The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1780-06-07 00:00:00, page 2

The Southern poll who arrived last Wednesday
evening informs, that a^report prevaled at Hartford,
when he came away, that a fleet of French or Span
ish Blips were seen off Charleftown, about the 12th
ult.
Saturday last arrived a small Prize Sloop, with
about 40 Bushels of Salt and a Number of Sacks of
Wheat. She was taken in the Bay of Funday.
The Robufte, British Pirate Ship, of 74 Guns,
arrived at Halifax the 17th of April, from Georgia;
fie with several small Privateers, now lie in that
Harbour; and two of 10 Guns each, at Liverpool,
in Nova-Scotia. Mr. Me Lane has arrived at
Halifax from Majorbaggadyce, where he has resumed
the Command again, leaving the Charge of Penobfcot
to the Maccaroni Lieut. Col. Campbell.
The Printers acknowledge their Incapacity of de
scribing the Phenomenon which appeared in this
Town on Friday last, and shall therefore leave it to
Astronomers, whole more particular Business it is.—
They however, would inform those who were not in
the Contents of it, that on Friday last about Ten
o'clock, there came over this Town a dark Cloud,
which continued increasing darker and darker 'till
near One o'Clock, when it became so dark that the
Inhabitants were obliged to quit their Business. The
Darkness continued 'till near Three o'Clock, when
it gradually grew lighter and lighter 'till the Light
4 'B OSTON, May 15.
Last Friday was proved in this town, the carriages
at Fort-Hill, of a new conftrudion, for 24, 36 and
48 pound cannon, which plan has been given by Mr.
Le Maire, Colonel of Dragoons, and tried by himfelf.
There are great advantages known to be derived
from these carriages of new conftrudtion, as three
men can ealily move a piece that would otherwise re
quire ten, without being exposed to the fire of the
enemy, and can fire the guns that are mounted on
thole carriages, at leaf! four times as fall as the old
ones, and can be as ealily pointed at any place as a
fufee, and as ealily and quick turned round to fire
at any object. The Hon. Council of this state has
favoured the above officer with their presence, at
proving t,cfe carriages, the execution being conform
able to what he had proposed in his plan. —The Hon.
Council has been pleased to approve much of this
plan, and have adopted that conltrutlion.
Extract of a letter fr # m Newberry Port, dated 17th
May, 1780.
'' This day arrived here, brig Marquis de la Fay
ette, Seth Thomas, Matter, in 21 days from Point
Petre Grandterre. The day before he failed he heard
a letter read by a merchant there, which was just
received from Baffetterre, giving an account of an
engagement between the French and Engliih fleets,
about 7 leagues to leeward of Dominica, the 19th
of April, which lasted about 4 hours, when the
British hauled off to the southward. The French
fleet afterwards came into Baffetterre road, and land
ed some lick and wounded, ^d in four hours put to
sea again, and ftcod to the Northward; and it was
believed they were bound to St. Kitts. They had
no transport ships, but had their land forces on board
the men of war. No further account was received
when Captain Thomas came away."
May 22. The Gov. of Guadaloupe, upon application
of the Inhabitants of Point a Petre, which Town
was nearly all consumed by Fire, on the firlt of
March last, to grant them an Exemption of all Du
ties upon the Exportation and Importation Goods,
in Order to relieve them in the Losses they have sus
tained, made the following Ordinance, viz.
I. A Suspension of the Poll Tax upon the Inha
bitants of Point a Petre, and the Slaves that arc not
employed in the Culture.
2. A Suspension of the Duty which used to be paid
on 'the Dwelling-Houfcs and Stores in said City; both
for those which were preserved from the Fire, and
for those that will be built anew.
3 and 4. A Suspension of a Duty of 1 per Ct. on
the Articles which are brought from the Country in
to the Town, and the fame when they are shipped
off, both for France and Foreign Ports.
5. A Suspension of 3 per Cent, and of the additi
onal Duty of 8 Sols per Livre on Molafles and 1 affias
which will be exported by the American Vettels from
Point a Pretre.
Capt. Winslow, who arrived here last Saturday, in
22 days from Dominico, confirms the account in our
last of there being a severe engagement between the
French and Engliih squadrons off that island, on or
about the 25th ult, being an eye-witness from the
fliore —That the Governor of Dominico went on
board the French Admiral, but had not returned in
36 hours after the engagement, when Capt. Winllow
failed, consequently could not bring any account
which gained the advantage. Capt. Winslow on his
passage law five fail, which he took to be of the line,
Handing to the east, but whether French or Engliih
he could not difeover; two of which, however, he
plainly saw were difmafted.
The British ministry, by the latest accounts are
much distressed by the petitions from the county
meetings, as well as by their apprehensions of what
may be the effeds of the Committees of Correspond
ence established by the opposition in England. The
petition from York was presented by Sir George Sa
ville, and was signed by 9000 members of that county.
Accounts from the Welt-Indies positively declare,
that 2000 of the troops which embarked at New-York
with Gen. Clinton, had been blown off those leas,
and were arrived at St. Lucia.
became as usual. The Inhabitants were obliged to
dine by the Light of the Candle. At Night it had
the fame Effect on the Moon, Such a Phenomenon
was never before seen here by the oldest Person living.
We have already heard of its Extent as far as
Greenwich, in the State of Rhode-Ifland, and as far
as Portsmouth, in the State of New-Hampshire,
which is about 120 Miles.
NEW-L ON DO N, May 19.
Saturday last was brought into port by the Young-
Cromwell, Hawk, and Sally privateers, the flop
Jenny, Capt. Hambleton, from Whitby in England,
bound to New-York, burden about 400 tons, and
laden with coal, cordage and duck.
Same day arrived a flag of truce from New-York,
with iio Americans, sent from the prison ships there,
for exchange.
By a Gentleman from Burmuda, we learn that an
epidemical sickness brought there by British invalid
soldiers from Georgia, has raged to so great a degree
in that island as that 740 of the inhabitants have died
within the last three months.
PROVIDENCE, May 20.
Extract of a Letter from an Officer in the American
Army, dated May 4, 1780.
“ On Thursday we were muttered and infpeded
by the Baron Stuben. We had likewise the Honour
of his Excellency's Presence. The Appearance of
the Troops, their Arms, Accoutrements, &c. drew
the Applause of that great Man, who does Honour
to the Name of Soldier. The Dignity of his Man
ners, the Elevation of his Sentiments, and the No
bility of his Soul, speak him the firft of Characters.
Did I ever mention to you an anecdote which relpefts
him? For Fear I never did, I'll relate it: —His Ma
jesty of Prussia, wishing to bellow some Mark of his
Elleem on so exalted a Character, sent him his Pic
ture; underneath were thele Words: " From the
" oldest General in Europe, to the great
" est General in the World."
Capt. Samuel Chafe, Jun. who arrived here on
Sunday lalt, in 26 Days from Cape-Francois, informs,
that it was reported, when he failed, that a severe
Action had happened off that Place between two
French and two Britilh Ships, of 74 Guns each, in
which the latter had been worked; and that one of
them funk in attempting to go into Jamaica.
Tuesday last arrived in the River the Privateer Ship
Mifflin, Capt. Babcock, from a Cruize of about a
Week. Capt. Babcock has captured and brought in
with him a large Letter of Marque Ship, laden with
500 Puncheons of Rum, &c. She was bound from
Jamaica for New-York. The Prize mounts 19 Guns,
and has 75 Men. She engaged the Mifflin a few
Minutes, but the Captain having his Arm broke by
a Shot, he struck his Colours.
The Privateer Ship Pilgrim is arrived at Newport
from a ihort Cruize, during which she has taken
four Prizes, viz. a Ship from Jamaica, bound to
New-York, laden with Rum, &c. a Privateer Brig
from New-York; a Brig Packet from Augultine
bound to New-York; and a Sloop, belonging to the
Laftward, laden with Oil, &c. that had been taken
by one of the Enemy's Cruizers. The People belong
ing to the Packet inform, that they palled Charlef
town, South-Carolina, the 26th of April ult. in the
Afternoon, when they heard a heavy Firing, and
supposed that a general Attack 011 the Town had
taken Place.
A Flag of Truce failed this Morning for New-York,
to exchange the Prisoners taken by Capt. Babcock,
those brought in by the Pilgrim, &c.
BASSETERRE, (St. Chriftophers,) April 11.
A brig from Cork for this island having a mutinous
crew on board, who, fearing they Ihould be brought
to justice on coming into port, seized the vessel and
carried her into Grenada, where she has been con
demned. Mr. Lawrence Archer was passenger on
The Mifflin, a private ship of war, has taken, and
last Monday sent into Newport a ship of 20 guns and
100 men, laden with 500 hogsheads of rum; and
the Pilgrim, also a private ship of war, has taken
another ship laden with 480 hogsheads of rum, and
ordered her for Boston, They failed from Jamaica
in company with four other ships, bound to New-
York, and were taken oft Sandy Hook.
Yesterday Capt. Roffeter arrived here in a sloop in
19 days from Guadaloupe. He informs, that when
he left the Mole, which was the 28th of April,
accounts were, that there had been two actions be
tween the French and British fleets, each consisting
of 21 or 22 fail; the firft was off Dominico on funday
towards evening, 14 days before he failed; and the
second near St. Kitts on the Thursday following, but
that no ship was 101 l on either fide.
Tuesday a Boat arrived from Newport, which she
left last Sunday, the People in her report, That just
before they came away, a Vessel arrived in 13 Days
from Wineaw, in North-Carolina, which brought an
Account, that Gen. Clinton had made two unfuc
cefsful Assaults on Charleftown, in both of which
he sustained considerable Lots.
A Person who left New-York last Friday fays, That
the Day before he came away, they had an Account
there by a Boat, that a considerable Fleet was off the
Hook. Since which we have had several Reports;
the Truth or Falsity of which, Time will difeover.
NEW-HAVEN, May 25.
board, who is now confined in that island. This is
most undoubtedly an infraction of the Law of nations,
as every state in the maritime world is bound to do
ft@-tjuftice, and bring all Pirates to infant and con
dign p^nilhinent. [Look then at the Ads of the British
Parliament !
April 17. We are informed that Admiral Rodney
has wrote to General Burt, desiring, that he will not
for the future fend any French prisoners to the French
Islands, or return any in their flags of truce, but to
fend them to Engliih Harbour in the island of Antigua,
where they are to be kept on board guard ships until
they are sent to England under convoy. The reason
the Admiral assigns for this ftept is, that the French
in this part of the world owe us a balance of several
hundred men, and which they have not in their power
to pay; that by releasing their seamen here it adds to
the strength of their navy without any utility to the
Britilh nation, when by fending them to England the.
French nation will not only be deprived of their ser
vice a length of time, but our navy will reap greg
advantage of having a number of Engliih seamen,
now in the prisons of France, exchanged for them.
By a letter from Antigua we are informed, that
that beautiful regiment the 55th, is likely to be soon
reduced in its numbers, as no less than one hundred
that went from this place in perfed health and vigour,
are at this time daugeroufly ill in the hospitals. Sic
tranft gloria mundi.
April 22. A fleet was seen by a privateer on Wed
nesday last, consisting of 50 fail, thirty leagues Weft
of Montserrat, which was supposed to be the French
fleet, with their transports; their fleet consist of 24
ships of the line, and our fleet only of 21, as there
is one condemned, called the Fame.
St. JOHN'S, (in Antigua) April 26.
Extract from Sir George Bridges Rodney's letter to
Commiflioner Laforey.
Sandwich at Sea, 19th April, 1780.
" I have to acquaint you, that I met the French
fleet the day before yesterday, and defeated it."
Sandwich off the Saints, zoth April, 1780.
" After writing you last night, we got light of the
enemy again, at this instant we fee 14 fail of them,
and 1 am in great hopes of bringing them to action
before they reach Basseterre, for which they seem to
be pushing."
St. PIERRE, (Martinique,) ApriTzo, 1780.
Last Friday at five in the morning, our fleet, com
posed of 22 ships of the line, weighed anchor in the
bay of Fort Royal, having in the bafon the Dauphin
Royal of 70 guns, under repair. The fame day our
frigates, arriving from Guadaloupe, joined the Royal
fleet, and the whole doubled Point Precheur. On
Saturday we difeovered some of the English and of our
own ships, who had fallen to leeward, endeavouring
to join their refpedtive fleets. On Sunday morning
the whole of Admiral Rodney's fleet, consisting of
21 fllips of the line and 5 frigates, shewed themselves
off our road. They seemed to us to be employed in
observing the motion of our fleet, which appeared to
the weft of the channel of Dominique, ranged in line
of battle, and manoeuvring to gain the wind. The
Engliih were becalmed almost the whole day. On
Monday morning we thought we saw, from the
heights of Precheur, near the horizon, the two fleets
not far distant from each other; but the air becom
ing foggy, they soon disappeared. At 9 in the morn
ing some cannon (hot began to be heard by intervals.
At 11 the cannonade redoubled. At noon it was at
it's greatest height, and from that time till 5 in the
evening, it resembled the effect of thunder grumbling
without intermission. The noise which reached us
at the distance of 9 or 10 leagues, convinces us that
the action was very lively.
CHATHAM, May 31.
The Savages, with Guy Johnson at their head,
have been very troublesome on our frontiers of late,
and committed the greatest depredations and moll
wanton cruelty on the Mohawk river; but as Gen,
Clinton is detached with his brigade to that quarter,
we hope Mr. Johnson, with his Indian tribe, will
soon be reduced to their primitive obfeurity.
On Friday morning lalt, about day-break, the
57th regiment from Staten-Island, entered the town
of Newark, plundered some of the inhabitants to a'
very considerable amount, and carried off about
twenty of them prisoners.—When they retreated, a.
May 2. When the French fleet appeared off St.
John's, the militia assembled in town, and every
disposition was made, in conjunction with the troops,
to give the enemy a warm reception, as they moment
ly expected to be invaded.
We hear that Capt. Ferguson of the Venus is re
moved to the Terrible, and Capt. Douglass to the
Venus.
Extract of a letter from Antigua, April 25.
" About five o'clock yesterday morning 27 fail of
French ships of war appeared off St. John's harbour,
and staid there, close in, till evening, when they de
parted, but whitherwe do not learn. Eleven of those
ships we could difeern from the shore to be dreadfully
Shattered. A second engagement is said to have hap
pened between the fleets, when five were taken and
two destroyed of the enemy, and that Sir George's
squadron is now cruising off Fort Royal, to prevent
the fliattered remains from getting in, which will
compel them to bear away for Cape Francois or the
Mole. In either case the victory has been complete
and decisive of the fate of the French Islands.