The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-08-29 00:00:00, page 2

embargo is laid on all merchant ships, and the sai
lors taken out to man the men of war as faft as they
can be got ready for sea ; so that in a short time we
shall have one of the most powerful fleets in Eu
rope."
Some very unfavourable reports are spread respec
ting Gibraltar; if we may believe these reports,
which are said to derive their source from an officer
on board the Union man of war, almost the whole
of that fortrefs is levelled with the ground, by the
severe bombardment and cannonade made against it
by the Spaniards, at the time we were relieving the
place. On this occasion, also fay these reports, the
store houses were set on fire, upwards of three hun
dred of the inhabitants killed, and the rest obliged
to take refuge out on the open rock and in the fields.
That the bombardment and cannonade were terri
ble, is very certain, but how such prodigious da
mage could be done against a place built upon a rock,
and amid works bomb proof, is not so easy credible.
The whole of this report, therefore, may be resolv
ed into a few sheds demolished, and some other
wooden buildings destroyed, but cannot be extended
to any real detriment done to the works.
The military in Edinburgh cattle are ordered to
hold themselves in readiness to march, in case any
landing shall be attempted. A party of dragoons are
set off from Muffelburgh for Dunbar, where it is said
that a camp will soon be formed, to consist of icoo
foot.
The French and Spaniards have taken within a
short time, about thirty fail of British ships near the
channel, fix of which are flout privateers ; this is a
sign that we are not Lords of the Ocean.
If the Jamaica fleet are taken, as there is too
much reason to apprehend, it will not only give an
immediate blow to publick credit, but will mount
the price of insurance almost to a prohibition on im
portation and exportation. A circumftancc not to
be thought of but with horror by a commercial nation.
Extract of a letter from Captain James Devereux, of
the Drawblood privateer of 12 guns, from Milford,
to his owners, dated Cork, March 12.
" I am to inform you, that at eight this morning,
I arrived in the cove of Cork, in a most shattered
condition, having on the 6fh instant, in a thick fog,
Cape Clear bearing N. N. E. distant about 14 leagues,
fallen in with the Vrow Petronella, Berand Jan on
Klyne, commander, a Dutch letter of marque, car
rying 18 nine pounders, and roo men, which flhip we
engaged near three hours, when she struck to us.
She proves to be a very' valuable prize, about 700
tons, laden with naval stores, bound to Cadiz.
In the a'Jon we had our foremaft Ihot away by the
b^ird, car maiumatt very much wounded, and re
ceived several ihot between wind and water ; we had
five men killed at helm, and loft on the whole 11
killed, and 16 wounded. The Dutchman had 28
killed, and 30 wounded, among the former are the
Captain, and two gentlemen who were paflengers."
It is laid the whole of the Spanish fleet, confiding
of 33 fail of the line, besides frigates, names as be
low, have actually failed from Cadiz, and have been
seen fleering towards the very trad in which our
Jamaica and other homeward bound fleets must
necessarily come in the course of their passage.
The Trinidade, Don El Pafquilla 70
Cordova, Comman- El St. Joakim 70
der in Chief, 120 El St. Vincent 70
The Conceptione 90 El Orienti 70
The Couleur 80 El Deligent 70
El St. Gabriel 80 El Africa 70
El Rayo. Don Selay- El Terrible 70
don, third in com- El Formande 70
mand, 80 Brihome 70
El Teunante, Don The Angelo Gard 70
Gallon, fecondin El Prender 70
command, 80 Magnanime 70
El Gallicia 70 El Minno 64
El Septemtrione 70 El Efpana 64
El Venugar 70 El St. Leandre 64
El Raphael 70 Leandre 64
El Atlas 70 Fadora 64
El Firmi 70 Aminea 64
El Seriofe 70 Sifterefono 64
El St. Eugenio 70
May 31. Advices from the Hague fay, that a fleet
will soon fail from the Texel of ftven fail of the line,
with 2000 land forces, who are certainly designed
for the Weft-Indies, where the arms of France are
to co-operate with them to regain St. Euftatia, and
the settlements taken by the English.
The Soleil transport, of 250 tons, with a company
of grenadiers on board, from Cherburgh to Brcft,
was loft on the 14th instant upon the rocks, three
leagues S. E. ofßreft, and only 30 privates and 1 Lieu
tenant laved. The company consisted of 100 men
complete. The mate and three of the crew were
also loft.
The Superintendant of Naval matters at Havre de
Grace has received preremptory orders from Paris,
to prepare transports fufficient for the reception of
4000 men, with full four months provisions for the
fame, and to give notice to the war-office when they
are ready.
The French are collecting a great force at Mau
ritius; besides two fleets, one of eight, and the
other of fix fail of the line known to be there, orin
India. Information is said to be received of four
fail of the line more, and seven frigates, which have
run thither in finglc ships of war; each as thexon
vuy of several transports full of troops, &c.
LISB O N, April 14.
They write from Coimbra, that a few days ago
they had a furious tempest, with hail of a prodigious
size, which fell with such violence, that though it
lasted but fix minutes it has destroyed all the vines,
and spoiled all the produce of the country, and
caused many other damages.
Florence, April 13. We have accounts that the
earthquake which was felt here on the 4th, has
done great damage in Romania, several high roads
are broke up, houses and churches beat down, and
near the rock of St. Caffian, a mountain split in two
with a violent noise. We do not hear but of two
lives loft; the persons were brothers, and both
lying in one bed.
Civita Vechia, April 20. The Viper, an English
privateer of 18 fix pounders, flopped here the 18th
to take in provisions, and failed again yesterday
evening. A Dutch prize she had taken off Malta,
named the Neptune, and which was sent in here to
be fold after being condemned by the Admiralty
Court at London, has given r;fc to a cunteft on the
part of a merchant of Lisbon, the proprietor of the
cargo. The Count de Menefes, his faithful Majesty's
Miniftcr at Rome, has made some reprefentatiohs
on this head to Cardinal Pallavicini, Secretary of state,
to prevent the disposal of the cargo by the taker, till
orders fliould arrive, from the Court of Portugal.
By a convention between the two Courts it is stated,
it is said, that in case England fliould declare war
against any neutral power, she fhali grant a Effici
ent time to advertise the neutral ships of such war,
in order to shelter, by such declaration, the propri
eties of the fubjefts of the Court of Portugal, with
out which the prizes fliould not be deemed lawful,
and England not having given proper time to the
Dutch, we ardently with to know how this contest
will be decided.
BOSTO N, August 9.
Since our last a vessel bound from Pool, in Eng
land, to Newfoundland, captured by a Salem priva
teer, arrived in port; the failed from thence some time
in June, and by a gentleman who was a passenger
when captured, we learn, that the ambassadors from
the several belligerant powers, and of the armed neu
trality, had met in Vienna in May, but that the am
bassador from the British court, 011 their firft meet
ing, declared that he had no authority fiom his
court to accede to an ambassador from the United
States in North-America having a feat among them,
in confluence of which they immediately broke up ;
That on the dissolution of the Congress, the Ruffian
fleet immediately put to sea, and were to proceed to
the Texel, with the most positive orders from the
Empress of Ruffian to protest the Dutch commerce
at all events: That the several powers which com
pose the neutrality had insisted that the court ofPor
tugal should accede to the confederation, or take a
decisive part, and as they had 15 fail of line of bat
tle ships ready for the sea, 'twas said they would
immediately comply with the former requisition:
That the French King had made a demand on the British
of all the property taken at 'Statia, and if it was not
complied with, that he should immediately confifcate
as much property in the islands of Dominica and
Grenada, as would compensate for the loss at the
island: That the whole 'Statia fleet bound to Eu
rope, captured by the French, had fafe arrived, ex
cept two ships, and that the English merchants had
determined to enter a regular prosecution against
Admiral Rodney, for the unjustifiable seizure of their
property at that place. In consequence of the above
important occurrences taking place, 'twas generally
thought in England a peace must unavoidably soon
take place.
We learn that the squadron under the command of
Admiral M. de la Motte Piquet, has taken a fleet of 18
British ships from Lisbon, bound to Newfoundland,
their convoy only escaped.
Aug. 16. Yesterday arrived here, in fifty days
from Brest, his Most Christian Majesty's frigate Ma
gicienne, of 36 guns, together with a transport,
having on board cloaths and warlike stores of all
kinds, on account of the United States. A number
of French gentlemen of the army and navy, came
passengers in the frigate, among whom is Colonel
Armand, a gentleman who has highly distinguished
himfelf in the cause of the United States; he has
brought over with him, arms, eloathing, &c. com
plete for his legion, now at head quarters.
By these vessels we have a confirmation of the
taking of the homeward bound 'Statia fleet of 25
fail, the two British ships, their convoy, escaped,
the value of those taken, is estimated at fifteen mil
lions of French livres : That the French grand fleet
failed from Brest the 23d of June, in order to join
the Spanifli fleet at Cadiz, which, when effected,
will amount to forty ships of the line, besides fri
gates, &c. That the Dutch fleet of about twenty
fail of the line were still lying at the Texel: That
the British grand fleet of twenty-three or twenty
four fail of the line, were in port, and it is said
will not attempt to put to sea : That M. de Suffrin,
commanding five French ships of the line, on his
passage to the East-Indies, met with Commodore
Johnftone who also had under command, five British
ships of the line, and a number of transports, bound,
it is said, on an expedition against the Dutch settle
ments at the Cape of Good Hope, when the squa
drons of both nations had an engagement, and after
a severe conflict the British gave way, and were
forced to seek protection under the guns of a for
on the coast of Portugal: The French took twe
British transports of the above fleet: That th<
Dutch at the Cape of Good-Hope were ftrongl,
fortifying that place, and that a British ship richly
laden, inadvertently going into that port, was taken
by the Dutch.
PROVIDE N C E, Aug. ir.
On Thursday returned into port, having sprung
her mast, the privateer sloop Success, John B. Hop
kins, Esq. Commander, and brought in the brig
Rose, from New-York, bound to Charleftown, with
dry goods 011 board to the amount of about four
hundred pounds Iterling.
The sloop Crawford, of this port, late command
ed by Capt. Hill, is arrived at Be v e r l y .—On her
passage to Europe, with a cargo o f tobacco, she
was captured by a British cruizer, and retaken bv
the privateer Scourge, of Salem. J
A gentleman from Salem mfo rms , that a snow
from Madeira, bound to Quebec, with 500 pipes
ot wine on boaid, arrived at Salem on Wednefdav
late.—She was captured by the privateer Tvser of
that place. '
On Wednesday a flag of truce returned to New-
London no, Ne,-York, and brought about 60
Ameiicans that hau been prisoners there. Among
them are Capt. Jacobs, his officers, and some of the
men, late belonging to the privateer sloop Kingbird
A pnvateer bug from New-York, mounting u
guns, ano having 18 others in hei hold, is taken
by the privateer bug Marquis la Fayette, and carri
ed into New-London. t
^ b :^ fr ^ C °^ b ? und to New-York, laden
uith beef, butter, &c. is taken by the privateer
sloop Jay, of New-London, and carried into that
port.
Th" Ph' GHKEEPSI E, August 20.
The following account from Schoharie, and ac
counts of the captivity and release of Mr Bleeck
er, and the robbery of General Schuyler's house.
mentioned in our last, came too late for our pa
per of last week.'
About the 25th ult. between 20 and 30 Indians
and lories made their appearance at Schoharie and
went to a house where they found a woman wi h
two toils, nearly grown up, and some other chil
dren - One of the sons they barbarously murdered
, the pretence of the mother, tho' no refinance had
bt ' n ° ; "' ° ther ' altcr fctti ng fire to the house,
which the woman, however, found means to extin^
guifli, they carried off. They killed two other un
armed men, who fell in their way, burnt one house
^° ^ "T e proceeding to the house
ot Majoi Becker; but being discovered before thev
got quite to the house, the Major, with two other
men, took their arms, and in a short time beat them
off, leaving one of their wounded in the field; and
from the discovery of blood in several places, 'tis
probable that was not all the loss. The gallant be
haviour ot Major Becker and the two men, not only
does them great honour, but in all probability, pre
vented much greater mifchief being done in the
neighbourhood.
! V r ^ the , plea ^ re of infor ^ing the publick,
J°b n Bleecker, Elq ; who some days since, was
kidnapped at his place at Tomheneck, a few miles
above Albany, is re-taken and fafely returned to Al
£ y '~"™ taken b y a P art y under the command
of one Howard, who had his orders in writing, from
Colonel St. Leger, commanding at St. John's
Howard and his party were secured by some people
on the Grants, who went in pursuit of them, and it
is expeded they will meet the fate, which a practice
io contrary to the law of nations, merits.
It appears that the British are not ashamed to em
ploy their adherents, thus to deal away inhabitants
out of the country ; and even condefeend to offer
rewards for the encouragement of this low unmanly
business. 1
On the evening of the 7 th inst. a certain Captain
Meyer, formerly ot Albany county, now of Rogers's
rangers^ at the head of 18 or 20 men, came to the
","5 01 General Schuyler, at Albany, and on b
refuted admittance at the back gate, they forced
entered the kitchen, and had proceeded to the back
hail, before they were met by four white men ?nd
two blacks, who on difeovering them, had been for
the ,, rn ,— the brave opposition made by these men
?^"' afforded General Schuyler time to gain
his bed-room, where his arms were depofittd-b,
this time the enemy had taken two of the men,
wounded a third, and obliged the fourth, with the
negroes, to leek shelter in the cellar.—Some of the
party then attempted to surround the house, whilst
others entered it -Those in the quarter exposed to
General Schuyler s fire, retired on the firft discharge
—tho he repeated the fire frequently, to alarm the
town. In the mean time Meyers, with some of the
P,,' bad ''' U P stairs, in the passage leading to
the bed-room, but, on their hearing the General call
to the citizens, to hasten up and furrouud the house,
retired with precipitation.—Tho' the citizens made
all poffibie dispatch, and their approach was proba
bly the means of the villains going off, yet they came
too late the party had carried off the two prisoners,
and some of the General's plate.—General Clinton
immediately on the alarm, had ordered out a party
of the regular troops, but as they were more remote
than the citizens, they consequently could not ar