The royal gazette — [Charleston] S.C., 1781-06-30 00:00:00, page 2

Admiralty-Office, April 17, 1781.
. Extras of a letter fron; Capt. Berkley, Commander of the Li
berty Cutter, to Mr. St ephens, dated Yarmouth Roads, 14th
April, 1781.
" I beg you will be pleased to inform my Lords Commis
sioners of the Admiralty, that on the 12th instant, at half pad
4 P. M. being on a cruize, Loweftoffe bearing N. W. two
leagues, I saw a cutter, to whom I gave chafe, and at half past
ten o'clock, being within hail, I fired two broadlides, which
totally disabled her. She proves to be the Ferret privateer of
Dunkirk, commanded by Francois Rene Grange, mounting
twelve guns, and sixteen fivivels, (most of which he had
thrown overboard during the chace) and manned with forty
four men."
Mr, Laurens has now the liberty of walking round the ram
parts, and other places of the Tower, which he does generally
twice a day, attended by one of the warders, and enjoys a
good state of health. Mr. La Motte is close confined in his
rqom, owing it is said, to his having-attempted, some time ago,
to" make his escape; he has no opportunity of taking the air
than from a balcony belonging to 1$ apartment, appears ex
tremely sulky, and does not like to be fooke to.
'By genuine private dispatches from France, we h^ve the
most authentick intelligence that the dock-yards, particularly
Brest, Toulon, and Rochford, are in the greatest distress for
sea ftofes of every denomination, for the men of war equip
ping in those ports ; that lower malts for large ships, sheet and
bower cables, pitch, tar, and hemp, brought in by neutral
Rips, fetch a most exorbitant price.
The Lords of the Admiralty have appointed Wm. Palmer,
Esq; one of the Commissioners of his Majesty's navy, a Direc
tor of Greenwich-hospital, in the room of Sir John Major,
Bart, deceased.
A letter from a gentleman at the ITigne has this remark able
passage :—" The hidden flop put to the fubfeription opened
for a loan to America upon Congressional security, was most
certainly by the special, though private, mandate of the prince
of Orange."
The advices received from the Bishop of Ofnaburgh, at He-
Tenhaufen Palace, mention, that his Royal Highness purposes
to leave Havover the 6th of May—that the Prince of Mecklen
burgh, his Royal uncle, is to accompany him in his tour to the
court of Vienna, and from thence to Berlin.
April 13. On Wednesday came on the election of a Go
vernour, Deputy-Governour, and 24 Directors of the Bank
of England for the year ensuing, when the following gentlemen
were chosen, viz. William Ewer, Esq; Govemour; Richard
Neave, Esq; Deputy-Governour; Samuel Beachcroft, ^ Dan.
Booth, j: Lyde Browne, Richard Clay, William Cooke, Ed
ward Darrel, George Drake, t Peter du Cane, Martyn Fon
nereau, Peter Gauffen, ^ Daniel Giles, Christopher Hake,
William Halhed, Thomas Scot Jackson, f Job Matthew, Ben
jamin Mee, 1 Joseph Nutt, Edw. Payne, | George Peters,
t Henry Plant, Christopher Puller, William Snell, Samuel
Thornton and Mark Weyland, Efqrs. Directors.
Those marked with ± are new Directors.
On Thursday Lawrence Sullivan, Esq; was elected Chair
man of the East-India Company; and Sir William James,
Bart. Deputy Chairman.
The Court of France, conscious of the necessity of having
their ships commanded by able mariners, has adopted the
measure of taking the most fkilfitl Captains of privateers, and
giving them Captains commissions in the Royal navy. This
step has created the utmost confufion, animosity, and ill blood,
and cannot fail to be productive of the most injurious confe
qUences to the service in general. It had ever heretofore been
a rule, that none but the noblesse could have command of the
French men of war ; and as many officers of that description
hare been ousted, to make room for those not regularly train
ed to the navy, nothing was heard of but duels between them
and their new successors for some days previous to the fleet's
failing ; and it is added, that the crews of most of the ships
and their officers were in a state of dissension, discontent, and
downright hatred of each other, when the fleet put to sea.
Aprils,. The Lords of the.Admiralty have put his Majes
ty's ship Santa Margaretta, a Spanish prize of 44 guns, now at
Sheerneft, into commission ; the command is given to Capt.
Elliot Salter, and she is fitting out for sea.
Extrad of a letter from Londonderry, April r.
" This morning was brought in here by the City of Corke
privateer a large French ship, bound from Guadaloupe to
bourdenux, loaded with indigo, coffee, sugar, &c. and is
judged to be worth near 30,0001. She failed with 12 ships
more under convoy of two frigates, but was separated from
them in a gale of wind."
Mr. Cumberland left Madrid on the 26th ult. and set off for
England, by the way of France.
The Crocodile, anew frigate, mounting 24 carriage-guns,
is put in commission, and the command of her given to
Capt. King, who succeeded the late unfortunate Capt. Cook
in the command of the Resolution, when on the voyage of
difeoveries.
April 16. An enquiry into the Spanish navy was lately set on
foot at Madrid ; soon after which,the commissioners adjourned
to Cadiz ; and the report is, they found their grand fleet in so
bad a condition, that not half the ships were deemed fit for real
service. The King was extremely offended when he learned
this, and upon further examination, found it was totally
owing to the neglect of a fuperintendant of his own making ;
who was sheltered from prosecution by the King himfelf; but
had a coadjutor given him, a measure the Spaniards saw would
be of little effect. They had disagreed very much already, for
whatever the one proposes, the other is sure to contradict ; and
in the mean time the service fuffers considerably.
Lord Sandwich has had several conferences with the King
upon the fubjea of the naval militia;' his Majesty approved it
very much, till Mr Jenkinfon, as Secretary at war, objected
that in proportion, as any militia is encreafcd, the difficulties
of recruiting the army would be augmented. I,ord Sandwich
however defends this plan strenuously, and, it is thought will
have influence fufficient to carry it to the cabinet.
The Lords of the Admiralty have appointed Capt. Elphin-
Ron to the command of the Cambridge of 80 guns, at Ply
mouth, in the room of Capt. Hartwell.
The new frigates now fitting out at Deptford, are to have
trucks on their quarter-decks, for the purpose of mounting
carronades, a practice which is becoming general on board all
ships not of the line.
Southampton, April it. Yesterday a fine ship, called the
Agamemnon, of 64 guns, was launched at Buckle's yard,
about seven miles from this town ; the command of her is
given to Capt. Wallace.
London, April 17. The Lively privateer of Falmouth, Cap
tain'Brown, of 16 four-pounders and 70 men, has taken and
sent into Fowey, the Prince De Tingry privateer, of St. Ma
loes of r 6 nine-pounders and 70 men.
His Majesty has, upon very mature consideration, determi
ned to have a new survey of England, taken upon the plan
of that of doomsday-book, by William the Conqueror: The
scheme has been more than once under consideration of the Ca
binet Council. The Chancellor is of opinion that it may be
done without any other authority than the Privy-Seal; but
Lord North is ftrenqous for Pai liamentary authority; his Lord
ship's opinion prevails; and it is thought a bill will be brought
into the House of Commons this sessions.
Clafgiw, April 19. Yesterday, several gentlemen in this
city, wao refined in Virginia (as long as government had foot
ing ill that province received letters from Lofj Dunmore. b>
1 arming them that he had order's to hold himfelf in readinefs,to
return to his government, and that he expected they would
accompany him, is there is region to think that province will
be foOn in the King's peace.
Admiralty Office, Aprils,, 1781.
Captain Douglas, of his Majesty's ship the Venus, arrived
at this office yesterday afternoon from St. Euftatius, with dis
patches from Admiral Sir Brydges Rodney, Bart. Knight of
the Bath, and commander in chief of his Majesty's ships at
the Leeward lilands, to Mr. Stephens, of which the following
are extracts and copies.
Extrafl of a letter from SA GEORGE BRYDGES RODNEY to Mr.
Stephens, dated Sandwich at St. Euftati^, March 17, 1781.
I AM happy in congratulating their Lordihip^, that in ad
dition to the Islands of St. Euftatius', St. Martin's, Saba, and
the French Bland of St. Bartholomew (which surrendered yes
terday) has been added to his Majesty's dominions the very
valuable acquisition of the two Dutch colonies of Demarary
and Iffequibo, upon the Spanish main; and although these
Colonies had surrendered upon the supposed terms given to St.
Euftatius, yet General Vaughan and myfelf thought they ought
to be put quite on a different footing, and not treated as an
island, whefe innabitants, though belonging to a State who by
publick treaty was bound to assist Great Britain against her
avowed enemies, had nevertheless openly assisted her publick
enemy, and the rebels to her State, with every necessary and
implement of war and provisions, perfidioufly breaking the
treaties they bad sworn to maintain.
We, therefore, to ease the minds of the inhabitants of those
Colonies, and to enable them to experience the happiness and
security of British Government, dispatched their deputies back
with the inclofed terms, which we flatter ourselves will meet
with his Majesty's royal approbation.
Great merit is due to General Cunningham, Governour of
Barbadoes, who sent a summons by Captain Pender, of his
Majesty's sloop Barbuda, and the Surprize, Captain Day, who
I had ordered to be Rationed off that coast, in order to bloc
kade those rivers.
Inclofed I have the honour to fend their Lord/hips an ac
count of the present infant produce of the Colonies of Deme
rary and Iffequibo, as given me by the gentlemen sent as De
puties to General Vaughan and myfelf.
These Colonies, in the hands of Great Britain, if properly
encouraged, in a few years will employ more ships, and pro
duce more revenue to the crown, than all the British Weft-In
dia inlands united.
P. S. The Dutch flrips seized by the privateers at Demerary
are droits to the Admiralty, the privateers having no commis
sion to take them.
Extras of another letter from Sir George Brydges RODNEY
to Mr. Stephens, dated Sandwich at St. Euftatius, March 17,
1781.
THE surrender of the island of St. Bartholomew will pre
vent the French privateers from sheltering themselves under it,
and distressing the trade of his Majesty's fubjeds.
The capture of St. Euftatius has distressed the French islands
beyond conception: they are greatly in want of every specie
of provisions and flares; I will use my belt endeavours to
blockade them in such a manner as I hope will prevent their
reteiving any. 'The' only danger is from the British islands,
whose merchants, regardkfs of the duty they owe their coun
try, have already contrasted with the enemy to supply them
with provisions and naval stores. My utmost attention Shall be
to prevent their treason taking place.
Copy of a letter from bis Excellency Governour CUNNINGHAM to
his Excellency P. Van SCHUYLENBURCH, Demarary.
Sir, Barbadoes, February 1%, 1781.
HAVING received information from Mr Clark, who lately
arrived from Demerary, that, upon the supposition that hos
tilities were likely to commence between Great Britain and the
States General of the United Provinces, your Excellency was
apprehensive that the settlement under your Government mi~ht
possibly fall a prey to privateers, as you were in no condition to
resist.; and that, to avoid the consequences of their irregularity,
you are willing to Surrender to one of his Majesty's ships of
war ; I therefore, to comply with your wishes, have sent Lieu
tenant Forrest, an officer of the 90th regiment, with a flag of
truce, which flag the commander of the King's ship will con
vey to you, and afford you an opportunity of Surrendering the
Government under your command to the King of Great Bri
tain, which will entitle you to the fame terms as those granted
by Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney and General Vaughan
to St. Euftatia, Saba, and St. Martin's.
Captain Pender, of his Majesty's ship Barbuda, I flatter
myfelf will be able to accomplish this object, who will ac
quaint me with your resolution, when a proper force Shall
be sent to keep possession for the King my master.
I have the honour to be, &c.
JA. CUNNINGHAN.
Hie Excellency P. Van Schuylenburch,
Demarary.
Copy of a Letter from the Governour and Council of Demarary,
to his Excellency Sir George Brydges Rodney.
Sir,
WE having Surrendered cur colony to the Captains G. Day
and F. Pender, commanding his Majesty's ships the Surprize
and Barbuda, and likewise have received a letter from General
Cunningham, offering, in case we would give our colony up
to his Britaraick Majesty, the fame terms to us a 6 your Ex
cellency has granted to St. Euftatius, to which letter and our
answer we take the liberty to refer; which gentlemen have
taken the fame in the name of his Britannick Majesty; but
as they could not fliew us these terms, we have taken the
liberty to commit two gentlemen of this river, being Joseph
Bourda, Esq; Member of the Council, and J. Hallin, Esq;
one of the principal inhabitants, with diredions to proceed to
your Excellency with Captain Pender, who offered a paflage
to them; .and although the time of his departure was very
Short at hand, we have gladly embraced this opportunity, as
the firft, to inform your Excellency of the real filiation of this
colony, and propose your Excellency to grant in some article
for the benefit of the fame, which we have reason to exped
from your Excellency's known humanity and universal bene
volent character.
We hope that your Excellency will approve of this proceed
ing, and allow these gentlemen all protection that they may
want during the time of their commiflion.
We recommend ourselves in your Excellency's protection,
and have the ho^ur to be, Sir, your Excellency's most obe
dient and very humble servants, Commander and Council
of Demarary. P. Fan Schuylenburch,
Demarary, D. Creefts.
Marchaa, 178!. L. f. D. Fan Growflins,
By Order of the Honourable Council,
f. L. C. Fan Baerle, Secretary.
His Excellency Sir G. B. Rodney.
C O P Y.
By Sir George Bridges Rodney, Bart. Knight of the Bath,
Admiral of the White and Commander in Chief of his Majef
t) sfhips and yeffels employed and to be employed at Barbadoes,
the Leeward islands and the seas adjacent ; and by the Honour
able General John Vaughan, Commander in Chief of his
Majesty's land Forces employed in the Wes-Indies, &>c. &r. &c.
WHEREAS the inhabitants of Demerary, and the river lr
fequibo and dependencies, have surrendered at diferetion to
the arms cf his Britannick Majefty ;—lt is hereby granted to
London, April 26. The Prefidentat the Assembly of the Dutch
States for one of the Provinces (believed to be Overyffel) said,
that “ Europe would charge his countrymen with being ftark
inad, for involving themselves in a war with England, and lea
ving Euftatia at the fame time so defencelefs : his country (he
added) had been long characterised for policy and wisdom ; but
now it would be distinguished for folly and madness !"
„ Lord Seaforth's regiment has received orders to hold them
selves in readiness to march for Portsmouth, where they are
to embark as soon as the ships are ready for the East-Indies.
Yesterday in the House of Commons, as soon as the Speaker
had taken the Chair, he acquainted the House with his having
received two letters, one from Sir Henry Clinton, and the
other from Admiral Arbuthnot, which he read from the Chart,
The letters are as follow :
o Head-Quarters, New- York, March I, 1781.
"SI R,
" Conscious that the most ardent exertions of a British fab-,
jest, to promote the glory and interest of his King and coun
try, cannot obtain a more honourable reward than the thanks
of a British House of Commons ; I want words to express how
very sensibly I feel the distinguished mark of approbation with
which that August assembly has been pleased to honour my fer
,vices.
“ I muff therefore, Sir, entreat that you will have the good
ness to offer my warrneft acknowledgments to the Honourable
House of Commons, in the most expressive terms of gratitude,
" Permit me to request you will accept my humble thanks
for the very obliging manner in which you was pleased to con
vey to me the refohitions of the House. I am, with the great
est honour and refpeCt, Sir, your most obliged, and most
humble servant, H. CLINTON."
To the Righe Honourable Charles
Wolfran Cornwall, Efe;
Speaker of the Hotft of Comments.
Royal Oak, near Rhode-Ifland, Feb. 16, 1781.
"Slß,''
“ I am this day honoured with yolir letter of the 30th of
November I^, acc< mpanyh, a resolution of the Honourable
the House of Commons, of thanks and approbation of my con,
dudt in the chief command of his Majesty's fleet in North-A#
merica.
GOD five KING GEORG E.
Return of the Ordnance found on the Island of St. Bartholomew,
when taken possession of the 15th of March, 1781.
(C O P Y.)
One eighteen-pounder. )
Two nine-pounders. > All French.
Two four-pounders.)
And seven others in different parts of the island.
(Signed) D. SANXAY.
Assistant Dep: Adj. General.
(C O P Y.)
Sandwich, St, Etylatius, March la., 1781.
WE, the General Officers and Commanders in Chief of his
Britannick Majesty's Forces in the Weft-Indies, do, in his
Royal Name, demand an immediate surrender 6f the Island
of St. Bartholomew, with all its dependencies.
The inhabitants of the island, on taking the oaths of allegi.
ance, will be permitted to remain in full possession oftheir pro
perty, and be received as fubjeCls under the protection of the
British Crown, till his Majesty's pleasure is known.
(Signed) G. B. RODNEY.
J. VAUGHAN.
(C O PY.)
r , St. Bartholomew, March 15, 1781.
WHEREAS Colonel Ferguson and Captain Graeme have de
manded an immediate surrender of this island in the name of
his Britannick Majesty, by order of their Excellencies Sir
George Brydges Rodney, Bart. K. B. and the Honourable
General Vaughan, Commanders in Chief of his Majesty's
fleets and armies in the Weft-Indies ;—WE, the Governour
and principal inhabitants of the island of St. Baitholomew, do
accordingly deliver up the said island to the arms of Great-Bri
tain, and do declare ourselves fubjeds tliereof, relying upon
the justice and humanity of the Commanders in Chief for pro
tection.- 1
the <.litar/s to remain in fell peff ffien of th'cir prop ert e
and to governed by their present laws, till his Majesty's pl
fare be known. °
All the property, Lores &c. belonging to the Dutch Weft
India Company to Be delivered up to ms Britannick Majeft„
>The inhabitants to take the oaths of allegiance to, and b
admitted under the protection of, the cro\vn of Great-Britai^
and will be allowed to export their produce to'Great-Brihm
or the British islands of Tobago and Barbadoes, in British
bottoms, and treated in all respects a$ British fubjeCts,' till
Majesty's pleasure is known.'
The Commandant and the other officers have leave to rot
Holland in a cartel, taking with them all their effects of wha?
ever nature : the troops to have the fame indulgence.
Given under our hands at St. Euftatius, this 14th d av n f
Maren, 1781. G. B. ROD NE Y.
JOHN VAUGHAN.
THE present annual produce of the infant Colonies of Deme
rary and Iffequibo:
Ten thousand hogsheads of sugar; rum in proportion.
Five million of pounds, of coffee.
Fight hundred thousand pounds of cotton.
Cacoa and indigo not afcertamed as yet.
; J ' appears by the letters received by Captain Douglas, that
several British privateers had entered the river Demerary be.
tore the arrival of his Majesty's 11oops Surprize and Berbuda I
and, taken possession of a large number of Dntch merchant
ships in that river. 1
London, April 24. The Salisbury privateer, Capt. Chand
>er, of Jersey, has sent into Falmouth the La Brunette, Lopez'
from Guadaloupe to Bourdeaux, laden with sugar, coffee and
cotton.
The Polly letter of marque, belonging to Triverpool, has
taken and sent into Beaumaris a large Dutch ship, from In
fterdam to Brell, laden with naval stores..
Whitehall, April 24, 1781.
Extract of a letter from the Hon. Major General Vaughan
Commander in Chief of Es Majefly's Forces in the Lenard
flamis, to Lord GEORGE, Germain, one of bis Majesty's Prin
cipal Secretaries of State, brought by . Capt. Nicolls, of the
Royal Regiment of Foot, who arrived in bis Majefty'sfhip Fenus
from St. Euftatius.
St. Euftatius, March 18, 1781.
My Lord,
I HAVE the pleasure to inform your Dordfhip, that since
I had the honour of writing to you on the sth instant, the co
lony of Demerary and the r ver E ffcqueto have, in consequence
of a summons made by two of his Majesty's (loops of war
commanded by Captains Day and Pinder, submitted to his
Majesty's arms. The terms which the Admiral and myfelf
have thought proper to grant them for the present,, I have the
honour to inclofe your Lordship.
I have the honour further to inform your Lordfllip, that h^
ving sent Lieutenant-Colonel Ferguson to the island of St. Bar
tholomew, that island immediately surrendered to his Majes
ty's protection ; a copy of which, with the return of the ord
nance found there, I have the honour to transmit to your
Lordfllip. '