The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-09-19 00:00:00, page 2

trary direction to the deftruCtive flames. Above 4^
people have perilled in this dreadful 'conflagration,
ail of them either performers or dancers, as the house
was cleared ol the audience before the lire broke out.
It is as yet difficult to allert who are the unfortu
nate victims ; but 1 am furry to acquaint you, that
the celebrated dancer D'Auberval, is fuppoiel to be
one of them. Some of the bodies have been taken
out, but lo disfigured and miserably burnt, that
it is inipcfhble to aiccitam whether they are men or
women."
The violence and rapidity of the late fire at
the Opera-Houle at Paris, baffled every endeavour
to exungudh or hop its progress; it is impoflibie to
defertbe the condernduon of the populace, when it
approached the palace or Moul, ie Duc d'Orleans,
which adjoined the Opera, and to which, in Ipite
of every effort, the flames at last communicated, be
ginning at the appartments of Mons. Ie Duc de Char
tres, which were intirely confuted with every part
of the superb furnituie of that quarter of the palace.
Happily, however, the flames were extinguished be
fore the whole of the magnificent pile was deilroyed.
June 21. It is now generally thought be to decid
ed on by the Emperor to open the port of Antwerp,
as he has already declared tne freedom of Offend. —
Joseph, in his political career, turns out a young
I'rcdeiick of Prussia, the lame active genius for war
and commerce seem to pollcfs him, and in one re
spect he is superior to his archetype, as his inclina
tions seem to tend to the latter as the surest means
of rtrengthening the empire, and adding to the hap
piness of his (objects.
The ft parating the fleet under his command, was
not the icatt culpaule part of Commodore Johnftone's
conduct. Had the French Admiral fallen 111 with
the Monmouth, His and Dianna, and the final!
squadron under their convoy at the lfle of May, they
would have fallen au easy prey to the French; and
thole very ihips, by rtrengthening the force of die
enemy, wou d have made the capture of tne remain
der of the fleet inevitable and easy.
As the French Commodore went so far into Port
Praya, and palled no less than three blips before he
is represented by Commodore Johnhone to have fir
ed a gun, it is not improbable that he may seek a
pretext of (hilling the violation of the neutral port
to his accuser.
An account is received at the Admiralty, of his
Majesty's armed ihip Molly, having taken lire at
fca, by a very extraordinary accident, as she was
cruising on her station off the file of Man. It ap
pears that the sprung a leak, which grew so faft up
on her, that all endeavours to keep it under were
ineffectual, and though they were aimoft at the en
trance of Ramsay Bay, and the pumps going inces
santly, yet the water at last reached the bread-room,
which occasioned so violent a ferment, that the Ihip
prellntly took tire, and burnt with Inch fury, that
only 40 of the crew were saved by boats, which
put oft from the file of Man, on the hrit fight of
the ihip on fire; the relt either perilling by the
flames, or going to the bottom with the miicrabie
remnant ot the ihip.
BOSTO N, September 6.
We hear the Honourable the Congrels have ap
pointed Robert R. Livingtton, Esq. to be Miniftcr
of foreign atiairs. The abilities, and uniform con
duct of this gentleman, with his attachment and icr-
Vices in the cause ot liberty, it is prelumeci, will
render his appointment highly acceptable to the
inhabitants of the United States.
Major Andrew Brown, who made his escape from
prison in New-York, 011 Thursday last, and arrived
here iait Sunday evening, has favoured us with tne
following intelligence, viz. That last Tuesday Ad
miral Hood with 13 fail of the line, 4 frigates and 2
firelhips, arrived at Sandy-Hook. That the troops
and inhabitants of New-York, expect every moment
to be attacked by General Walhington. That the
inhabitants of Long-Bland and. Staten-Bland, are
every man obliged to do military duty —That the
Rover, lately taken from us, and in their service, was
yesterday week drove ashore and burnt.
When Major Brown came away, there were 700
prisoners on board the Jeriey prifon-lhip. —The
officers and men are indiscriminately drove under the
hatches at sun-setting, and there kept in that fuffo
cating condition till after fun-riling, when they are
let up to walh the decks, and particularly the quarter
deck, where at other times, they are not fuffered to
set a foot.
Saturday morning last there was a severe engage
ment just at the entrance of this harbour, between
an Engliffi frigate said to be the Assurance of 44 guns
and io caronades, from Halifax, and the French
frigate Magtcienne of 32 guns, coming round from
Pilcataqua, convoy to a mast ihip; when after near
an hour's conflict, the Magicienne was obliged to
strike to superior force. How many were killed on
N board either Ihip, we have not yet heard. The Bri
ton was teen from the eminences and tops of houses
in this town, to have loft her sore-topmast, and to
be otherwise greatly damaged. Tne Aftrea and
Sagittaire frigates are gone in quest of them, and we
hope in our next to give an account of their being
overtaken before they reach their port, as the Britilh
ihip and her prize were much shattered.
Extraa of a letter from Philadelphia, dated August 22.
" I congratulate you upon the great profpe&s
which v&cfcat themfclves in our latitude. You will
know, ere this reaches you, that the Count de Graffe,
with 26 fail ot the line and 7000 troops are on our
borders. I dare fay no more on this head. What a
light work would it be for him to sweep with the
bciom of deltruCtion, the whole coast to New-York!
Five fail of vessels arrived here on Sunday from Cape
Francois: they were four days detained in the French
fleet and speak highly of its martial appearance.
" I have the plealure to tell you that the loan for
the exiles from Charleftown fills faft, there being
about 18,000 hard Dollars already fubferibed. The
donations go on liberally. An universal tenderness
prevails among Philadelphians for these disconcerted
Grangers, and these indulge their coirelpondmg
feelings. There are about 1200 of them,"
PROVIDENCE, September 1.
On Wednesday arrived here a retaken lloop, prize
to the privateer lloop Hope, Capt. Christopher Smith,
of this port. She belonged to Philadelphia, and had
been captured in Delaware Bay by a imall privateer
from New-York. She has 011 board a quantity of
Sugar and Hides, taken out of a Spanish Ihip from
the Havannah, that was lately caff away in the De
laware.
A privateer Galley, called the Black Sloven, ar
rived at New-London on Wednelday evening, and
brought in a brig from Jamaica, bound to Brihol,
that had been taken and retaken four several times.
When captured by the Galley, she had two Bntilh
Midihipmen and 12 Seamen on board. Her cargo
consists of 273 hogiheads of sugar, 20 puncheons of
rum, 99 bags of ginger, and. 20 tons of logwood.
Vve icarn that the privateer brig Mariamnc, Capt.
Whipple, of this port, was lately captured by two
Britain frigates, and earned into New-York.
H A R T F O R D, Sept. if.
Extract of a letter from an officer commanding mi
litia, dated New-London, Friday, 9 o'clock, Sep
tember 7, 1781.
" Yesterday morning at ten o'clock, I received ad
vice that the enemy were landing at New-London
harbour's mouth —1 immediately ordered the regi
ment under my command to march to New-London
for its defence. 1 arrived here, but it was too late
to afford any great abidance in repelling the enemy,
as they landed at fix o'clock, and it was so late be
fore 1 received advice of their arrival, that before
the regiment could polhbly get down, they were em
# barking.
" The enemy were under the command of the in
famous General Arnold, and by the belt accounts
confided of from 1500 to 2000 men. —They have
burnt the greatest part the towns of New-London
and Groton, near the water —The garrison at Fort
.Trumbull evacuated the fort and went over to Fort
Griswold, where Colonel Ledyard made a noble de
fence —repulsed thy^nemy two or three times, but
at last was obliged to surrender the fort to superior
force. The enemy, after Colonel Ledyard had sur
rendered, murdered him and a number of others ;
they left 73 of our men dead, and between 30 and
40 wounded in the fort ; they also carried off about
40 prisoners, among which last number is Ebenezer
Ledyard, Esq. They evacuated the fort about ten
o'clock in the evening. They blew up the maga
zines in both forts, but did very little other damage
to either of them.
"The enemy this morning were at the harbour's
mouth on board their (hipping, and came to fail a
bout 8 o'clock ; they are kill just out beyond the
light-house, as the wind is againlt them. Their (hip
ping consists of about 30 fail, two of which appear
to be about 20 guns each.
" We cannot afeertain the lofc the enemy sustain
ed, but by the belt accounts imagine it mull be as
large as our's if not larger. We have taken on this
fide a few prisoners, among which is an Enlign, mor
tally wounded.
" The lots sustained in this town, in goods, pro
visions, stores, (hipping, &c. is very great —A con
siderable number of vessels made their escape up
Norwich river."
Another letter, dated Fort-Griswold, Groton, 7th
September, 10 o'clock A. M. fays, " That the
enemy landed at New-London and Groton early
yesterday morning, and soon took pofleffion of the
works on New-London fide of the river; and about
one in the afternoon took poffellion of Fort Griswold.
in Groton, by storm, after a most severe and spirited
refinance from our troops —About feyenty-five ol
our men found dead in the fort, officers included,
among whom is the worthy and brave Lieutenant-
Colonel Ledyard, with several other officers of dis
tinguished merit. Captain Shapely of Fort Trum
bull, is also dangerously wounded.
" The enemy embarked on board their (hips at
about 11 o'clock laid night, after burning most of the
houses and other buildings on Groton bank, and
many in New-London, among which are the Court-
House, Church, &c."
F I S H-K I L L, Sept. 13.
The four months regiment, under the command
of Colonel Weifenfelt, marched from this town tc
Weft-Point last Friday; a fine body of men as haw
been raised during the present war. —During theii
stay in this town, the officers were unweariedly dili
gent in improving those new troops in discipline
and their pains was not loft, for their several ma
nceuvrings was more like veterans than young soldiers
This does honour to the choice of experienced
cers, under whom discipline and order are prop
maintained.
On Thursday the 6th inst. Captain Pearfe, of P
ling's precinct, having had a hint of a party of 1
bers being seen in the mountains, collected a
men to go in q*eft of them: Having divided then
three parties, one of them difeovereq four yill
playing cards near a small house in the woods ;
men fired on them, and killed the noted thief Vaug a
on the spot; Heog, Proffer, and ,
off — One of them (luppofed to be Heog, by his
which was left) was wounded, by the blood wl
was difeovered in considerable quantities on
road. Several papers were found on Vaughan, ;
ing .an account 01 the divilion of their plum
Captain Pearfe and his men deserve the higheit tha, -
of their country for their activity, in this and oti
exploits. In the houle, near where the fellows w
difeovered, were cooking for them, tw 0 quartern .
mutton, and two more hanging up: They pulled
down the house which harboured the robbers, al
took bail ol the difaffedted man who pollened it.-^
Captain Pearle in the month of May last took fee
robbers in a cave, some of which received the
ward due to their delerts.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Albany, <.
ted September 8, 1781.
" We have jult received the Unagreeable ne
that out of forty men, Colonel Willet unt out or
Icoui from Fort Plain (his prelent station) only
returned; the relt being either killed or taken, bi
superior force of the enemy."
N E W-Y O R K, (City) Sept. 5.
By accounts from the Chesapeake, dated the 3.
ult. the arrival of a French fleet 01 Iquadron, conh
ing of 23 fail, including frigates and inferior veiled,
were arrived at Lyn-Haven Bay, in Virginia, when©
a 64 and two frigates were dispatched up York-Rivi
and had taken a station off York-Town. Even
prepaiation was ma^ng by our noble General ic
defend the important polls his Lordship there polk
fes; and as a very formidable ana truly well appoints
squadron of the Britilh line, commanded by Admit
Graves, is, through much exertion, supposed to be
now in the vicinity of our combined enemies, we ma
conclude the prelent to be the molt interesting ar
critical turn hnce the commencement of the America
rebellion; for an expetted action at sea, is likely 1
become decilive of the inadmillible idol, indepcnder
cy. We have, at present, the fatisfadtion to perceii
a great part of the French navy in a more peculiar
and perhaps a more dangerous position, than the
were ever yet reduced to. Granting that the Frenc
Wert-Indies and Rhode-lfland fleets should hav
both reached the Chesapeake before Admiral Graves
we trust the following state, as accurate as we car.
present it, of the Britilh navy, when arrived in the
bay, may inspire every true Briton with a firm con
fidence in its fair preteiifioiis to brilliant success.
A LIS Tof the Britilh fleet, commanded by Tho
mas Graves, Esq. Rear Admiral of the Red.
London 98 R. Ad. Graves, C. D. Graves.
Barfleur 90 R. Ad. Hood, Capt. Hood.
Pfinceffa 70 R. Ad. Drake, C. Knatchbull,
Bedford 74 Captain Thomas Graves.
Royal Oak 74 Ardefoif.
Invincible 74 Sexton.
Alcide 74 Thompson.
Alfred 74 Bayne.
Ajax 74 Charrington.
Resolution 74 Lord Robert Manners.
Centaur 74 Capt. Inglefield.
Montague 74 Bowen.
Terrible 74 Hon. Capt. Finch.
Shrewfbury 74 M. Robinson.
Monarch 74 Reynolds.
Europe 64 Child.
America ft 64 Thompson.
Belliqueux 64 Brine.
Intrepid 64 Molloy.
Adamant 50 Johnston.
Chatham 50 Douglass.
Assurance 44 Swainney.
La Nymph, 18)
pounders on one [44 Ford,
deck, )
La Fortune, 12)
pounders 011 one > 44 Christian.
deck, )
Richmond 32 Hudson.
Orpheus 32 Colpoys.
Iris 32 Dawson.
Sybil 28 Rodney.
Pegasus 28 Stanhope.
Carysfoot 28 Peacock.
Solebay 28 Everett.
Medea 28 Duncan.
Amphitrite 28 Biggs.
Salamander firefhipß Bowater.
Jane sloop Knight.
All the above line of battle ships, except the Europe,
are coppered.
Extract of a letter from Virginia, dated York, Aug. 31.
" I now inform you, that we are blocked up by a
French fleet of 23 fail; one 64 and three frigates lay
in fight of us. We are making all the preparations
we can to give them a warm reception."
Yesterday came up two victuallers, part of the fleet
committed to the protection of His Majesty's frigate