The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1782-06-12 00:00:00, page 2

tions for debarking his troops as soon as every thing
could be got ready. At five o'clock Mr. Miranda,
an aid of his Excellency, went with a flag in the
schooner Surprize, a tender belonging to this ship,
to close the capitulation; the day following he re
turned, having adjusted the business, as your Ex
cellency will observe by the copy of General Cagi
gal's letter to me thereon; and on the Bth instant
His Excellency landed his army and took possession
of the forts and town.
Although there are not many good harbours a
mong these ifhnds, yet when it is considered that
they extend from the latitude of 21 Poo, to the
latitude of 27 9 30 north, and from the longitude
of 70 P 00, to about the longitude of 79 9 00 weft
from London, filling up the seas from about oppo
site the centre of the island of Hispaniola, to above
half way down the island of Cuba, and then stretch
ing from Cape Florida, to very near abreast of
Cape Canaveral, on the continent of North Ameri
ca: their being in the poffelfion of a friend or an
enemy, is of no small consequence to the United
States, especially as the different ihoais and small
islands form a shelter for cruizers ; and from the
particular turn these people have for privateering,
they succeeded so well as to capture upwards of
one hundred and sixty vessels during the last twelve
months, many of which were Americans.
I cannot but congratulate our state in particular
on this conquest, as it was from this spot our ene
mies in Charleftown received many supplies, and
because the southern states have more particularly
felt the obftru&ions they have caused to a free in-
tercourfe westward with the Spanish settlements.
I feel myfelf happy in affuting your Excellency,
that the success of this expedition wa: entirely
owing to the great attention which the Captains
and officers of the American vessels of war paid in
conveying such a fleet through so difficult and so
unfrequented a passage, with a beating wind all the
way, whereby we dilappointed any plans the enemy
might have formed of attacking us in our way thro'
the gulph of Florida; their vigilance in blocking
up the different outlets, and approaching every bat
tery, so as to attack all the batteries whenever the
signal was to be made for a general attack, had a
proper effect, and would have facilitated the ad
vance of the troops very much, had there been the
opposition that was expeded, from the intelligence
it seems the enemy received of this expedition and
its departure; but although they had just received
a reinforcement, they had not time to ered new
batteries or repair the old ones, owing to the fleet
coming through an unfrequented passage, and much
sooner than was thought practicable :, to these cir
cumstances may be imputed the surrender of all the
Bahama islands without any attack or opposition.
Your Excellency will readily conceive the reason
why the surrender was not demanded jointly, and
why I did not sign a capitulation which was begun
and finifhed under your state colours.
With all due refped, and very much esteem,
I have the honour to be your Excellency's
most obedient and most humble servant,
A.GILLON.
His Excellency John Matthews,
Esquire, Governor and Com
mander in Chief of the State
of South-Carolina.
Extras of a letter from a gentleman in Demerara,
dated the 10th of March, 1782, to his friend in
the Delaware state.
" You no doubt have heard of this place surren
dering to his Most Christian Majesty the 3d of Fe
bruary last, to Count de Kerfaint, with a Iquadron
from France, consisting of three frigates, viz. The
Iphigenia of 40 guns, commanded by the Count
de Kerfaint ; the Aimable of 40 guns, De Sufanot,
the Rofignal 22 guns, 18 pounders, the Count's
brother commander, a brigantine of 22 guns, 18
pounders, a cutter of 22 guns, 9 pounders, and a
bomb-ketch with one fix inch mortar and fix 24
pounders ; and about 500 men with two transports.
They met with no opposition, as the place was not
well fortified, nor any troops here, although eleven
months in their possession, and only fix King's ves
sels, all badly manned. The Barbuda sloop of
war was the largelt ; but most people think for their
honour they might have made foine defence. The
Count seems determined not to trifle away his time,
being as expeditious as possible in putting both rivers
in a state of defence. The loyalists embraced the
opportunity, whilst the English were in command,
to address his Majesty, praying success to his arms,
setting forth their attachment, the advantages of
having so fine a colony, &c. &c. and that he would
have them protected: you must take notice most of
them were old refidenters here, having come with
little or nothing, and in general had increased their
fortunes under the Dutch government, and really
treated the Dutch with much difrefped after the
English took the place ; myfelf and two other Ame
ricans did not escape their persecutions as Ameri
cans. Since the Count came, he, with the Gover
nor and Council, have ordered the signers to fur
nifh one fifth of their Negroes to work at the forts,
&c. and to find provisions for the soldiers, whilst all
the other planters are exempt. Three of their
estates are taken and sequestered for the States of
Holland. Two fequefterers are appointed, and have
got them in possession; they are worth about 90,000
lierling, and'poffibly more may be soon brought in.
It gives me fufficient fatisfaCtion, .as some of those
supported an inveteracy towards me from political
reasons."
NE W-LONDO N,' May 31.
Last Sunday was brought into port by two gal
llies belonging to Boston, a galley called the Terri
ble, which they captured at Block-lfland with 14
men. They drove another galley ashore on Block-
Bland at the time they captured the above, and de
stroyed her.
Tuesday arrived from St. Croix the sloop Try
again, Captain Leighton, belonging to Boston; she
failed from St. Croix in company with Captain Jof
lin who arrived here about a fortnight since.
Yesterday a brig laden with tobacco was brought
into port: She failed from New-York on Monday
last, bound to Europe, and was taken on Tuesday
by the Hancock, Randolph and Elizur. We have
no news by this vessel, they having thrown over all
, their papers previous to the capture.
FISH-KILL, June 6-
On the 31st of May, the birth of the Dauphin
was celebrated at Weft-Point, by the American ar
my, stationed on the banks of the Hudson; prepa
ratory to which the following communication had
been made in the General orders of the 26th.
" Ihe Commander in Chief, happy in the oppor
tunity of announcing to the army the birth of a
Dauphin, and desirous of giving a general occasion
of testifying the fatisfa&ion which he is convinced
will pervade the heart of every American officer and
soldier, on the communication of an event so highly
interesting to a Monarch and nation, who have giv
en us such diftinguilhed proofs of their attachment,
is plealed to order a feu-de-joye on Thursday next,
and requests the company of all the general, regi
mental and ftaff officers of the army (who are not
necessarily detained by duty) at Weft-Point, on that
day, at 4 o'clock. Commanding officers of brigades
and corps, will receive particular inftrudions for
their government."
The celebration, however, on account of the
weather, and some other inevitable circumstances,
v^s postponed till the next day, when a magnificent
bower having been ereded, an elegant entertain
ment, at which more than 500 covers were laid,
was given by His Excellency to the officers of the
army; at which were also present His Excellency
Governor Clinton, with a great number of gentle
men and ladies, forming a refpeftable and brilliant
company.
After dinner, the following toasts were drank,
under a difeharge of cannon. The band of the 3d
regiment of artillery, with the other martial mufick,
playing alternately the whole time.
1. Long life, happiness and glory to the Dauphin.
2. The United States in Congress.
3. His Most Christian Majesty.
4. The Queen and Royal Family of France.
5. His Catholick Majesty, and the friendly pow
ers of Europe.
6. The Count Rochambeau and the French army.
7. The American soldiery.
8. The allied fleets.
9. The Chevalier de la Luzerne.
10. The American Ministers, at home and abroad.
11. Perpetual duration to the alliance.
12. A new edge to our swords, until they fliall
have opened the way to independence, free
dom and glory ; and then may they be con
verted to instruments of peace.
13. May the independence of America give free
dom and peace to the world.
At fun-let, the officers repaired to their respec
tive corps, which had been previously paraded on
the surrounding heights; when a feu-de-joye, from
an extensive circle, commencing on the right of the
garrison, and terminating on the hills above Robin
lon's house, exhibited three times, the most beauti
ful appearance imaginable. In the mean-time, the
evening being calm and serene, a splendid illumina
tion of the bower opened a new and most brilliant
feene on the point, from almost innumerable lights,
most happily disposed for the purpose. The whole
exhibition was concluded by a variety of well de
signed and well executed fire-works ; and the com
pany dispersed at half past 11 o'clock.
It is impossible to describe the cheerfulnefs and
good order which prevailed throughout the nume
rous croud of fpedators, and the lively sensations of
joy which were expressed on every countenance,
and crowned the feftivity with ineffable fatisfadion.
The printer has been favoured with the following
genuine copv of a letter from a gentleman of the
army to *Fis rrrend in & —ap„confining a more
particular description of the rqffilmgs on Friday
Jaft, which he communicates with singular fttif
fa&ion to his readers.
Weft-Point, June 1, 1782.
“ In return for your agreeable favour of the 16th
of May, I will attempt, my dear fir, to give you
some faint idea of the new and enchanting feenes,
of which I was yesterday a witness, and in the fru
ition of which, I had the honour and happiness to
participate.
As soon as the birth of a Dauphin had been offi
cially communicated to His Excellency the Com
mander in Chief, he took an early opportunity oi
announcing that auspicious event to the army, and
directing that it should be celebrated by a feu-de
joye, and other publick rejoicings suitable to the
happy occasion. The 31st of May being appointed
for the celebration, between 12 and 1 o'clock, P. M
His Excellency General Washington, his Lady anc
suit, His Excellency Governor Clinton, with his
Lady, Major-General Knox, and Brigadier-Gene
ral Hand, with their Ladies, Mr. Benson, the At
torney-General, Mrs. Livingston (of the lower
manor) Mrs. Montgomery (widow of the Hero
who fell before Quebec) and a great number of
gentlemen and ladies, arrived in their barges at
Weft-Point, and were conduced to the quarters of
Major-General M'Dougal, through the grand Col
lonade which had been erected for the entertain
ment.
" It would be as vain to attempt to describe, as
it was astonishing to behold, this superb sylvan ede
fice arise into existence, as it were by enchantment ;
for who could imagine or explain, how an artificial
disposition of timber, boughs and paintings, can
vie, in appearance, with the splendor and magnifi
cence of the east, yet out of their firnple and flight
materials, a rural temple was almost instantaneous ly
fabricated by the exertions of the soldiers, without
any expence to the publick in its conftrudion and
decorations, which by the chaftnefs of taste, the
symmetry of proportions, the neatness of the work
manship, and the universal elegance displayed in the
architecture, baffled the power of description, af
feded all the fpedators with unusual admiration and
pleasure, and did infinite credit to the ability of
Major Villefrance, who projected the plan, and un
der whose direction it was so happilyexecuted.—The
area of the building which was supported by on
hundred and eighteen pillars ornamented in the an
tique manner, was 220 feet in length, 80 in breadth,
and so capacious as to contain tables for more than
five hundred peo le, leaving room for the orchestra
at the north end, the fide boards at the extremities,
and an ample vacuity at the centre. —The exterior
was covered and finely interwoven with green
boughs of different verdure, adorned with feftoons
of flowers and garlands, decorated with emblema
tical devices of Fleurs delis, stars and other orna
ments, fignificant of the union and splendor of the
allied nations. The idea of convenience was hap
pily united with that of beauty ; for, while the thick
umbrage formed a grateful Shelter from the wea
ther, none of the pleasures of vision were loft, by
an enclosure improperly extended. But, as no lan
guage can perfectly paint, and scarcely any concep
tion equal the correCtnefs of the design, or the just
nefs of the execution, I Ihall leave vour warm ims
" This superlatively elegant ftrufture (which ha 4
never had a rival on the western continent, wh ; ch
would have been an object of admiration on the o
ther, and to which I can give no name fufficiently
expressive) was situated on the gently riling ground
in the rear of fort Clinton, commanding the level
of the Point, with a variegated view of all the bar
racks, encampments, artillery and fortifications of
the garrison ; and opening a most delightful and
romantic profped up the ,river as far as the eye
could reach: Every thing at this vernal season,
conspired to heighten the complicated beauties of
the landscape, which was bounded on either fide by
the cloud-topt hills, exceeding in wonderful grada-"
tion one above another, and forming, from this stu
pendous mass of matter, one of the most august and
sublime theatres in creation.