :ers and people in securing
both these gentry. Our rigging and fails are cut, and fore
topmaft unserviceable.
St. James's, December 18.
The following extracts of letters from the Bast-Indies have
been transmitted by the Court of Directors of the East-
India Company to the Earl of Hilhborougli one of his
Majesty's principal Secretaries of State.
Extrafl of a letter from the Chief Fablers at Anjengo, to the
Court of Directors, dated on the 6th Day of August, 1781.
Received over land on the igtb of December.
The Morning Star cruiser from Bombay, having called
here on her yay to Baffaron, we embrace the opportunity of
communicating to your Honours the pleating intelligence
of Sir Eyre Coote having entirely defeated the army of
Hyder Ally Caun in a general engagement, between Porto
Novo and Mooteapollam, on theist of last month, the par
ticulars of which your Honours will be fully informed of
by the accompanying extract of a letter from Sir Eyre Coote
to Colonel Braithwaite, at Tanjore, dated the 6th ult,
which was transmitted to the Resident, by Captain Edington,
(the Commandant at Palamcotah) who has likewise advised
him of the following particulars.
That the Swallow packet reached Madras on the zzd of
June, and the Rodney packet also on the 1 ith ult. the
latter having parted with the fleet foe failed with from Eng
land on the sth of April, in latitude 28 north : That the
army commanded by Sir Eyre Coote passed Permacail on
the 18th ult. with a view of effecting a junction with the
large detachment of Bengal troops, which, with three bat
talions from the northern Circars had for sometime been on
their way to Madras's, where, by the last accounts, they
rere nearly arrived./
Extras of a letter from Sir Eyre Coote; to Col. Braith
waite, dated July 6, 1781.
The 3d inst. I had the pleasure to acquaint you of the
success of our little army, in a general action the ill instant
with Hyder Ally between Porto Novo and Mooteapollam.
It lifted eight hours, and was a hard fought day oh both
sides. The enemy's' force confined of 25 battalions of
infantry, 400 Europeans, from 40 to 50,000 horse, and
above 100,coo match-lock men, Peons and Polygars, with
forty-feven pieces of cannon well served. Our second line
having occupied some heights by which cur rear was se
cured, I advanced with the firft towards the enemys guns,
many of which, had we h^d a body of cavalry, must have
fallen into our hands. Theftmade repeated attempts to force
us with their horse, and kept up-a-hrifk cannonade, which
for a long time our heavy fire could not silence. Yielding
at length to the ftcadinefs, spirit, and bravery of our com
paratively final! number of troops, they retreated preci
pitately, and left us masters of the field. Meer Saib
(Hyder Ally's favourite General) received a mortal wound ;
and among 4000 killed are many of the principal officers.
On our fide we loft very few officers, and from 3 to 4000
killed and wounded. You will be pleased to communicate
this fortunate event to all the fonthern garrisons.
Ine foregoing is a true cooy of an extract which I re
ceived from Captain James Edingtons..
(Signed) ~J. A. MORLEY.
Extrad of a letter from the Sclefl Committee at Bombay,
dated July 28, 1781.
We have given orders tor, difpoffefling the Dutch of their
factories at Broach and Surat. We have had advices of the
latter being effected, and have reason to believe a consider
able property will be found belonging to the Dutch East-
India Company, which shall be secured for the benefit of
be English Eaft-Indin Company.
SUPPLEMENT
Admiralty Oficc, December 18, 1781.
SIR Richard Pearson, Captain of his Majesty's ship Are
thufa arrived at Spithead yesterday afternoon from Rear Ad
miral Kempenfeit, with dispatches for Mr Stephens, of
which the following is an extract.
To the Royal South-Carolina GAZETTE.
Charlestown: TUE S D AY, March 5, 1782.
Victory, fa Sea, December 14, 1781.
YOU will please to acquaint my Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty, that the 12th inst. soon after day-light,
Ufhant then bearing N. 61 East, distance 35 leagues, the
frigate looking out to windward, made signal for feeing a
fleet in the S. E. the wind then in that quarter, upon
which I made signal for the two decked ships and frigates
to chace, and crouded fail in the Victory. At nine o'clock
we could perceive they, were Peering large to the westward ;
at half paftten obfer^ed several ships of the line a consi
derable way a-head, and upoft our lee bow, forming in or
der of battle, upon which I made the signal for the line ;
but having a profyed of puffing between the enemy's ships
of war, and a great part of their convoy, I continued a
prefled fail, with a view of cutting them off, and succeeded
in part ; several struck to us $ the exadt number I cannot
acquaint you with, and am apprehensive that some which
struck were not taken pofleffion of, the evening coming on,
and it blowing frefh with thick weather. By crouding fail
to effea this, several of our ships were far 4-stern, so that
to form a line proper for action, would have been impossi
ble to effect it before dark ; I therefore tacked to join the
fternmoft ships, at the fame time making the signal for the
order of failing, to get the fqqadron connected,. after which
I put upon the fame tack with the enemy. At day-light
the next day, we saw them to leeward, upon which I
formed the line; but perceiving their force so much supe
rior to my squadron, I did not think it advifeabl'e to ha
zard an action.
Inclofed you have a lift of their force, which all the
officers (prisoners) that I have spoke with agree in, and
which corresponds, as to number and force of the ships,
with the Victory's and reconnoitering ships observations. .
As soon as I can colled the prizes together, I shall
fend them in under the protection of some ships of the
squadron.
When we got amongst the convoy, the Triumphant of
84 guns, who had kept with them, in bearing down to
join their squadron, passed close across the Edgar's fore-foot,
(the leading ship of our line) and gave her a smart raking
fire, which fortunately did not do much execution. The
Edgar's conduct upon this occasion was masterly: She avoid
ed being direftiy raked, by judiciously; bearing up as the
enemy passed her, and immediately after luffed to the wind,
and brought her broad-fide right angles with the enemy's
stern, throwing in a well directed fire, Which we could per
ceive was very effectual; the next morning w§ observed
the Triumphant in the French line with his maintop-mast
and main-yard gone.
Lift of Line of Battle Ships with the French Convoy.
La Bretagne no Mons. La Compte De Guichen (ift.)
L'lnvincible 110 -
Le Majeftieux 110 Mons. Ie Compte de Rochouart (ad.)
L^Royal Louis iix Mons. de Bauffet (4th.)
Le Terrible 110
La Couronne 84 Mons. de la Motte Piquet (3d)
Le Triumphant 84 Le Marquis de Vandreuil
Le Pegafe \ 74 Le Brave 64.
Le Magnifique 84 Le Robufte 74
L'Afliff 74 Le Fondant 74
L' Dauphin Royal 70 L'Argonaut 64
Le Bien &kne 74 Le Lion g 4
Le Zodiaque 74 Le Indien 64
L'Alexandra } Armed en Flutes
R. KEMPENFELT.
N. B. Rear-Admiral Kempcnfelt's squadron consisted of
twelve fail of the line, one Ibip of 50 guns, four frigates, and
one fire-foip.
Sir Richard Pearson relates, that the captured ships are
chiefly laden with artillery and ordnance stores, and have on
board between poo and 1000 troops.
Admiralty Office, December 19, 1781.
Extract of a letter from Capt. Bligh, of his Majesty's ship
,Nemesis, to Mr. Stephens; dated at Milford-Haven the
16th instant.
BE plcafed to acquaint my Lords Commiffoners of the Adu
miralty, that just 11010 arrived here two French merchantfhips,
prizes to bis Majesty's ship Tartar, one of Rear Admiral
Kempcnfelt's squadron. The prize masters, who are both pet
ty officers, have informed me that about 18 fail and a large fri
gate that bad put through the . center of our line, had struck.
These twoprizes are named the London and La Minerva ;
the former had, when taken, between four and five hundred
soldiers on board for America, chiefly Dutch and Hefiar.s ; has
brought in with ber one hundred and twenty, which Ifhall
take care to deliver up to the Commissary for prisoners at this
port. The latter is laden with military dores, &c.
[ By another account received from the fame place, it appears
that one of the aforementioned transports is about 250 tons, has
4 guns, and 39 men, is laden with naval and military fores
and cf considerable value. The other 300 tons, 4 gum, and
300 men, including fhip's crew and soldiers, and is also 'laden
with fores.
By an account from Plymouth, it appears, the Hero, another
of the prizes taken by Rear-Admiral Kempenfelt's feet, is
fafe at that port.]
Admiralty-Office, December 21, 1781.
Extract of a letter from Vice-Admiral Milbank, Command
er in Chief of his Majesty's ships and vessels at Plymouth,
to Mr. Stephens, dated December 18th, 1731.
Lieutenant Saunders, frf Lieutenant of the Fiflory is this
moment arrived in the sip L' Abundance, a French prize,
armee en flute, and mounting eighteen 9 pounders, captured by
Rear-Admiral Kempenfelt's squadron. When taken, Jhe bad
the 36th regiment of French infantry on hoard, the officers of
which, and some of the soldiers are brought into this port. His
Majefty'sfhip Medway came in company with the L'Abundance
and four other prizes.
Sir George Rodney has been laid up for seve
ral days, at the Commissioner's house in Ply
mouth; but we have the pleasure to hear that he
is now perfectly recovered.
The Lucy tender, commanded by Lieutenant
Rowe, has taken and brought into Falmouth, a
privateer cutter from Dunkirk : She was cruizing
off Mount's Bay, to watch the motions of Sir
George Rodney: for which the master was pro
mised a considerable reward for any Satisfactory
intelligence on that head; which he might give
to the Commandant at Brest.
Mr Laurens was yesterday morning brought
up in custody of the Lieutenant Governor of the
T ower, to Lord Stormont's office, where he un-.
derwent an examination before the Secretaries of
State, one of the Chief Justices, the Attorney-
General and three more of the Cabinet Council,
and was afterwards difeharged at Lord Manf
field's chambers in Serjeant's Inn.
January 5. Sir George Rodney has written a;
letter to the Earl of Denbigh, which is now
handing about in the circles at the Weft end of
the town, in which he fays, that some time ago
he felt himfelf exceedingly disappointed at being
delayed in port so long; but that now he con
sidered it as a mod fortunate circumstance, Since
by that means he had received a reinforcement:
of fix Ships, and was now going out to the Weft-
Indies with fourteen clean Ships instead of eight,
with .which he did not doubt of being able to
give a good account of the fleet lately failed
from France.
Extras of a lettter from Plymouth, Jan. 1.
" Sir George Rodney meant to have failed
this forenoon, but the wind Shifted from N. E.
to N, to N. W. and W. and continues so vari
able, that it is fpppofed he will not fail till there
is a profpea of the wind being quite fair. The
ships which are ready to join him here, are in
excellent order, and the crews in high health and
Spirits,
" Remain in the Sound, the Namur of 90 guns
Hercules, Marlborough, and Lenox, of 74, Re
pulse, and Nonfuch, of 64, Squirrel of 20, and
Fairy Sloop."
NE W-YOR K, December 5.
When Lord Southampton made a motion in the
House of Peers, -on Tuesday the 27th of No
vember last, his Lordship commented on the
speech, and warmly commended the sentiments
it contained. To quit the contest for our do
minions in America, he said would be to destroy
the very being of this country. A principal part
of cur trade was so connected in that part of the
world, that commerce would feel a fatal blow in
the independence of the rebels ; and as every
noble Lord must confefs, that the Safety and su
premacy of England depended on her naval
Strength, so must they acknowledge that a league
and covenant, in its full effe& between America
and France, would cffentially weaken our navy,
by the want, of that fopply of Lores which the
country has long received from her colonies.
BLANKS of various Kinds
may be had of the Printer.
A reinforcement, confining of the undermen
tioned ships, will follow him off with the victu
allers, store-ships, transports, and trade-ships, as
soon as they are collected at Spithead, viz.
January t.
Government have received advice of the prin
cipal part of Mons. Vaudreuil's squadron having;
been seen Handing for Brest very much fattened;
in the late heavy gales of wind.
As the wind is come about, Sir George Rod
ney is expected to put to sea immediately, with,
the following ships, viz.,
Formidable 90
Namur 90
Arrogant 74
Conqueror 74
Fame 74
Marlborough 74
Hercules 74[
Duke 90
Berwick 74
Valiant 74
Magnificent 74j
Yarmouth 64
Anson 64
Nonfuch 64
Prothee 64
Repulse 64
Afliftance 50
j ßesides frigates
Fortitude 74
Agamemnon 64.
Renown 50
I Princess Caroline 50