The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1780-01-26 00:00:00, page 3

From a New-York paper of the 27th ult. we learn,
that a fleet of 130 fail, under a good convoy, failed
from Sandy-Hook last Tuesday morning, with a fair
wind, bound for England, Scotland and Ireland.
We are aifo informed by a gentleman from the
lines, that a large fleet with troops, bound for the
Weft-Indies, failed from New-York about the 20th
ult. It is said, General Clinton and Lord Cornwallis
went with them. :
PHILADELPHIA, January 22.
Extract of a letter from General Washington to His
Excellency the Prefdent of Congress, dated Morris
town, January 18, 1780.
"SIR,
« At day-light, we were only two miles from the
Villages, when the enemy brought three guns to flank
our line, with three or four in front, with a number
of marksmen, picking off both officers and men, and
they kept a continual tire on our line until three in the
afternoon. They forced us to retire into a small vil
lage, and to leave one eight-inch howitzer, and the
killed on the field; for we loft a number of officers
and men.
" The enemy cannonaded our camp from the 23d
of December until the 14th of January. Our army
was only 3000 fighting men, and the enemy upwards
of 60,000 fighting men; including the market, they
had about 120,000 men, women and children
" There is an army of 7000 men marched from
Bengal, and is arrived at Secrat. They were three
months in marching round; they had several engage
ments, but were fuccefsful. Capt. Scott is well, so
are Dr. Carmichael and Capt. Nicholson."
BASSETERRE, (St. Kitt's) Nov. 23.
Extract of a' letter from Dublin, Augufl 27.
" This French-Spanish-American war we have, has
hurt the markets ; no demand for sheep or black cat
tle; wool is now felling for eight shillings per Itone,
and no demand even at that price : Lands tumbling,
merchants breaking and molt of the kingdom in aims."
NEW -LONDON, December 8.
Sunday last the privateer Bever, Captain Havens,
returned from a cruize, and brought in with her a
brig from Surrinam, bound to New-York, lad^n with
157 hogiheads of melaffes, and 240 cases of gin.
BOSTON, December 27.
Friday last arrived here Capt. Jarvis, in a schooner,
in 23 days from Martinico; he informs, that 7 fail of
Count D'ERaing's fleet had arrived there from Geor
gia the day before he failed; that it was reported the
Count with 10 fail of the line has gone to France, in
order to take command of the combined fleets ; that
the other eight fail are to tarry in America till further
orders.
'' The severity of the weather having rendered a
descent upon Staten-Island practicable by the ice;
and it being also imagined, that the communication
between New-York and the Island was interrupted by
the fame cause, a favourable opportunity of striking
the enemy stationed there, (who amounted by report
to 1000 or 1200 men) seemed to present itfelf. A de
tachment of 2500 men, including the troops under
General Irvine, was accordingly made for that pur
pose, and the command given to Major General Lord
Stirling. It was originally intended to have attempt
ed the execution of the matter by furprize ; but there
being good reason to suppose, that the enemy by their
emissaries or by other means had got notice of uur
designs, little hope remained of effecting the business
in that manner. As the detachment was affemblcd
near Elizabeth Town, it was thought advifeable to
proceed at all events, upon a conlideration that no
bad consequences could possibly result, and that we
might find an opportunity of reaping some advantages.
We were however disappointed in our expectations,
as Congress will perceive by the enclosed report from
Lord Stirling."
Lord Stirling's Report.
S I R,
I have the honour to inform your Excellency, that
early on yesterday morning the corps under my com
mand crossed the Sound at DeHart's Point, and pro
ceeded towards the watering place. The enemy
having received previous intelligence of our move
ments, a furprize was out of the question, and as
their works were well situated, and appeared other
wise strong, an assault was deemed unadvifeable, as
it would probably have cost us more than we could
have gained by success. We found too, contrary to
our expectation, that the communication between
the Island and New-York was open. Immediately on
our arrival in front of the enemy's works, they lent
off a boat to the city, and in the evening several ves
sels came down from thence to the Island. As from
this circumstance there was no hope of reducing them
for want of provision or fuel, and a reinforcement
might have rendered our continuance dangerous, we
determined to march off this morning. The retreat
was effected in good order, and with very little loss.
A party of the enemy's horse charged our rear guard
under Major Edwards, but was immediately repulsed.
The Major had three men killed, killed one of the
light-horsemen, and took his horse. Some few of the
men were froft bitten, and though we took all the
pains in our power to have all those unable to march
transported in sleighs, yet I imagine a very few may
have been left behind.
Immediately after crossing, a party was detached
FISHKIL L, January 13.
" The brave Capt. Paul Jones, on the 23d of last
month, attacked the Baltic fleet of 60 fail, under
convoy of the Seraphis of 44 guns, and the Scarbo
rough of 20: These two men of war and 42 of the
convoy were taken, all loaded with naval stores for
government, 6 others were totally loft on the coast
with their cargoes and crews. The General Mifflin
was one of jones's squadron, I believe, and it is
thought they have proceeded to Norway.
" About eight leagues from Ufhant, there was a
bloody engagement between the frigate La Surveil
lante and the Quebec, both of equal force. They
both loft all their masts. The French frigate only
saved her bowsprit, she availed herfelf of her oars, to
board the Quebec, and having thrown in a ihower of
hand grenades, the remaining part of the exhausted
crew were on the point of jumping on board, when
they observed a flame fore and aft. They immedi
ately disengaged by cutting away the remains of the
bowsprit, and saved 43 of the British and two officers.
Having got to some little distance by the means of
their oars, the English frigate blew up. The Sur
veillante was carried into Brcft, having had 33 men
killed, and 85 wounded. The Captain, M. de Coe
dic, received three shot, two in his head not danger
ous, and one in the body which we fear is. The 2d
in command was killed, and the 6th officer on board
only was capable of carrying her into port, the o
thers having been either killed or wounded. To him
the brave Capt. Coedic gave up the command of the
frigate after the engagement, for during the action he
would not be taken from the quarter deck, nor fuffcr
their attention to be taken up with him."
Extract of a letter from L'Orient, dated 08. 22, 1779,
to a gentleman in this city.
While the troops were upon the Island, a number
of persons from this fide took advantage of the occasi
on to pass upon the Island, and plundered the people
there in the most fhameful and merciless manner. —
Many of them were flopped on their return, and their
booty taken from them. In addition to which, I
have lent an order for publication, requiring those
who had eluded the fcarch to restore the articles in
their possession, and exhorting the good people at
large, to assist in detecting them. All the soldiery on
re-crossing the ice, were searched, and the little plun
der they had, taken from them and their names noted,
that they may be brought to puniihment. The arti
cles recovered are, and will be deposited with the
Rev. Mr, Caldwell, who is exerting himfelf in the
affair, to be returned to the owners. lam happy to
inform your Excellency, that a very inconsiderable
part indeed of the troops dishonoured themfclves, by
participating in these enormities.
The officers and men, in general, Viewed a good
disposition, and I only regret there was no opportu
nity of turning it to advantage.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) STIRLING.
Published b, order of Congress,
CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
Elizabethtown, January 16, 1780.
Extract of a letter from a merchant of character, dated
L'Orient, October aoth, 1779.
" The owners of the privateer General Mifflin,
Capt. M'Neil, may congratulate themselves on having
gained their cause againtt the owners of the French
Ihip the Isabella. This disputed recapture is worth to
them near 200,000 livres, being loaded with sugars,
which we have just fold. The tribunals on this occa
sion considered the American privateer as intitled to
the privileges of nations the most favoured, and this
indeed is the principle 011 which our tribunals aft, in
all cases in which the Americans are concerned.
under Lieut. Col. Willet, to Decker's house. The
corps there had been alarmed and barely made its es
cape. The house, as a garrison place, and Bor 9
small vessels were burned. A considerable quantity
of blankets and other stores were found.
" The gallant behaviour of Captain Paul Jones at
present engages the whole attention here. In my last
I informed you that he had the command of a small
squadron then on a cruize. He failed round Ireland
and Scotland, spreading terror and devastation in e
very part. He took, burnt and funk a great number
of vessels, among them a ship bound to Quebec, ex
tremely rich.
“ On the 23d of September in the evening, having
under his command the Poor Richard of 40 guns, the
Alliance of 36, and the Pallas of 28 guns; be fell in
with the Baltic fleet, confiding of about 40 fail, un
der convoy of the Seraphis 0644 guns, and the Coun
tess of Scarborough pf 20 guns; the Pallas, after an
engagement of about an hour, took the latter, and
Jones, in the Poor Richard, attacked the former, —
they fought for three hours and an half with incon
ceivable rage ; two hours of which time they were
fad to each other, and almost all the time one or the
other was on fire.
" The Poor Richard was obliged to keep all her
pumps going, during the greater part of the engage
ment; it being night and the two vessels in velopcd in
fmoak, the Capt. of the Pallas could not distinguish
which was friend or enemy, so could give Jones no
assistance. The Alliance lay out of gun shot for the
greatest part of the engagement, and when she came
up to his assistance, through mistake, instead of firing
on the enemy, gave the Poor Richard two broadsides,
which killed 11 men, besides doing other considerable
damage. Notwithstanding all this, Jones continued
the engagement until he obliged her to strike.
" The Seraphis is a fine new fliip, sheathed with
'' I cannot give you a very particular account of
the engagement; only that the conflict between the
two fllips exceed defcriptiop ; upwards of 23c men
killed and wounded in both, and so shattered that it
was a matter of doubt, which of the vessels would
fink firft. The Captain of the Seraphis behaved with
great bravery, but the determined resolution of Capt.
Jones overcame him.
" The Poor Richard, with all the assistance afford
ed from the other ships after the action, could not be
kept above water, and Jones had the mortification to
fee her go down, not being able to favr any material
part of her stores. He (it may be said) has made a
good exchange, but he wished to have got the Poor
Richard into port, shattered as she was, as a picture
of curiosity and distress."
TRENTON, January 26.
Extract of a letter from Bafkenridge, Jan. 22, 1780.
" We had a fall lately in camp, by general cons aint
of the whole army; in which we fatted more sincerely
and truly, for three days, than ever we did from all
the resolutions of Congress put together. This was
occasioned by the severity of the weather and drifting
of the snow, whereby the roads were rendered impas
sable, and all supplies of provision cut off; until the
officers were obliged to releale the soldiers from com
mand, and permit them to go, in great numbers to
gether, into the country, to get provision where they
could find it. The inhabitants of this part of the
country discovered a noble spirit in feeding the soldi
ers ; and to the honour of the soldiery, they received
what they got with thankfulnefs, and did little or no
damage.
" As soon as the roads were broken, and the brave
fellows got their bellies full, they went, with amazing
alacrity, on the Staten-Island expedition; but the
British getting intelligence, our people, after recon
noitering their strength, returned not a little disap
pointed. They did little more than to burn a large
fortified house, and five small vessels, after dripping
them of every thing valuable."
ALL persons indebted to the Monmouth Com
missioners for Real and Personal Estates fold,
are desired to make immediate payment, or they
will be prosecuted without any diftin&ion.
SAMUEL FORMAN,
Monmouth, JOS. LANRENCE,
Jan. ] 7 , 1780. KEN. HANKINSON,
3 w. JACOB WYKOFF.
STOLEN out of the liable, in the night of the 19th
inst. a BLACK HORSE, 4 years old past, 14
hands and 3 inches high, has been branded I C on the
near shoulder, but is scarcely difcernable, trots and
canters well, the hair wore off his bread with a collar,
and ihod all round. Two Hundred Dollars reward,
with reasonable charges, will be given for the horse
only, and Three Hundred for the horse and thief, if
he be secured, that he may be brought to justice, paid
by me, SAMUEL WORTH.
Stonybrook, near Princeton, Jan. 20, i,Bp. 3w.
State of New-Jersey, Jan. 24, 1780.
TO be fold by publick vendue, on Saturday next,
the 29th inst. at the house of James Lippincott,
at Tom's river, in the county of Monmouth, a quan
tity of RUM, with some SAILS and RIGGING;
also the HULL of the sloop , as she now lies
near Cranberry Inlet. The sale to begin at 10 o'clock.
By order of the judge,
tw. ZACHARIAH ROSSELL, Marihal.
To all whom it may concern.
New- XT OTICE is hereby given, that a court of
Jerfeyfs. admiralty will be held at the house of
Gilbert Barton in Allentown, on Friday the 11th day
of February next, at two o'clock in the afternoon of
the fame day; then and there to try the truth of the
fads alledged in the bills of Samuel Dennis, (who as
well, &c.) against a certain brigantine or polacre late
ly drove ashore in the county of Monmouth; and of
Col. Aiher Holmes, (who as well, &c.) against the
brigantine or vessel called the Britannia, lately com
manded by John Morrison; to the end and intent,
that the owner or owners of the said vessels, or any
person or persons concerned therein, may appear and
shew cause, if any they have, why the said vessels
and their cargoes should not be condemned, accord
ing to the prayer of the said bills.
By order of the Judge,
Jan. 11, 1780. JOS. BLOOMFIELD, Reg.
copper, on an entire new conftrudion, and thought
to be the fafteft failing vessel in Europe; she has two
entire batteries, the lower of which is 18 pounders;
fp that she may be said to be almost double the force
of the Poor Richard. This last ship, notwithstanding
every assistance from the others, funk the second
morning after the engagement.
" There has been another engagement lately, al
most as severe as this, between the Surveillante and
the Quebec, each of 32 guns ; they fought yard-arm
and yard-arm for about three hours, when the latter
blew up. Without this accident it was not possible
to tell which would have funk firft, for they were
both determined not to strike."
Extract of another letter from the fame ,lace.
" Capt. Jones came to town from the Texel, and
he is gone to the Hague ; his presence will, 1 am per
suaded, embarrass this Republic, and may probably
produce warm altercations in the Senate.