The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1780-06-14 00:00:00, page 2

[From Gaine's New-York Gazette of May 29.]
Translation of a letter from Don Juan de Langara,
to bis Excellency Don Andre Regio, Lieutenant-
General oj the Navy, and Commander of the Cadiz
Department.
SIR, Gibraltar, fan. 21.
THE bad weather which my fleet has endured
from the time of its entering the ocean on the
second of this month, the thick togs which prevented
me from taking the latitude, and the violent south
weft winds, not permitting me to reconnoitre the
land, I was obliged to direct my course according to
the bed calculation I could form, which placed me
in the latitude of Cadiz, and Cape St. Marie on the
N. N. E. quarter, till the 16th between one and two
in the afternoon, when I gave a signal to tack, and
run to the S. E.
During this manoeuvre the weather having cleared
up a little, they perceived, from the top malts of my
fliip, which formed the van guard, 20 fails, N. N.
W. I did not alter my Ration, but gave the signal
for forming the line, and preparing for action. The
line was formed by my nine vessels, le Phcenix, le
St. Augustin, le St. Eugene, le St. Dominique, le
St. Laurent, le Princeffa, le Diligent, le Monarque,
and le St. Julien. I placed to the leeward of us our
frigates la Sante Rosalie, and la Sante Cecile, toge
ther with the four prizes we had made. We remain
ed on the main-top-masts to make observations on
the strength of the fliips which went upon the fame
tack with us, and to take such measures as prudence
should direct. At two o'clock we began to distinguish
from below 20 large vessels, and 90 small ditto. We
judged them from their signals to be enemies, but
were not able to difeover their force. While they
remained at the distance of three leagues from us,
we counted 22 fliips of the line, of two and three
decks, and several frigates, which were divided in
two columns, the one running northward, and the
other seeming to intend doubling upon our line, and
thereby cutting off our retreat.
The superiority of the enemy determined me to
take advantage of the weather, to enquire of the
C >mmanders by signal, if they did not think it ad
vifeable to gain the firft port, and their opinions be
ing unanimous for it, I gave orders for making the
firft port in the order of retreat, by a forced fail.
At three o'clock I bore eastward to engage the
enemy to run into the Bay of Cadiz, if they perfided
to chafe us; but they always came up with us by a
forced fail, and the Edgar, the best failcr of them,
approached Le St. Dominique, which having loft her
main yaid in a hard gale of wind, on the 13th, could
not follow us; the Edgar secured her flag, Le St.
Dominique did tue fame, with an intention of de
fending it, and at halt after four, the English gave a
boadfiJe, which our veiifl returned from the lar
board fide; the file of the latter was so well directed
tha + th Edgar w a obliged to retire, and Le St.
Dominique made up to us, when the was enclosed
by two of the enemy's flrips, and put between two
fires, but nevertheless fbe continued firing, both on
the starboard anc larboard, with the utmost spirit,
particularly with her guns of retreat. We were in
admiration of the gallant defence die made, and tlie
bravery of the Captain, the Othceis, and the crev,
when, after a thick smoke, this unfortunate vcfbl
disappeared. I presume the must have blown up, by
the firing of her proper guns of retreat. Such was
the tragic end of the valiant Spaniards who were 011
board, whose noble defence merited a better fate.
At the fame time three other ships ot the line en
gaged La Princeffa, who defended herfclf alone by a
forced fail, and an exceeding brisk fire, till La Dili
gent came to her afliftance.
At sun-set the English ship the Defence of 74 guns,
32 on her firft deck, and 18 on her second, began to
attack the Phoenix, which I commanded, mounting
80 guns, 24 and 18 pounders. The briikneis of our
fire obliged the enemy to retire, and attack us 011 the
larboard fide, while we were engaged 011 the lar
board with the Le Bienfafant of 64 guns, 24 and 18
pounders. I got within piftoi shot of the Defense,
which appeared to have fuffered much, my intention
being to rid myfelf of one ot my enemies: and 1 was
equally determined to flop the best tailers amongst
the English ships, to give our vessels time to escape;
but I found myfelf immediately attacked by a third
vessel of 90 guns, commanded, as they said, by Ad
miral Ross; and who, in one of her broadsides, cut
off our mizenmaft, the fall of which for a few mi
nutes, interrupted the fire of feme of our larboard
guns; but we, however, soon disengaged ourselves.
At fix o'clock in the morning I received a musket
ball near my left ear : I continued in the tore-cattle
giving the n^ceffary orders, and the action continued
without interruption, notwithtlanding the enemy's
superior force.
Owing to the high sea, and few batteries we had,
we were so overflowed with water between decks,
that we were obliged to order several new scupper
holes to be made to carry it off. At seven o'clock a
fourth vessel came upon our poop, and soon after I
received a wound in the right thigh, and immediately
after another in my bead, w hich made me faint away,
and they carried me into the Surgeon's room. A
fifth fliip now came up and fired a broadside into us,
which broke off our large scuttle mast, which tell on
the deck, together with the yard and the top-gallant
jnaft.
The continual fire of the five English vessels, which
attacked us now in all quarters at once, along-fide,
a-head, and a-stern, deprived us entirely of all power
of management, and prevented all our manoeuvres.
Whithout rigging, our main-fail shot through and
through like a fievc, our scuttle and top-gallant-malt
fallen, our mizen-maft quite gone, our main-mast
injured in a variety of places, and pierced with grape
and other shot, and our hold full of water; having
nothing but our forefail, the mast of which had gi
ven way, and the scuttle and top-gallant-maits, nei
ther of which could carry fail; without hope cf
mending our situation, or of receiving any relief —
such was our condition, when at the very fill ex
tremity, about ten in the evening, we struck the
flag, which we had defended for the glory of our
King and country, against such a superiority of foi ce,
as made defence all that could poflibly be expected,
and left no doubt as to the issue of our fate. The
enemies themselves will bear witness to the truth of
this relation.
r r II E works at this port are continued with great
adivity. Many workmen are arrived here from
other ports, to dispatch the repairing and fitting out
of the ships defined for America. Several brass can
non, 48 pounders, have been taken from the batteries
of this port, and placed on board the Royal Louis,
of 100 guns, on board of which the Count Duchaf
fault will hoist his flag. The Conquerant of 74 guns,
belonging to the squadron under Count de Guichen,
and forced into port by stress of weather, will fail
with the above division defined for America.
L ONDO N, March 30.
Holland is at prefe^tin a molt critical situation :—
A few days before the packet failed, the French Am
bassador presented a memorial to the States General,
insisting, in the most preremptory manner, upon an
immediate declaration of war against England. The
late affairs with Count Byland is treated in terms of
severe reprehension by the French, as if it was pre
concerted between the English and the Dutch only
with a view of keeping up a proposed neutrality. A
very short time was given for the States to return an
answer, which, if not fatisfadtory to France, the
would, without any further loss of time, proceed to
open hoftilitics against Holland.
If Holland should declare in favour of England, a
general war in Europe will inevitably take place ; the
Emperor is already exafpefated against the Dutch, 011
account of feme points of commerce which they may
have infringed ; and if he takes arms against them,
their ally, the King of Prussia, will appear in their
favour.
In the morning, as soon as their little boat could
carry, Mr. Macbride, Captain of the Bienfaifant,
came to fee me, and complimented me much. —He
laid, (if I may use his own expreflion) that a defence
so glorious under such an inequality of strength was
more to be envied than their victory, and informed
me, that when we were in harbour, he would com
municate forne circumstances to me, which he hini
felf had observed, which reflected the highest honour
upon our conduct, and which had eleaped my ob
servation and recollection. He did me the honour,
contrary to the general practice, to fuffer our nation
al flag, and that of my command, to remain in the
Phenix, and fuffered the whole crew to continue on
board, because the small-pox was in the Bienfaifant,
—The fame day being the 18th, the English squadron
and its convoy passed the Straits; but as a dead calm
was let in to the leeward of Gibraltar, they anchored
to the eastward of that place. The Phoenix entered
the bay on the 19th, with the two vessels in her com
pany, the Bienfaifant, and the Defence, and I received
in Gibraltar all the politeness possible, from Admiral
Duff who commands there, from the Governor of
the place, and from Admiral Digby, the second in
the marine command 111 the squadron cf Admiral
Rodney, who himfeif paid me the fame honour.
" For the protection of my honour, and for the
fatisfadtion of my conscience, I have thought it ne
cessary to give your Excellency an account cf the
courage, of the intrepidity, of the coolness, and of
the pcifeverciice which all the officers difeovered
during the whole action —our two marine guards,
also the three centre Enfeigne of his Sicilian Majesty,
and the whole crew of the Phoenix, gave the strongest
tchimonies of the nioft undoubted bravery and zeal;
—their wounds could not detain them in the held ;
—they would not day to have them dressed, but
rushed again to their polls upon deck, eager to ac
quire and participate in new glories.—l represent all
this to your excellency, that you may explain th his
Majesty how much his subjects on board the Pacenix
were disposed for his service, and how ardently they
wished to facrifice their lives, and every thing, for
the glory and honour of his arms.
The English fleet not having yet arrived in this port,
I cannot give your Excellency an exact or minute ac
count of the conduit of the other vellels in my squa
dron, but the general voice of the enemy pronounce
their defence to have been in the greatest degree glo
rious. I have the honour to be, &c.
Don Juan de Langara.
April 4. Our grand channel fleet for the ensuing
summer will receive a reinforcement from the enemy
of seven fail of the line of their best ships, and nine
frigates and sloops, which are 110 despicable arma
ment of themselves, though our successes have been
so much decried.
BRES T, March 12.
Houje of Commons, Thursday, April 6. Agreed to
the report of the resolution of yellerday on the sup
ply: J hat 87,7181. be granted for maintaining Chel
tea Hospital ; 6,997!. for making new roads and bridg
es in the Highlands of Scotland; 33,3561 for additi
onal new railed levies ; 3,179]. for Colonel Holroyd's
new railed troops of dragoons; 3,1791. for Colonel
Rmnsford's; 3,1691. for Colonel Humberftone's; and
8,6231. tor Colonel Fullerton's.
B OS T O N, May 25.
Sunday last arrived here after a short cruize, his
Most Chrulian Majesty's frigate the Her moine, com
manded by M.la 1 ouche, who made a visit to Penob
fcot, and took a near view of the British fort at Bag
gaduce. Ite Nautilus and Albany, under the com
mand of the infamous Mowatt, who burnt Falmouth,
were at anchor without the fort, but upon the ap
proach ot the Hermoine, immediately retired be nid
ic. The Hermoine firft appeared under British co
lours, which they did not chufe to trutt, and ater
warus fired a gun of defiance, which they did not uare
to accept. Ihe presence of this frigate, under so
brave and active a commander, is no iiiconfidcrable
addition to the security of our trade.
We are well informed that Captain la Touche has
taxen fix Brituh privateers and five merchantmen since
the commence ment of the war. Among the firft, two
uere taken together, each of more than 20 guns ; one
cf which mounted 22 guns, was fitted out by forne
laches ol quality in England, and named the Ladies
Refolution.'
Aidin' no pompous reception has been made to
that brave General at Rennes, they have not still been
wanting in exprefiing their admiration for him. For
',' s ' a k e , Sir, laid a citizen to him, flopping him
y hile he passed, do, pray, let me fee a hero, I never
law one in my life.
A hile he was in this town, recovering from his
w ° un d, laurels were brought every day to his door,
and while he complained to the centinel that he did
not execute the orders he had given him of taking
them away:" Sir," answered the soldier, ca repoulfe
toujours, “ it still will grow."
" In fine, it is impossible to give you a true idea of
the eiithunaim w hich this brave General has inspired
every where ; and especially of that which is frit in
our maritime provinces. The bailors who have got
'l° ! P "' d ^ e winter w ith th eir families, have
afaed bcloi^ "eir departure, and very frequently
Since our last Brigadier General Gift fat out from
hence to join his brigade, now on their march for
South-Carolina.
PHILADELPHIA, June 3.
Extrafl oj a letter from Brest to a gentleman in Phila
delphia, March 7,178 c.
" It is impohible to express with what joy Count
I) Ellaing has been received here. All hearts seem to
fly before him, to offer him the homage of their gra
titude. Every place resounds with verses and songs
in his praise. On the stage lie is glorified as the sup
port of the state, and a fubfeription for 1600 loui
dores, has been instantly filled at the Royal Exchange
by our merchants and navigators, to cause aTe De
um to be sung, followed with a sumptuous bail, sup
per and fire-works. A failwr writes to his wife: My
deai,Jl find y<,u an hundred crowns, which my friend
toe Count D Eftaing has given me. Another an*
leered to a merchant, who wanted to enlist him on
board his ship ; and represented to him, that he would
otherwile be taken for the service of the Royal Ma
rine : So much the better. Count DThaing is now
111 France.
POUGHKEEPSIE, May 29.
We hear rom Tryon county, that a body of the
enemy, whose number is variously reported from 4
to 600, under the command of Col. Guy and Sir John
Johntou, have appeared and laid waste the country
ni liyon county, to the extent of twelve or fourteen
'', ", 'Murdering or captivating the inhabitants, and
plundering and burning the houses. We hear that
Col. Harpy, with about three or four hundred men
is m a fortified encampment near them, to check their
piocecdmgs, and watch their motions. However,
we have received no particular account.
1 I S H-K I L L, June 1.
By the Eifl rn Poll we learn that news had reach
ed Hartford aid New-Haven, as he passed through,
tuat the ship hrumbull, in company with a French
flip Q zoguns, had taken after a smart engagement,
the ship Lis, formerly the Hancock, and sent her in
to an Eastern port.
From Albany we learn that a number of Indian and
vagabond I ones, commanded, it is said, by Sir John
Johnlon, have burnt a number of houses on the Mo
hawk river, and killed eleven persons. The militia
ot Albany and Tryon counties have turned out with
great spirit, in pursuit of the miscreants.
BALTIMORE, June 6.
25 'b °' ' a ^ month 4000 of the militia of
North-Carolina, headed by the brave Gen. Cafwell
marched for the relief of their distressed countrymen
in South-Carolina. The like number were to follow
them, lor the lame purpose, a few days after.
About a fortnight since, upwards of 1000 infantry
computed moflly of troops of this state, marched from
Petei fburgh in Virginia, on their way to South-Ca
rolina.