The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-06-20 00:00:00, page 2

Before he left that island, intelligence was receiv
ed of the arrival of the March packet at Barbadoes.
The packet brings advice, which may be depended
on, that a Congress of Plenipotentiaries from the dif
ferent states of Europe, had met at Vienna, for the
purpose of re-eftablilhing peace among the bellige
rent powers. The Congress had assembled through
the mediation of the imperial courts, who threat
ened to throw their weight into the scale against any
power that should not be inclinable to peace on equi
table terms. Lord Mountftuart, Sir Joseph Yorke,
and Sir Robert Murray Keith, are Plenipotentiaries
from our court. But before the British Ministry
would accede to this p opofal, they had insisted, and
had received assurances that the mutual claims of
Great-Britain and her revolted colonies in North-
Ametica, should not be fubjeri to their difeuffion.
Thursday arrived his Majesty's ship Loweftoffe, and
a rich American brigantine her prize, deeply laden,
and the ship Larlt from Africa and St. Lucia,
Yesterday also anchored at Port-Royal, the Spa
nish fliip St. Joseph Diana, from La Vera Cruz, bound
to the Havanna, loaded with supplies for that garri
son, chiefly consisting of flour, beef and gunpowder,
and the ship N. D. D. la Cruz, from New-Orleans,
bound to join the Spanish armament now besieging
Pensacola, with troops on board, consisting of 1 Co
lonel, 2 Captains, 2 Lieutenants, and 120 rank and
file ; the former captured the 21st, and the latter the
24th ult. by his Majesty's ship Ulysses, which they
parted with the 27th, still continuing her cruise. A
few days before the St. Joseph Diana left La Vera
Cruz, five Spanish frigates had failed from that port,
LONDO N, March 6.
Extrari of a letter from the Hague, Feb. 23.
“ Some important affairs are certainly on the car
pet, as for some days pad the Prince Stadtholder has
been employed till very late at night in his closet,
but not the smallest intimation of what it may be, has
transpired. To judge from external appearances, one
should not imagine that we are at war, every thing
is so quiet; which united circumstances makes ma
ny imagine and hope an accommodation may take
place between this Republick and Great-Britain.
" The men of war building in the several dock
yards of these provinces, go on very faft ; fix of these
new built vessels are already commissioned, and se
veral others will be fooru
" It is said the court of Versailles has offered this
Republick a ponfiderable number of troops to guard
their frontiers, in case they should want them, that
their High Mightinesses may employ their own in
other parts ; but there are reasons which make it ve
ry likely that our Sovereigns will rather chufe to de
cline these apparently generous offers."
KINGSTON, (in Jamaica-)
April 21, 1781. The French are apprehensive of
a rupture with the court of Vienna, on account of
some pretensions which the Emperor has to the dutchy
of Lorraine, but which, during the life of his late
mother the Einprefs Queen, he did not think proper
to assert, in consideration of the aversion that Prin
cess had for war the latter part of her life ; but being
now under no further restraint from motives of deli
cacy, he has directed the imperial Ambassador to
make a demand in form of the territories he claims;
and, to give a proper efficacy to the application, pre
parations are making for forming a camp this sum
mer near Frankfort upon the Maine, to consist of
150,000 men.
Sir Samuel Hood is hill watching Martinique, and
Sir George Rodney remains at St. Euftatia, with 4
fail of the line ready for sea at a moment's warning.
Sir George has received orders by a frigate express
from England, to deliver up all the English property
found on the Dutch islands he has taken possession of.
April 28. Wednesday arrived at Port Royal his
Majesty's ship Fox, the Honourable Captain Windsor,
with a fleet under his convoy.
This fleet confined of 99 fail when they left Cork
on the 23d of February, under convoy of the Fox,
Pegasus and Aurora frigates ; but the fourth day af
ter their departure, in a heavy gale of wind, many
of them were separated from the convoy. Some of
the scattered ships had arrived at the places of their
destination in the windward islands, but 35 fail were
Fill miffing when Captain Windsor, having collect
ed all those for this island, failed from St. Euftatia on
the 18th instant.
To this our court has previously returned for an
swer ; " That his Most Catholick Majesty was ex
tremely sensible of the attention and friendly senti
ments of his Imperial and Royal Majesty; senti
ments, which he would ever with to cultivate and to
manifeft reciprocally. That none of the neutral as
well as the belligerent powers could entertain a more
ardent and more sincere with for a speedy and ho
nourable conclusion of the present war, than his Most
Catholick Majesty, but that affairs were now in such
a situation, that no proposition whatever could be
received from any power, without the participation
of the court of Versailles."
to the Empress of Russia, who, on her part, had pro
mised all the assistance in her power to promote so
salutary a measure ; and that if his Most Christian
Majesty was inclined to listen to the dictates of hu
manity, his Imperial Majesty would lay before him
such propositions, as, from the known equity of the
King of Spain, the Emperor was firmly persuaded
would be admissible."
" Our loss on this occasion is not so considerable as
might have been expeded from so unequal a contest,
but the fate of Captain Brisbane, of the Alcide, who
was unfortunately killed by a cannon shot early in the
affair, is much to be lamented.
" The condud of the officers and seamen of his
Majesty's fleet on this occasion beggars defcriptiou ; the
fighting themselves clear of so superior a fleet, carries
with it convidion, which my eulogium could add no
luftre to, and I flatter myfelf will merit his Majesty's
approbation. I have the honour to be, &c.
SAMUEL HOOD."
NE W-YO R K, June 4.
A Port L'Orient paper of the 16th of March, found
on board the prize mentioned in our last, to be sent
in here from that port, mentions the arrival of a
courier from the Empress of Russia, to her Ambaf
" By ten minutes after eight the fliips were all out
of adion, and continued fleering a Ready course for
this harbour, with no more than ordinary fail : The
enemy ill treated (I may venture to affirm as ill as
we)fhewed no disposition to pursue, and as I thought
your receiving this intelligence as speedily as poflible,
might be conducive to his Majesty's service, I ordered
the Russel by private signal (as she appeared to have
fuffered the least in her masts and rigging) to proceed
diredly for Statia, where I doubt not she is fafely ar
rived. The remainder of my division, including the
watering ships, are all here and repairing their dama
ges, in order to be ready to accompany your Excel
lency to a more equal confiid.
'' At three o'clock A. M. on the morning of the
30th, the Triton frigate and Sylph cutter, who had
been stationed to the eastward of the fleet en fadion,
were observed making the night signals, for the ap
proach of the enemy.
" It was immediately repeated by all the ships of
the divificn, arid the night signal, for forming the
line of battle a head, on the larboard tack, under
topsails, at three cables length, for the better inter
cepting any of the enemy's fleet who might attempt
passing us under favour of the night, was made by the
Barfleur, confirmed by guns, and repeated by the Cy
clops. The Triton and Sylph being at the fame time
directed to poll themselves on the flanks of the fleet,
to observe the enemy's motions. In this position his
Majesty's fleet lay until morning, which happened to
be so very hazy as to prevent our feeing any of the
enemy's ships, or even the extremes of our own line,
which induced me to centrad the extent by signal.
At eleven minutes past fix, the fog suddenly cleared
up, when, to my aftpnifhment,we discovered ourselves
nearly surrounded by 22 fail of the line, of which
three were three deckers, carrying flags at the fore,
main and mizen.
" In this critical situation, the desire of saving his
Majesty's fleet surmounted all other considerations.
The signal being made for fighting our way through
the enemy's defile, was chearfully and undauntedly
obeyed toy every commander in the fleet, which they
judiciously endeavoured to oppose ; at 20 minutes af
ter seven the ships were all in adion, and I could per
ceive, with exulting fatisfadion, that although every
one had at least double her force to combat with, the
superiority of the British fire, the intrepidity and
steadiness of his Majesty's officers, supported by the
native bravery and discipline of the British tars, pro
ved a bulwark invincible to the enemy, although of
near twice their force.
bound to the Havanna, having under their protec
tion four flotas, loaded with immense treasures, on
account of his Catholick Majesty. The N. D. D.
la Cruz, failed from New-Orleans with a convoy of
20 fail, which were dispersed in a heavy gale of wind
shortly after their departure.
We also learn by these vessels, that the Spaniards
had landed 6coo men on Rose-Island at the mouth
of the harbour of Pensacola, which place, after re
connoitering, they found to be in so formidable a
state of preparation, as induced Don Galvez, the com
mander in chief, to fend expresses to New-Orleans
for a reinforcement of 1200 men, consequently their
operations must be suspended till that additional force
arrives to their aftiftance.
CHRISTIANSTA E D, (St. Croix.)
The following is a copy of a letter (said to be,wrote
by Admiral Hood, to Admiral Rodney, relative to
the late engagement, between the French and British
fleets off Martinico. The authenticity of which
we cannot warrant, as it was sent us in manu
script, by an anonymous author.
" St. Lucia, (Gros-Illet) May 3, 1781.
" I had the honour of addressing your Excellency
under the 23d ult. by the Cyclops, with a detail of
tlie operations of that part of his Majesty's fleet under
my command, from the 15th to that day inclusive.
" On the following day I received the honour of
your advices by the Sylph cutter, and in consequence
thereof I immediately proceeded from this harbour
with the ships under my command, to windward of
Martinique, in order to intercept the announced re
inforcement of the enemy.
" On that station I continued with the whole of
my division, extended N. and S. which occupied the
extent of the windward coast of the island, and effec
tually prevented any thing getting in from the east
ward, until the 27th ult. when finding the fleet short
of water, I was under the necessity of detaching the
Ajax, Belliqueux, Monarch and Alfred to St. Lucia,
for a supply.
PHILADELPHIA, June 13.
In a late riot at Amsterdam, numbers of English
men have loft their lives. At present no man who
speaks the English language is permitted to walk the
streets, without our union cockade in his hat.
The privateer ship of war, the Earl Cornwallis,
(belonging to Charleftown, Henry Davis, command
er) formerly the Morning Star of this port, failed
from Charleftown some time the latter end of March
last, with dispatches to Admiral Sir B. Rodney, and
on a cruise, she arrived in fifteen days at St. Eufta
tia, then proceeded to Old Read in the island of St.
Chriftophers, where they prepared to give the ship
a parliament heel, cleared the ship, fhifted her guns
and provisions, and mail'd the masts and yards, when
all of a sudden she fell over, and immediately funk
in twenty fathom water. There was fifty-two of the
crew drowned, amongst whom was the Captain of
marines; the Admiral sent up two 64 gun ships from
St. Euftatia, to endeavour to weigh her, but to no
purpose.—This account came by a person who was
then on board, and saved his life by swimming on
shore, and conceiled himfelf at a plantation, until an
opportunity offered for St. Thomas, when he took
a passage and then came to this port, he being an A
merican, who was impressed, and carried aboard by
force at Charleftown.
On Sunday arrived the brig Allday, from Cork,
late commanded by Captain Stewart, she was taken
by the Fair American, and an eastern privateer. Her
cargo beef, pork, butter, and Irish linens. She fail
ed from Cork the 28th of March.
The Captain ofthe prize fays, that a fleet of about
170 transports and victuallers, having on board near
4000 troops, bound to Charleftown, Cheafapeake,
and New-York, failed from Cork on the twerty-fe
venth of March, and that the grand British fleet,
consisting of 32 fliips of the line, and a great num
ber of transports, &c. destined for the relief of Gi
braltar, having touched at Cork for the purpose of
taking in troops, also left the last mentioned place on
the 27th of March, and after escorting the fleet de
stined for America, into a certain latitude, shaped
their course for Gibraltar, leaving a 64 gun ship and a
frigate, to protest the fleet bound to this continent.
The Baltimore paper ofthe sth inst. has the follow
ing paragraph : " By a gentleman from Frederickfburg
we are informed, that the main body of the British
army (consisting of about 6000) under Earl Corn-,
wallis, were, by the last accounts, at Hanover Court-.
House; that several detachments of this army had
destroyed large quantities of tobacco, &c. at Page's
and Allett's ware-houses; and that the Marquis de
la Fayette was about thirty miles northwestward of
the enemy, experiing the arrival of General Wayne,
with his division."
Extrari of a letter from the Lieutenant of Bedford
county, dated June 2, 1781.
" By an express this moment from Frank's town,
we have the disagreeable news that a party of volun
teers, from Bedford, was going to Frank's town;
a party of Indians fell in with them this morning, and
killed thirty, and only seven made their escape to the
garrison of Frank's town."
Thursday last came into this port a prize sloop, late
from Charleftown, bound to New-York, taken by
the Revolution privateer. Captain M'Nachtane, of'
this port.
The following are the letters found among the pa
pers of Lieut. M'Pherfon, alluded to in General
Greene's letter, published last week.
Extract of a letter to Lord Rawdon, from a person
at Bluefields, Mufquito-Shore, who signs S. L.
" Your Lordihip will have heard of a late expt.
fador the Prince Galitzin, at the Hague, witha me
morial for their High Mightinesses, informing them,
that the court of Petersburg would be happy in bring
ing about a peace between the United States and the
court of Great-Britain; and that the fame courier
pursued his journey to London with the like accounts
for M. Samolin, the Ruffian Minister in England.
The above mentioned paper, we are told, makes
the British fleet gone to the relief of Gibraltar, amount
to 35 fliips of the line.
BALTIMORE, June 5.
We hear a letter has been received by the Legis
lature of this state, from the Honourable the Conti
nental Congress, requesting them to fend two gen
tlemen of the firlt abilities to their body, to assist ifr
business of the highest importance.——lt is said this
requisition has been made in consequence of a letter
received from Colonel Laurens, at Paris. What this
business is, time will unfold—at present the publick
are of opinion that it is relative to a negociation of
peace, to be set on foot between the belligerent pow
ers ; and that France is desirous of knowing from the
grand council of America, what will be their ulti
matum on this important fubjeri.
On the 4th ult. Brigadier-General M'Le 0, com
mander in chief at Halifax, (Nova-Scotia) died there.
On Friday last General Wayne's division of con
tinental troop:, consisting of 960 effectives, eroded
Patowmack at Nowland's-Ferry, about 12 miles from
Frederick-Town, on their route to join the Marquis
de la Fayette.
The brig Unity, of 14 guns, Capt. Brown, with 3
cargo of 103 hogsheads of tobacco, bound for France,
was lately taken in Cheafap&ke-Bay, by the British
frigate Guadaloupe, and sent to New-York.