The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1778-09-02 00:00:00, page 2

LONDON, April 21.
It is certain, if Governor Johnftone is possessed of
no other arguments to persuade the Americans of its
being their interest to return to dependency, than
those he published in the House of Commons, we
cannot entertain any extravagant hopes of his suc
cess. His arguments amounted, as Mr. Burke very
pointedly observed, to no more than this —" You
cannot become a powerful maritime empire of a sud
den ; you may in time, but as present security is pre
ferable to future grandeur, you had better return to
dependency, and enjoy the protection of Britain." —
Very plausible doctrine, truly. " You may be free —
therefore be Haves." There is something too absurd
in this for the mouth of a school-boy. The Go
vernor could not be in earnest.
Orders have been issued, that the unfortunate men
wounded in America fliould not be seen in public
about the Sick and Wounded Office, as their muti
lated appearance at this period is extremely impolitic.
April 24. Six months are elapsed since General
Burgoyne's surrender, yet neither he nor any part of
his army are returned home ; no certain intelligence
by authority concerning them, nor any reason align
ed for their detention : Is this the desert of the Con
vention itfelf? or, is it a breach of the fame on their
fide or ours ?—Surely Englishmen are kept as igno
rant as Turks, Tartars, or Hottentots !
A correspondent fays, that the Scotch have fairly
got their ends every way by this bloody American
war of their's ; for let matters be fettled how they
will in America, the English will flock over to them
in abundance ; so that in time it is expected a Great
Personage will be left surrounded by no body but
fawning Scotch fyeophants, who never fail of plea
sing him, as they have always done.
April 28. We are assured from good authority,
that when Capt. Elliott got the Trident to St. He
len's with the Commissioners, his men mutinied, and
it was some time before they could be pacified.
They cut away the spring-stay ofthe main-mast, and
laniards of the bob-days, and positively swore they
would not go to America; but thro' the remon
strances of the Captain and officers they were at
length prevailed on, and accordingly proceeded on
their voyage. One hundred pounds reward was of
fered for a difeovery of the man who cut the fpring
ftay; but a perfect unanimity prevailing among the
men, the attempt was fruftrated.
A war is more than ever spoken of in the city;
yesterday ten guineas were given in federal places for
a week only, to receive one hundred in case war should
be declared, in the course of that time, against France.
Mr. Wright, of Rathbone-place, one of the church
wardens of that parish, had the small-pox when he
was a child, and was much marked with pits. He
was nevertheless seized a second time with the fame
disorder about a month ago ; when his family, alarm
ed at the singularity 'of the circumstance, sent for a
surgeon and physician, who both pronounced it the
small-pox. He is now so well recovered as to be able
to go abroad. Mr. Wright is fifty years of age, has
been several times where the disorder was, and Hept
with his own children even when they had it, without
ever being in the least asserted.
On Saturday the bill-dicker had a long re-examina
tion before the Lord Mayor, for fixing uphills at the
Royal Exchange and other places, relative to war be
ing declared against France, when he was admitted to
bail for his appearanee at the next sessions at the Old
Bailey, to be tried for the offence, himfelf in Bel.
and two fecuritirs in 401. each.
tor flopping them is, the conduct of the English, who,
on the Marquis de Noailles's having given notice to
the court of London of our treaty with America, in-
Rantly flopped all the French ships in the Thames.
To prevent all ads of hoßility, an embargo is going
to be laid on all French flrips destined for the colonies,
which are not to be permitted to fail without convoy.
Genoa, April 6. It is laid that our government hath
accepted ofthe treaty of friendfhip and commerce of
fered to them by the King of Morocco.
Warsaw, April o. The body of 6000 Cossacks, de
stined by the court of Petersburg to join the Prussian
army, is commanded by Prince Gagarin. It is as
sured that these Cossacks, and a body of 36,000 Ruf
fian regulars, will join that army, only when war shall
be publicly declared. Nevertheless, it is to be hoped,
that the negociations set on foot will preserve peace
in Germany.
The report is confirmed of a suspension of arms be
tween Russia and the Ottoman court; but the con
ditions of that accommodation will not be made
public before the month of August next.
Vienna, April 11. Molt of the regiments quartered
in Alsace have received orders to march towards
French Flanders. Five hundred surgeons have been
engaged, molt of whom are set out for Bohemia.
The Ihoemakers of this city have orders to make
7000 pair of boots for the cavalry ; and the tailors
are to furnilh 40,000 uniforms within a limited time.
Berlin, April 14. The corps of 10,000 men which is
to be commanded by the Prince of Prussia, is expected
this day at Guben, in Lufatia. We also learn, that the
garrison of this city, commanded by Prince Frederick
of Brunswick, was arrived in Lufatia, with a train of
artillery confining of upwards of 300 pieces of cannon.
Altona, April 6. A rumour prevails here that Prince
Henry of Prussia is on his departure for Dresden, and
that the Prussian troops have already entered the
suburbs of Leipzick.
" On the 15th inftaiit, at fix o'clock, P. M. a de
tachment of our troops, with a covering party, pa
raded in the front of our army, where the fafeines.
intrenching tools, gabions, &c. were ordered, and as
soon as it was dark, took possession of a height on
the enemy's right, which commands their front line
of works, at the distance of about half a mile.—The
enemy did not discover our taking polfeffion of this
post until the morning of the 16th, when they began
and continued a brilk cannonade without effect. Du
ring the time our detachment were at work, theys
opened a covered way, and about half completed a
battery on the right fit, which was to be finifhed, and
another on the left erected, the next night; that our
batteries would be opened on the 19th. ,Our troops
were in high spirits, and that great regularity had been
conspicuous in all their manceuvres. Ihe_French
fleet not returned on the morning ofthe 18th.
By the last night's express from Rhode-liland, we
are informed, that on the night of the 17th iußant
the covered way and two batteries of 4 guns each,
were almost completed —That a fatigue party of 1000
men were employed 011 the works on the ißtn, which
so much provoked the enemy, that they fired three or
four hundred shot at our people, but to very little
purpose, two men only being Rightly wounded, and
the party continued at work.
Extract of a letter from Major-General Hancock to the
Hon. J. Powell, Efa. dated Puefday evening, Aug. 18.
" Nothing material has happened since my letter of
this morning, except a constant cannonade from the
enemy, without any other damage than Rightly
wounding one man. A firing has been heard at sea,
which we thinly denotes the approach of the French
fleet, and expert to fee them in the morning, after
which we shall proceed with great vigour and dis
patch ; our men being busily employed in completing
the works near the enemy's lines. Desertion prevails
among them, notwithßanding their circumscribed si
tuation and double guards. This night being very
dark, we expert many ; in one day 41 have come in.
Wednesday morning, 5 o'clock. Every thing quiet,
and very heavy fog and small rains. No account of
the French fleet ; indeed it is impossible they fliould
get in, as it is exceeding thick off."
Monday last arrived here, a brig from Martinique,
laden with molasses, rum, tea, &c. She was thirty
days on her paflage.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman at St. Piere,
Martinique, to a gentleman in this town, dated
July 17, 1778.„
"The appearance of our publick affairs is such,
The late violent dorm, and the Count d' ERaign's
going out after Lord Howe's fleet, which in all pro
bability were bringing large fuccours of men, &c. to
the British army 011 Rhode-Ifland, have retarded a
closer advancement of our troops to the enemy;
many of them were sheltered from the severity of the
weather in houses, barns, and huts which they made
for themselves, by putting rails and such like mate
rials upon the stone walls, and covering them with
hay and straw, &c. Those who had tents luffered
the most, as the violence ofthe wind blewthem down.
Extract of a letter from an officer of diflin&ion, dated
Rhode- Ifand, August 14. .
" You have doubtless heard before this of our be
ing in possession of the north end of this island, and
may perhaps soon expert to hear of our being in New
port. The situation of the enemy is such, that it is
almost impoflible to make any impression upon their
works. They are strongly fortified aciofs the whota
island. Their works consist of a chain of redoubts fd
ven in number, within half mufquet Ihot of each
other, which is what they call the front line: They
have in the rear of these five other redoubts at about
the fame distance from each other, connected by a
breastwork seven feet high, with a ditch ten feet wide,
and a battery in front, and a strong line of piquets in
the rear of the ditch. Their numbers are about
6000 —Provisions they are not in want of—Detention
prevails much among them ; we had 43 came out to
us yesterday. As soon as the weather permits we shall
move close down to their lines. We are now at the
distance of five miles from them. The late storm
was very unseasonable for us. The Count d'Estaing
is not in fight. By delerters from them we hear,
that he took four and funk two of Howe's fleet ; but
nothing certain is yet arrived."
It is the opinion of many, that our army will not
attempt at present to storm the lines of the enemy,
but only cannonade and bombard them, which mult
soon wear them out ; and at the fame time give the
faireft opportunity for indulging the spirit of deserti
on that prevails among th^m, especially the foreign
troops.
Authentick Intelligence from our Army on
Rhode-liland, August 20.
"This morning failed 25 fail of victuallers and
ftorefhips, under convoy of the Romney and Montreal
men of war, for Quebec."
April 30. The news ofthe French fleet failing from
Toulon, being yesterday confirmed, Rocks fell one
half per cent.
Yesterday advice was received from France, that
on the 4th instant ten fail of American vessels, all la
den with rice, indigo and tobacco, arrived fafe at
Nantz, under convoy of three French privateers ; they
left fix fail more on the French coast, under convoy
of a large French frigate.
Extract of a letter from Portfnorth, April 28.
BOSTO N, August 17.
1 he French fleet that you was informed failed
out to attack the English, has not yet returned—the
wind is now fair—we expert they will soon appear in
light; after which we hope soon to render a good
account ofthe British army in Newport.
" Gen. Pigot, who commands the British army,
was heard to fay, that it the French fleet returned,
they must all be prisoners.
"Between fifty and sixty have deserted from the
British since we came on the island. In my next I
hope to communicate more important intelligence."
Extract of another letter, dated Rhode-Ifland, four
miles from Newport, August 17.
" Last night we began to throw up some more
woiks not above an hundred rods from the enemy's
ledoubts, in which we were favoured this morning
by a fog: It has now cleared off; since which the
enemy have laluted us with a few cannon balls. We
expert the French fleet in to-day, and are all ready
tor an attack."
Extract of a letter, dated camp on Rhode-I/land, Au^. 18.
"It was confidently averted in camp yesterday,
that accounts were received from a gentleman of ve
racity,that the French fleet have taken an English 64
gun fliip, three frigates and twelve transports, sup
posed to be part of the Cork fleet, which was expect
ed in with provisions for the relief of the army on
Rhode-Bland. I am just informed this report is
confirmed by an express to the Commander in Chief.."
Extract of another letter, dated camp near Newport,
August 18.
" I am well informed, that an express boat from
the French fleet arrived yesterday with dispatches for
Gen. Sullivan. They are said to contain good intel
ligence ; that the fleet are fafe, and have taken a num
ber of the enemy's provision ships. lam just told, a
number of ships appear in fight off Newport ; they
are undoubtedly the French fleet."
The post from Rhode-Bland was informed, just
as he crossed Bristol ferry, bytwo officers dirertly from
Gen. Sullivan's quarter,, and bound to White-Plains,
that the General had received intelligence from
Count d'Estaing, whose fleet, they said, was then
handing in for Newport.
p ° CLS 1 L R, August 20.
Extract of a letter from an officer of di/lin&ion, dated
camp near Newport, August 17, ,778
Ae landed on this island Sunday the 9th inst.
Dart '°°' P °"ff'°l° f ; the en W'^ works on the north
part, which they had evacuated, without damaging
taein in the least. Thole 011 Quaker-hill were confi
(lerable, with commodious barracks. The army was
formed in three lines across the island,
t" r " an d second line of battle, with a corps de re
lerve ; the hrft line composed mostly of Continental
loops. Lxclufixe of the aforefaid arrangement, we
had a very coniideiable body of light troops advanced.
In this situation we remained till Saturday the 15th,
in consequence ofthe most severe storm I ever knew;
the army luffered much, for it was impossible to keep
landing, th e wind was so exceeding strong.
w mormn g of the 15th we advanced towards
°™?° rt ' ea " ™ lc ™ three columns. During our
marcu, as we palled over some eminences, I could al
most take the whole in at one view. The heavy co
umns, with the artillery, together with the advance
corps and flanking divisions, all moving in the most
regular manner, with mufick, and standards displayed,
was a fight truly animating. We advanced within
about one mile and an half of the enemy's lines,
, eie we have freured our camp by throwing up
lome redoubts. We are now employed in railing
batteries the distance of about Ico rods from the ene
my s redoubts ; they are very frequently saluting us
from their works.
A vessel in thirteen days from St. Euftatia, just
arrived at York, brings advice of Admiral Byron's
having failed from England, in quest of the Count
d'Eßaign, with twelve fail of the line and a number
" Great-Bruain is reduced to a state of misery and
distress; her Rocks are greatly fallen; her publick
credit is almost loft ; and the events of the American
war have been so very unfavourable, that the people
are dispirited, and cry out for peace.
" It is thought that the troops are all ordered from
the continent, as I believe the British miniurv are
well convinced how impotent their efforts must be to
Subjugate the continent. The latest advices confirm
tne death of Lord Chatham."
Extract of a letter from an officer of rank to his friend
in this town, dated Rhode-Ifland, August
" At fix o'clock this morning the army ' were parad
ed, and at seven the signal for marching was given
when the whole army began to advance. We arrived
without opposition within two miles of the enemy's
lines in the afternoon, where the army now remains
encamped on the hills."
r ^ Wednefda^aptains Neil MTntyer, Harfnd
Ferland, all of Pifcataqua, venturing too near the
enemy s lines on Rhode-Ifland, were made prisoners
by a party of light-ho& &n c other person in com
pany with them, hadflty£rfe shot, which gave him
such a spur that he couranot be fiopt, and was tie
h^h ans his cfcape - The horse died in a b°vt
halt an hour after.
° e T friend to America mule rejoice in it
Spain has now openly acknowledged the independ
ence of America, and will co-operate with France in
her endeavours to secure it.
WILLIAMSBUR G. August 14.