The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1783-02-19 00:00:00, page 2

St, PIERR E, (Martinique) Nov, 28.
'fHEY write from leeward, that the last convoy
from St, Domingo failed the 2d October, un
der the convoy of the Palmier of 74 guns, and the
Scipion, which only accompanied the fleet part of
Weir way. The merchant fleet, consisting of eleven
ihips, for Marseilles, 17 for Bordeaux, 3 for St. Ma
lo, 5 for Rochelle, i for Rochefort, 12 for Nantes,
5 of the King's flutes for Brest, in all 54. They
add, that the Scipion, of 74 guns, commanded by
the brave Chevalier de Grimoart, in her return to
the Cape, was attacked near Samaria, by the Eng,
bfh ship the London, of 110 guns. This (hip, how
ever, although of a very superior force, was so well
received, that die loft part of her masts, and was
soon rendered incapable cf manoeuvring. M. de
Grimoart was preparing to board her, when another
Lngliih vessel of his own force appeared in fight. He
bore down upon this new enemy, and engaged him
within musket shot, the London being so much dis
abled that she could not give apy afiiftance. The
engagement continued near four hours with great
fury on both sides, but the damage which both ships
received net permitting them to manoeuvre, they
were both carried away by the force of the cur
rent, and ran on fliore upon the finds of Samana.
They add to this relation, the detail cf which is not
very circumstantial, that the English vcffel had been
got off by two neutral vessels which happened to
pass by when ihe ran on fhorp; the Scipion had not
as yet been got off.
Dec. 26. In times when intelligence from the
Eaft-lndics is of the utmost importance, though
these accounts are often vague and contradictory, we
are happy to prefect our readers with the following,
which is free from all suspicion of uncertainty.
Extract of a letter from Monsieur the Count de
Souillac, Governor of the Isle of France, to Mon
sieur Conway; meftre de camp, commander of
the regiment of Pondicherry, and commander of
the French troops at the Cape of Good-Hope.
S I R,
I HAVE the honour of fending you, by a Dutch
vrffel, the most intereLing news in the Bast-Indies,
this, a duplicate of my last, which I transmit,- led
the fortune of war should have deprived you of the
other. The squadron and convoy which left our
road the 7th December, 1781, have been very fuc
cefsfu! in their cruize. They fell in with and cap
tured the English man of war the Hannibal, of 54
guns ; this is the ship which took our transports,
the Nechar and Severe. On the 6th of February the
squadron falling in with the coast of Coromandel,
to the northward of Madras, took, burnt or de
stroyed, a fleet of too fail, which were corning out
es the .Ganges, and bound for Madras, laden with
all kinds ot dores. They arrived at Madras the 14th,
where they found the Englilh fleet, consisting of 9
1 ne of battle ihips and 2 frigates, moored close un
der the forts. M. d'Orves, who had been ill a long
time, died a few days before at sea; on this occa
sion the chief command devolved on M. de Suffrein.
This brave officer intended to have attacked the
enemy at anchor, but their situation was such as
prevented the execution of his design. On the 15th,
at II in the forenoon, he weighed, and ordering the
convoy to the leeward of the squadron, directed
the Captain of the Pourvoyeufe frigate to flay by
them left they should want any assistance from the
men of war. Ihe Engl th weighed at four in the
afternoon. In the night our convoy loft company,
owing to the figrials being badly seen or badly un
cerftood ; the Pourvoyeufe, who was particularly
charged with them, Leered with them for Pondi
cherry. On the 16th, the perceived some ships of
war in the Horizon, which Ihe took for ours, and
accordingly Rood for them : they proved to be the
English fleet in choc of our convoy ; the French
commander soon found his error, but loft only Li
vreLon tranfyort, which failed very heavy : the lots
of this ship is however to be regretted, as she had
on board some pieces of artillery, and fume troops
of the legion of Lauzun. An hospital ihip which
had loft the fleet, not knowing the land about Ne
gapatam, ran into that place and was taken. The
French licet appearing with all fail set, favoured the
escape of the convoy. M. de Suffrein kept the ma
jor part, and the rest got into the Port de Galles.
The General not being able to fail in with the
English on the 16th, manoeuvred incessantly to ef
fect it on the 17th,' but did not succeed until three
hours and a half before night, the English carrying
such a press of fail ; at this time the engagement be
gan, but it was not decilive, several of our ihips net
being able to get into action. M. de Suffrein did
not judge it prudent to continue the action or the
chafe for fear of falling to leeward of the port where
he intended to anchor, in order to confer with Hy
der Ally and disembark the troops, he therefore
gave over the pursuit in the night and fleered for
Pondicherry. When he arrived there he learned
that he was expected at Porta Nova, where the ne
cefl'ary dispositions had been made for his arrival,
he accordingly failed and got there on the twenty
firft, without the lot's of a moment, sent despatches
to the nabob, who was at the diLance of 25 leagues
from Porta Nova. Our deputies returned the 9th
of March, and every thing being fettled, our troops,
to the number of 2000 men, were disembarked. The
commander dispatched an express to Galles (where
* ere were several transports) with orders to exe
cute the like debarkation. The 12th cf March we
Nov. 13. A report has been universally preva
lent for some days part, and so far credited upon
change as to produce a rife of near one per cent, in
the Locks ; that a Separate peace had been actually
concluded between this country and America. We
can allure our readers that this rumour, in the ex
tent in which it has been represented, is by no means
true. The fact is, a negociation hath bfen for
some time pending, the object, of which was to
eftabiifh a general Congress of the belligerent pow
ers. Thole demanded on the part of France, that
delegates should be admitted as members of the ge
neral assembly from the United Colonies in Ameri
ca. This has been fur some time refufed on the
part of this country, which circumstance hasrim
peded the progress of the negotiation ; but last week
a messenger was difpa:ched to Paris with inLrudti
ons to Mr, Fitzherbeit to consent to the requilition
in dispute, and admit delegates from the American
Congress.
Nov. 14. Yesterday, at noon, his Majesty came
He was well informed that this fleet was convoyed
by two seventy-sours and a hxty-four, and had on
board loco regular troops. The capture of the above
fleet (it it has taken place as we hope) is a most im
portant blow. All other matters here favour our
cause.
Hyder Ally, a man of activity and furprizing ge
nius, loves us as much as he detests our enemies ;
he hath seen the arrival of our troops with joy, and
made every pofhbte exertion to procure them necef
firies. The garrison of Madras is composed of 1200
men, amongftwhich are 400 Seapoys, who, on se
veral occasions,. have shown how little they arc at
tached to the English.
Their troops are in general badly fed and worse
paid.
The men of war which left England with Com
modore Johnftone, and which he sent to India when
he returned to Europe, landed but 1300 men on the
coast cf Malabar, the rest having gone home with
the Commodore. Three flrips only were sent to the
East-Indies, which have joined Sir Edward Hughes.
'Tis said that in the action of the 16th of February
that officer was obliged to abandon his own ship,
the Superb (she making so much water) and to Ihift
his flag to another ship of the fame force. Thus,
Sir, you fee by these accounts, that our affairs in
the East are in a most prosperous state, and that we
have every rcafon to entertain the most flattering
hopes,
" Here follows the fapplcment to the above let
ter, written July 15, 1782,"
The maftcrly manoeuvres of Monsieur de Suffrein
have been crowned with fucpefs. In the course of
the month of June, he intercepted two convoys of
the enemy, with troops, provisions and warlike Lores.
He forced the English fleet into Trinqucmale bay,
where they arc completely blocked up., Admiral
Hughes is in the most critical and disagreeable fitu
atipn, the land affording him 110 provisions, in a sea
son when his men cannot be long preferred ; thus
he will be obliged to weigh with eight fail to en
gage a squadron of eleven, much better equipped
than his. The advantageous situation of our naval
forces, cur combined armies on shore, and the re
inforcement we daily expect, promise us a campaign
which will most brilliantly signalize his Majesty's
arms ; what inclines us to this belief is, that the
English have very few friends in this part of the
world, so that they can obtain no fuccour or
refreshment but by force, their troops harraffed with
fatigue, and daily diminishing by epidemical disor
ders, and defection.
were busily employed, and cur troops likely to be
in reading's to march in a few days. 1 got the above
intelligence from M. Koche, commander of a pac
quet, who was sent with despatches by M, de Suf
frein. On the 22d of March M. Roche fell in with
a French corvette from this place, which chafed
him under English colours, and for want of know
ledge of the proper signals, was obliged to heave
his defpatches overboard, the corvette having fired
many guns at him.
He gave me a verbal account of their contents,
adding, that I should shortly receive a second ac
count from Porta Nova. M. de Suffrein meant to
put to sea as soon as the debarkation was effected,
he had different intentions, among others that of
intercepting a convoy which # he knew had left St.
Helena shortly after the Hannibal.
M. de Souillac transmits the following account of
the squadron which left the Isle of France Decem
ber 2, 1781, under command of Mons. de Orves—
-3 ffiips of 74 guns, 1 of 70, 6 of 64 and 1 of 50, to
tal, II ; their names were formerly given in this
paper.
Frigates, la Pourvoyeufe, of 44 guns, commanded
by M. de Galles, the Bellona 36, M. de Cillart, la
Fine 36, M. de Salvert, Corvettes, la Subtille of 2c,
M. de Beaulieu, Sylph of 48, M. de Laming, the
Diligent 14, M. Manx, the Solomon sire-ship of 18,
8 flutes of 800 tons, a private vUltl, and two ves
sels of war of 24 guns, fitted by the nabob Hyder
Ally,
The ships which !£ the Cape under M. de Peinier,
are L'liluftre, Le Pendant and L'Argonaute of 74
guns, the St. Michael, L'Alcxandre and L'Hardi of
64, the Cleopatrc frigate of 36, the Naiade of 24,
and a corvette of 14.
LONDO N,
A private letter from Paris fays, ^ The final dc
terminatron of the court of Great-Britain, with re
gard to the terms to be agreed on for a peace , has
been received by the English plenipotentiaries, and
been communicated to the French M^iftry, and the
Dutch and Spanish Ambassadors ; that the latter ap
proves ot them, but the other powers dislike them
and have Larked frefh obstacles. However, it is ge'
nerally believed, as affairs are situated, that th^
wi., when no other terms can be obtained, readi
ly ag^ee to them. Dr. Franklin has been consulted
relative to the above terms, and has declared to his
friends tuat they are better than he expeded and
therefore it is not doubted but the negociation will
£° w ° e .hirwarGed, and peace concluded on or be
fore Ipring."•
":' m ,'ti n g °f parliament will put an end to all
' £ , r^fulous' and contradictory reports which have
of late been circulated with so much induftrv
Majesty s foeech will declare whether or not there
is a probability of a peace; and whether we muff
luumit to the difadvatitageous conditions lately of
fered to us by the proud enemy. It is said with
confioence that there will be a general peace on
terms not difhonourable to Britain, and we wish
that no unfortunate circumstance may intervene to
difappomt our hopes.
A speech from a King of Great Britain to a free
parliament, is not only interesting to his Maieftv^
own fubjr&s, but is a matter of important confide,
ration to the powers of Europe. That to be fpekeq
Nov. 21. On Saturday last Mr. Strachey, one of
^ c . retar „.,° f stat e in Mr. Townfhend's
r ce ' , off in a chaise and four, on his return to
Paris, charged wrth defpatches of a very particular
nature to Mr. Fitzherbert, in anfive^ to the requifi
tums of that court. He was in waiting several days,
which time was taken up by the cabinet in fettling
e y e , P olnts of great moment made by the French
mimfirv.
New. 16. A correspondent, who was lately on
the continent, fays, that when we make a peace,
we ought to infill on a thorough demolition of the
town of Dunkirk, as to his certain knowledge, it is
the greatest enemy the trade of this country and
its revenue has experienced during the war.'
An order has been sent to Ireland, for' obliging
all pci,lons who ship any provisions for cur garrifona
abroad, to give bond they are for the use of the
people there, and not to be sent away for the supply
of the enemy, and proper certificates are to be given
accordingly, otherwise the bonds to be put into ex
ecution.
from Windsor to St. James's, w hen there was a }
vee, at which were present the foreign MiniLa%
the Dukes of Richmond and Roxburgh, the Earls of
Shelburne and Grantham, the Lords Keppel and
Amherst, and several officers.
An order was given yeftefday for two ships o f the
line to fail immediately to join the cruizers in the
North Seas, it appearing that the Dutch are in great
er force than was expended.
France Lill insists on a preliminary, to have ore
of the Dutch ports in India as an equivalent for
their saving the Cape of Good Hope.
Nov. 15. Defpatches are received from Holland
which intimate a co, efpondence having been dis
covered that threatened a total change of government
in that country, and in which fome'of the firft fami
lies are said to be concerned. Great altercations had
ensued in consequence of the difeovery, and both
parties were so bur/y employed in watching each
other, that the warlike operations of the Republick
were nearly at a Land ; and the fleet of ships of war
intended for Brest, had been prevented from failing
with a favourable wind, by a delay publicity re
ported to be purposely designed.
Private letters from France mention the great ar
maments fitting out at Brest and' Toulon, which
are intehced for Cadiz, to join a part of the com
bined fleets, and to proceed together for the Weft-
Indies, under the command of D'ELaing or Gui
chen. These letters add, that the Spanish Court,
at the carnell entreaty ol the French, have given up
all idea of the Lege of Gibraltar, and that 10,000
men ;iom the army before that place will embark
the beginning of next month for Martinique or Cu
ba, where a fleet of near 50 fail of the line are to
co-operate with them in attacking feme of the Eng
lish settlements. °
Oil Tuesday advice was received from France, of
the enemy having railed the siege of Gibraltar, of
the alhcd armies having broke up their encamp
r™"s ai ?d retired to different quarters; but not
wituftanamg they have been so unfuccefsful in this
expedition, we me credibly informed, that upwards
ot ten thousand troops are shortly to be embarked
at Camz and Brest, 111 order to proceed on an expe
dition, luppofed to be against New-York or Ja
maica. J
Nov. 23. Late on Wednesday evening last, Mons.
R, Uc v,,J<cretary to Mr. de Vergennes, Prime
Mmifter of France, arrived at Lord Shelburne's
house in Berkley Square, as the negociator for peace
on the part of that country. Three several couri
ers have been ^patched from this gentleman to Pa
,”' , ce the j' 10 !'! Period of his arrival here, the
"'horn is laid to convey the final removal of
ali difficulties in the way of a general pacification.
lefterday morning M r . Laurens, some time since
^ fet ° ff from hi ^ Apartments
in ouLolk-Lreet, for France.