The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1782-07-17 00:00:00, page 2

Five new associated corps have been embodied in
the counties of Meath, Weftmeath, and Longford,
which raise the total in the kingdom to 57,500
men, 12,600 of which arc horse. A regiment of
artillery is forming. There are to be three great
• encampments this Summer at Cork, Antrim, and
Dublin.
A circumstance lias lately happened, that is like
ly to be productive 01 very serious consequences in
Ireland. 'lhis circumstance was an appeal to the
Court of King's Bench of England from the de
cision of one of the Courts of Ireland: The fub
jea in dispute was this—A gentleman in Ireland of
the name of White, had made a will, in which he
bequeathed his estate to his eldest son, and to
the heirs of his body ; and in failure of such heirs,
then in that case he left the estate to his second
son. It so happened that the eldest lon died before
the testator, leaving a son ; the testator never al
tered his will; and died some few years after. At
this decease, the grandson and the son both claim
ed the eft,ate; the former as heir to the testator,
the latter under the will. The dispute terminated
in a suit at law, in the King's Bench or Common
Pleas of Ireland, in which the grandson obtained
a decilion in his favour.
The party nonfuited appealed to England, and
the determination of the Irish Court was reversed
by Lord Mansfield, on the appeal; his rcafon for
revelling it was, that though equity was clearly in
favour of the defendant in the appeal, Rill the law
was as clearly in favour of the appellant, because,
as the testator's eldest son had never been in pos
session of the estate in question, having died before
his father, his son (grandson to the testator) could
derive no light through him, to that which never
belonged to him; the legacy, of course, was to be
configured in the light of a lapsed legacy, and the
second son, in point of law, became heir, under
the will, to the estate, which, if no will at all had
been made, must necessarily have gone to the gtand
fon.
But it seems by some accounts from Ireland,
that the Sheriff of the county of Cork, in whose
bailiwick the estate in question lies, will not exe
cute the order of the Court of King's Bench in
England, because that would be a complete avowal
that Ireland was dependant on England ; an avowal
which must clafn with all the late pretentions of the
Irish to the supremacy of their own legislature and
judicature ; nay, it is said, that the Sheriff has ex
pressed a determined resolution, not only not to ex
ecute the orders of the English Court of King's
Bench, but also to oppose the coroner, with the
whple " posse comitatus," if any writ should be di
reded to the coroner for putting the appellant into
poffefiion.
April 2. According to letters from Ireland, the
volunteer corps in that kingdom, on the 28th of
February last, amounted to 72,400 men, of which
number 8600 ate cavalry; those of Dublin bear a
proportion of about one-fifth of the whole.
A wit was asked what he thought of the late
change of Minidry :—" it is like the noise of wa
ter (said he) poured out of full into empty vessels."
April 14. They write from Aberdeen, that the
French and Dutch privateers so greatly infeft those
seas, that scarcely a flip bound for the Baltic,
escapes; that their crews frequently land and plun
der the inhabitants, and that many farmers have
driven their cattle into the interior parts of the
country to avoid losing them.
Quantities of ammunition ^nd stores are loading
at Woolwich, for Quebec, which has been threat-,
ened, 'tis said, by the French and Americans.
Saturday decks fell one and an half per cent,
.without any other cause assigned than the difficul
ty of making peace with Holland, to the expediti
on of which the late rife had been attributed.
A French frigate has carried into Toulon, the
Swiftfure. This privateer, which is almost whol
ly manned by Irish, had five men killed and fifteen
wounded.
They write from Guernsey, that the Triumph
privateer of twenty guns, had taken in the bay of
Bifeay, a Spanish privateer of twenty-fix guns,
which had fuffered so much in her hull, that soon
after striking ihe funk, before the crew could be
taken out. The Triumph is very leaky, and had
landed at St. Mary's twenty wounded.
BOSTO N, June 24.
Capt. Babfon, we are informed, arrived at New
buty-Port, on Saturday 7 night, in 14 days from
Cape Francois. He advises, that it was generally^
supposed at the Cape, that the combined fleet
would soon fail for this coast.
Last week arrived here Capt. Elwell, from Ca
pad, a body of our dragoons, under Lieut. Colonel
Laurens, fell in with about 30 below Dorchester,
commanded by a Capt. Dawkins, whom they in
stantly charged and routed, taking 'from him seven
dragoons and one Lieutenant, with 10 horses and
accoutrements complete. We had 3 men'wounded
and 2 horses killed.
" The army, notwithstanding our inactivity and
the supposed unhealthiness of the situation, • have
enjoyed an uncommon share of health."
“ Dear Sir, Ebenezer, 24th May, 1782.
" On the 21st inst. I received intelligence of the
enemy being out in force ' from Savanna, in conse
quence of which White's dragoons and Pofey's
infantry were put in motion, and at five o'clock
in the evening arrived at Mr. W. Gibbons's, fix
miles N. W. of Savanna. At fix, an express from
Lieut. Col. Jackson, announced the enemy in force
at Harris's Bridge, on the great Ogechee road; 7
miles from town, and that a small party were at
Ogechee ferry, which he intended to attack with
his corps. Upon enquiry, I found that the only
route to the enemy's politico was through a thick
swamp of near four miles extent, with many deep
and dangerous morales to pass, and to interfed the
Ogechee road at an'intermediate distance from Sa
vanna and the Bridge. I was properly improved.
part, provided we would on ours, until hd had fur
ther orders from New-York, or from the British
Court. Major Skelly further added, that Sir Hen
ry Clinton was gone to England, and that Sir Guy
Carleton had arrived at New-York, to take the
command, and that his Secretary was new with
Congress. •
“ As the proposition for a cessation of hostilities
did not come with the necessary forms, I gave it
no written answer. But if it had come with all the
solemnity necessary to the business, and duly autho
rized by full and ample powers, I should not have
thought myfelf at liberty to agree to any such tiling
without the order of Congress."
Extras of another letter from General Greene,
dated near Bacon's Bridge, South-Carolina, May
21, 1782.
S I R,
" I had the honour to address your Excellency
on the 21st inst. on the fubjeA of a verbal ineffage
from Lieut. Gen. Leslie, proposing a cessation of
hostilities in this country. Since then I have re
ceived a letter from him on the fubjetl; but as I
was not fufficiently authorized to accede to the pro
posal, I informed him that I must wait the order of
Congress before I could, with propriety, give him a
definitive answer.
“ That your Excellency may more fully under
stand the nature of the proposition, and what the
circumstances are upon which it is grounded, I take
the liberty to enclose the General's letter, with my
answer.
“ On the 21st instant, General Wayne fell in
with and defeated a party of Britifli troops under
Colonel Brown, near Harris's bridge, in Georgia,
within 7 miles of Savanna, 'I he General's deceive
conduct upon this occasion reflects the highest ho
nour upon himfelf, and the officers and soldiers un
der him deserve the warmed: commendation. His
official report, which I herewith enclose, will detail
the particulars of the action, and inform your Ex
cellency more fully of the merit of those troops
who had the honour of engaging the enemy.
“ Flying parties of the British cavalry are fre
quently making excurlions into the country from
Charleftown, with no other objeA, that I can learn,
but that of distressing the inhabitants. Two days
diz, in 42 days. He left 36 fail of the line in that
port.
B A LTIMOR E, June 25.
Yesterday morning two waggons, loaded with
" solid Coin," for the supply of the publics bank
at Philadelphia, set off from this town, Under the
escort of a strong detachment of Philadelphia light
dragoons, under the command of Samuel Morris,
Esquire.
PHILADELPHIA, July t 3.
Extras of a letter from Major-General Creene to
His Excellency the President of Congress, dated
Head-Quarters, near Bacon's Bridge, South-
Carolina,. May 21, 1782.
SIR,
IDO myfelf the honour to enclose to your Ex
cellency, a copy of a resolution of the Britdh
House of Commons, and the King's reply, which
were sent out to me lass evening'by Lieut. General
Leslie, through Major Skelly, his Aid-de-Camp,
accompanied with a verbal menage, that as those
changes of measures seem to lead direAly to a peace,
be would agree to a cell'ation of hostilities on their
and a few dragoons under Capt. Hughes and Lieut.
Boyer, conducted by C 01. White. 'lhis small van
guard put to route the whole of the enemy's force
without the use of powder. Ihe almost impene
trable thick woods, deep swamps and morasses, into
' which they plunged in a dispersed state, and under
cover of the night, screened them from total ruin,
at the expence bf a great proportion of their arms
and horses, which they abandoned to procure per
sonal fafety. The few of our troops that had an
opportunity to engage, introduced the American
sword and bayonet with such effect as to kill many,
and wound some. A number of prisoners also fell
into our hands, among whom is Lieut. Col. Doug
lass, dangerously wounded. We have colleded
with the difficulty attending a night march over
such ground, as well as the delicacy of a manoeuvre
that placed me between the whole of the enemy's
force in Georgia : But when 1 cftme to reflect upon
the experience and gallantry of the officers, and the
Beady bravery of the troops, they were directed
to advance, from a conviction that the success of a
nocturnal attack depended more upon prowess than
numbers. At twelve o'clock at night our van ar
rived at the Ogechee road, four miles S. W. of
Savanna, when the enemy aifo appeared advancing
in dole and in good order. Notwithstanding the
circumstance, and the great disparity of numbers
four rear being yer a considerable distance) as suc
cess depended upon the moment, I ordered the
van-guard to charge, which was obeyed with such
vivacity, as to immediately terminate in the total
defeat and difperficn of all the British cavalry and
a large body of infantry, picked from the seventh
between 20 and 30 of the enemy's best dragoon
horses, exclusive of several that lay dead upon the
spot. A great number are yet draggling in the
swamps without riders, and such is the dispersed
date of the dragoons and infantry, that they con
tinue dropping in by twos and, threes, mostly dis
armed. Even Col. Brown and Lieut. Col. Ingram
did not find the way to town till the second night
after the action, and then unattended.
" After refrefhing the troops at Mrs. Gibbons's,
we advanced within view of their lines yesterday
morning, detaching a few infantry and dragoons to
draw the enemy out, but they declined the invita
tion, contenting thenifelves with advancing a few
Indians and Negroes to the skirt of a swamp, from
whence they commenced a scattering and ineffectual
lire, binding that General Clark was not to be en
ticed from his redoubts, 1 returned with the troops
to this place, where the last arrived this morn
ing, with the loss of only 5 privates killed and 2
wounded. We had also two dragoon horses killed
and three hurt; but these we Shall replace with pan
of the cavalry taken from the enemy. I feel my
felf under the highest obligations to every officer
and soldier for their good conduct, zeal and perse
verance, during a very fatiguing march of near 4c
miles, performed in a few hours, to effect this en
terprise. Lieutenant-Colonel Jackson, of the date
legion, and his corps, are entitled to my best thanks,
for their conduct ip the action near Ogechee, where
the enemy like wife 'fuffered.
I have the honour to be, &c.
ANTHONY WAYN'E."
The Hon. Major-General Greene.
S I R, Head-Quarters, May 23, 1782.
“ Captain Skelly having dated to me the queries
he had the honour to receive from you, refpeding
the papers I fubmltted to your consideration, and
what official authority 1 had for proposing a cessa
tion of hostilities, and believing a treaty for termi
nating the war was now carrying on. 1 have there
fore to inform you, that those papers were trans
mitted to me by His Excellency Sir Henry Clinton,
accompanied by a letter from the Right Honoura
ble Welbore Ellis, then one of His Majesty's prin
cipal Secretaries offtate, referring generally to them
for the direction of my conduct, in their refpedt,
and that I suppose not only from the weight of their
authority, but likewise from the explicit terms in
Which they convey the sense of His Majesty and
the British House of Commons. Fuller indrudions
I momently exped from our present Commander
in Chief, Sir Guy Carleton, whose appointment
and arrival in America has not been regularly no
tified to me.
" Thus, Sir, I have explicitly stated to you the
mode and circumstances under which these impor
tant papers have reached me; and as I can have no
regiment, the LChans, manning's and Brown's re
gulars, with the Choctaw Indians, tories, &c. the
whole commanded by Col. Brown. The precipitate
flight of the enemy prevented any part of the troops
from coming into contact with them, except Lieut.
Col. Pofeys light company under CApt. Parker,