The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1780-08-16 00:00:00, page 2

U T R E C II T, April 23.
TTTE hear that the states of Gueldics have not on-
VV ly taken a resolution to refufe the fuccours de
manded by England of this Republic, but also to fur
rrifh their quota for the intended equipment of fifty
two ships of war. Their Noble Mightinesses have
moreover enjoined their deputies to the States Gene
ral to declare, " how pleased their Noble Mightines
ses are with the declaration and invitation of the
Court of Russia for a quadruple alliance, desiring to
fee very soon the advantages realized, by a speedy
adhesion to the views of the Court of Russia."
The Province of Groninguen have alio sent their
opinion to the Affcmbly of the States General, re
fpediLg the two Memorials of Sir Joseph Yorke, de
manding from this Republic the fuccours which Eng
land thinks flie has a right to require ; that opinion
is, to refufe the said fuccours ; so that the Seven Pro
vinces have all been of the fame opinion.
Stockholm, April 30. The Danifli Minister Plenipo
tentiary at this Court, has lately presented a memo
rial to our Minister, in which he notifies " that the
King of Denmark, his master, had acceded to the
pi'6p ditions and the invitation of the Empress of
Russia, for establishing a system of armed neutrality
at sea, for the protection of the commerce and navi
^gation of their refpedive fubjeds, inviting moreover
°four Monarch, in the name of his Danilh Majesty, to
'accede likewise to the said pfopoiitions." Our Court
'as not yet returned an aufwer ; but there is no doubt
A's our Sovereign adopting the fame system.
A Leghorn, April 6. Letters from Constantinople, dat-
Butd March 3, mention an earthquake at Tauris, the
togapital of the province of Aderbigan, in Persia, which
A Was been more fatal than that which happened in
beiSji. If we are to credit these firft accounts, this
town vbhich contained 15000 houses, and many ma
gazines of commerce, exhibits nothing but a parcel
of ruins. Many citizens they add, are destroyed by
—this disaster.
Madrid, April 23. Admiral Don Barcelo continues
1)0 blockade Gibraltar, and to prevent all neutral
mips from going thither, but the operations from our
determined they should not, and therefore counter-,
afted all their motions.
" At daylight in the morning of the 17th, we saw the
enemy diftindly beginning to form their line a-head:
I made, the signal for the line a-head at two cables
length distance. At 45 minutes after fix I gave notice
by public lignal, that my intention was to attack the
enemy's rear with my whole force, which signal was
answered by every ship in the fleet. At 7A. M. per
ceiving the fleet too much extended, I made the sig
nal for the line of battle at one cable's length affun
der only. At 30 minutes after 8. A. M. I made a sig
nal for a line of battle a-breaß, each ship bearing
from the other N. by W. and S. by E. and bore down
upon the enemy. This signal was penetrated by
them, who difeovered my intention, wore and form
ed a line of battle on the other tack. I immediately
made the signal to haul the wind, and ferm the line
of battle a-head. At 9 A. M. made the signal for the
line of battle a-head, at two cables length on the lar
board tack.
“ The different movements of the enemy obliged
me to be very attentive, and watch every opportuni
ty that offered of attacking them to advantage.
“ The manoeuvres made by his Majesty's fleet will
appear to their Lordfnips by the minutes of the signals
made before and during the a&ion. At 11 A. M. I
made the signal to prepare for battle, to convince the
whole fleet I was determined to bring the enemy to
an engagement. At 50 minutes past 11 a. M.I made
the signal for every ship to bear down and steer for
her opposite in the enemy's line, agreeable to the
21st article of the additional fighting inftrudions. At
55 minutes past 11 a. m. I made the signal for battle.
A few minutes after, the signal that it was my in
tention to engage close, and of course the Admiral's
ship to be the example. A few minutes before one,
p. M. one of the headmoft ships began the action. At
one p. M. the Sandwich in the centre, after having
received several fires from the enemy, began to en
gage. Perceiving several of our Blips engaging at a
distance, I repeated the signal for a close action. The
action in the centre continued till 15 minutes after 4
p. M. when Mons. Guichen, in the Couronne, in
which they had mounted 90 guns, the Triumphant
and Fendant, after engaging the Sandwich for an hour
and a half, bore away. The superiority of the fire
from the Sandwich, and the gallant behaviour of her
officers and men, enabled her to sustain so unequal a
combat ; though before attacked by them, the had
beat three Blips out of their line ofbattle, had entire
ly broke it, and was to leeward of the wake of the
Fiench Admiral.
“ At the conclusion of the battle the enemy might
be said to be completely beat ; but such was the dis
tance of the van and the rear from the centre, and
the crippled condition of several ships, particularly
the Sandwich, who for 24 hours was with difficulty
kept above water, that it was impossible to pursue
them that night without the greatest disadvantage:
However, every endeavour was used to put the fleet
in order; and I have the pleasure to acquaint their
Lordships, that on the 20th we again got fight of the
enemy's fleet, and for three successive days pursued
them, but without effect, they using every endeavour
possible to avoid a second action, and endeavoured to
push for Fort Royal, Martinique. We cut them off:
( For the remainder fee the last page. )
London, May 12. Yesterday an account was receiv
ed at the Admiralty from Admiral Gambier at Ply
mouth, containing the following molt unhappy and
melancholy intelligence; that a terrible ftorin hap
pened on Tuesday lalt off that harbour, which had
Shattered several ships then lying off the dock, and
that there was every reason in the world to believe
that two of the belt men of war in the service, the
Ramilies of 74, and the Bienfaifant of 64 guns, had
both been 101 lin the violence of it. They were at
tempting to make the port when the tempest began,
and were driven off to tea in spite of every manoeuvre
they could use to the contrary. Wednesday morn
ing they were seen from the heights, both difmafted
and ail pumps going. Soon after they disappeared
totally, and no account of any kind has since been
received concerning them. At this peculiar crisis of
national distress, this is a very great misfortune, which
is rendered so much the more terrible from the cir
cumstance that all the hands, to the amount of up
wards of a thousand men, must have met a premature
death on this Blocking occasion. The Bienfaifant
was one of the fwifteft failing vessels in the service,
and they were both in a Rate of complete equipment,
both as to building and men. The lot's which this
event will be attended with to the kingdom, cannot
be estimated at less than 140,000!. independent of the
immense inconvenience which must arise from the
deprivation of so large a number of brave and expe
rienced seamen.
BOST O N, July 24.
We hear from Pawnalborough, that about ten days
ago a party of tories surrounded the house of —±
Culhing, Esq. Sheriff of the county of Lincoln, in the
night, took him out of bed, and carried him off to
the enemy.
July 27. The.public account given by Admiral
Rodney, of his firft action in the Welt-Indies with
the French fleet, we must fuppol'e, for the honour of
the Admiral, was garbled by the ministry. He com
pletely beat the French, he tells us, without being a
ble to mention a tingle efted of this complete victory;
not a Blip taken or funk, or even difabied. He ac
knowledges that the Count Guichen denionftrated
himlelf to be a brave and gallant officer, and that he
was nobly supported by his fleet, and yet this brave and
gallant officer, so nobly supported, was completely
beaten by an inferior force, and ran away before he
had a tingle ship materially injured. Such victories
are only the dishonour of the nation that claims them,
and the triumph of the vanquished. The published
account of Admiral Rodney mutt afford the Count
Guichen a keen pleasure. The Britilh Admiral will
110 doubt make a Bill greater vi&or, of his lalt action,
in which even Rivington tells us he was greatly mauled.
By a vessel in a Iliort passage from Statia, we have
a confirmation of thejunftion of the French and Spa
nifli fleets in the Weft-Indies, which Bill remained
at windward; making in all 32 fail of the line, while
the Bririth had but 17. The Spanish land forces de
signed to att in conjunction with those of the French
in that quarter, are said to amount to 14,000. In the
late action, our accounts add, between the Count
Guichen and Admiral Rodney, the Britilh fleet fuf
fered much, having five or fix Blips of the line great
ly disabled. One of their capital ships, and another
of 50 guns, had failed to Europe with a convoy of
merchantmen, and their crippled ships were like to
The idea of appointing Commissioners, who shall
cross the Atlantic, and treat for peace with the Ame
ricans, is again revived. It is proper (from an au
thority that cannot be overthrown) to warn the pub
lick, that such a measure will only serve to aggravate
the burthen of the national expences. Mr. Adams,
(a Plenipotentiary, now at Paris) is near at hand;
and although not permitted to make the firft propo
sitions is totally and absolutely empowered to liken, in
the name of the United States, to general, but not
particular, overtures.
The Irilh have lately commenced a violent attack
on the Duke of Leinfter, charging him with tergiver
fation, and asserting that he has accepted the promise
of a blue ribbon, as the means of peace between him
and government. Should his Grace quit the patri
otic cause there, his interest joined with that of Lord
Shannon, can give any turn to a parliamentary ques
tion that they may judge proper.
camp have not yet commenced..The public cannot
conceive the caute of this delay, but all sensible per
sons are persuaded that Court has got reasons for it.
Hamburgh, April 29, Some letters from Copenha
gen fay, that the Court of Denmark has followed the
example of those of Peterfburgh and Sweden; and
had even sent orders to the Governors of the forts si
tuated along the coasts, not to fuffer any ships, car
rying the flag of the powers at war, to commit any
hostilities within cannon Ihot of the forts.
Hague, May 5. It was observed in the Memorial
presented by the French Ambaflador to the States
General a few days ago, that the following paß'age
was inserted in it: " His Majesty listened with plea
sure to the representations made to him by several
Members of the States, and particularly the Prince,
who is at the head of the Republic, relative to the
hindrances which the trade of several of the Provin
ces met with in his kingdom, dec." This passage has
awakened the attention of many people, most of
whom imagine it to be foifted in by the Court of
Versailles, to render our good Prince fufpeded by the
Court of London ; but it is too gross to remain un
difcoyered.
Sunday last a small privateer schooner, mounting
6 carriage guns, arrived here, prize to the Geneial
Washington, Capt. Monro, of this port. She waa
fitted out at Bermuda, and was one of the infamous
Goodrich's fleet.
Last Sunday a body of French troops, which lately
arrived at Boston, pafled through this town, on their
way to Newport.
Early yesterday morning the air-furnace in this
town took fire, and was consumed.
NEWPOR T, July 29.
Las tMonday arrived in this town the Marquis de
la Fayette, from Head-Quarters.
On Monday last the Hon. General Assembly pre
sented Addrefits to their Excellencies the French Ge
neral and Admiral, to which they were pleased to re
turn very friendly and polite answers ; but not hav-
July 31. Last Sunday returned from a cruize, the
privateer ship Mifflin, Capt. Babcock, having taken
several prizes, as mentioned some time since.
Yesterday arrived the brig , Capt. Somes, in
ten days passage from 'Statia.
A prize snow arrived at Salem yesterday, said to
be very valuable, taken by a letter of marque from
that port.
A vessel arrived here last Wednesday, in 33 days
from Cadiz, the master of which informs, That when
he failed from thence there were 43 Spanish and se
ven French men of war of the line, besides a number
of frigates, lying in the harbour, ready to put to sea
on the shortest notice; but their deßination a pro
found secret.
Capt. Tyler arrived here last Wednesday, in a short
passage from Martinico, who brings the following
important intelligence, viz.
Extract of a letter from St. Pierre, to the Hon. Board
of War of this /late, dated "July 8, 1780.
" A fleet of 23 French Blips of the line, with 2000
troops on board, in company with 9 Spanish capital
ffiips, are gone from Fort Royal to Guadaloupe, to
join a body of 12,000 Spanish troops at that island.
It's thought they intend to make a defeent on St.
Chriftophers, where there is a large fleet of outward
bound merchantmen that have completed their car
goes, and ready to fail for Europe."
Friday last arrived here, a cartel from Halifax, with
a number of American prisoners. By this vessel we
learn, that a packet had arrived there from New-
York, in conlequcnce of which, the Robust of 64
guns, and a number of other Blips of war, had failed,
for New-York. The Delight sloop of war, of 16 fix
pounders, being the only vessel of force that was to
remain there.
PROVIDENC E, July 29.
Advice is received here, that a considerable body
of the enemy's troops were last week landed on Long-
IBand from New- York, and that transports had come
through Hell-Gate into the Sound, to receive them
on board. Whatever may be the enemy's views, it
behoves every man to be ready.
Thursday last the letter of marque sloop Happy Re
turn, Capt. Holloway, arrived here in 17 days from
St. Euftatia. He informs, that 32 fail of the line,
(French and Spanish) were at Martinico and Gua
daloupe, with a large number of transports, having
on board 12,c00 land forces, bound on an expedition
against St. Kitts ; and that many families had remov
ed, and were removing, from St. Kitts to 'Statia.
remain at St. Lucy, unfit for sea. The combined
forces of France and Spain appeared to be on the:
point of tome important operations, but their desti
nation was not known. The Britilh windward ißands
were in consternation, flocking with their effects to
Statia, particularly from St. Kitts, where they were
under apprehensions of an immediate attack: Statia
was crouded, and a single room could not be hired
there but at an aftonifliing high price : There were
great quantities of provisions and Bores at that island,
from which our allies were plentifully supplied, to
wards whom the Dutch evidently difeovered a par
ticular favour.
Arrived a brig, in 16 days from Martinico, which
brings an account that a fleet of 33 fail of the line l
had left that port before they came away, bound on
an expedition against St. Kitts.
Extract from the journal gJ the ship Protector, John
refer Williams, Esq. Commander.
"Friday, June 9, 1780 —wind W.S.W. At 7A.
M. law a large Blip to windward, bearing down for
us under English colours ; the hauled up her courses
in order for action. At 11 A. M. we came along fide
of her under English colours—hailed her, the an
swered from Jamaica —I fhifted my colours and gave
her a broadfide —She soon returned us another—The
action was heavy for near 3 glafles, when unfortu
nately the took fire and blew up—got out our boats
to save the men, took up 55 of them, among them
was the 3d mate, and the only officer fav'd ; —the
greatest part of them very much wounded and burnt.
She was called the Admiral Duff, a large ship of 32
guns, commanded by Richard Stranger, from be.
Kitts and St. Euftatia, laden with sugar and tobacco,
bound to London. We loft in the action one man
(Mr. Benjamin Scolly) and had five wounded—Re
ceived in the action several shot in our hull, and had
several of our shrouds and Bays Biot away—lat. 41.
50. long. 46. 37. Nothing more remarkable till July
i, except the prisoners dying faft, and our Blip's crew
growing sickly, occasioned by the number of lick and
wounded prisoners on board."