The royal gazette — [Charleston] S.C., 1782-03-02 00:00:00, page 2

The REPRESENTATION and PRAYER of HENRY
LAURENS, a native of South-Carolina, some time recog
nized by the British Commissioners in America, by the style
and title of his Excellency HENRY LAURENS, President
of Congress, now a close prisoner in the Tower of London.
Most rcfpeßfallj Jbewetb,
That your Representer for many years, at the p*il of his
life and fortune, evidently laboured to preserve and strengthen
the ancient friendlhip between Great-Britain and the Colo
nies; and that in no instance he ever excited, on either fide,
the diffentions which separated them.
That the commencement of the present war was a fubjeCt
of great grief to him, in as much as he forefaw aud foretold,
in letters now extant, the diftrefles which both countries expe
rience at this day.
That in the rife and progress of the war, he extended every
aft of kindness in his power to persons called Loyalists and
Quietifts, as well as to British prisoners of war, very ample
proofs of which he can produce.
That he was captured on the American coast, firft landed
upon American ground, where he saw exchanges of British
mid American prisoners in a course of negociation; and that
such exchanges and enlargemehts upon parole are mutually
and daily pra&ifed in America.
That he was committed to the Tower on the 6th of October
1780, being then dangeroufiy ill; that in the mean time he
has, in many refpeCts, particularly by being deprived @ith
very little exception) of the visits and consolations of his chil
dren, and ether relations and friends, buffered under a degree
LONDON, December 15.
THE designs of the French (fays a correspondent) with ref-'
pelt to the Americans, begin gradually to display therm
elves. They fay, they muftte paid fdr the expence they have
been at in affixing the rebellions Colonies. True; and they
will be paid, for they have already got the full value in hand.
Every advantage obtained by the French against us in America,
serves only to rivet more closely than before, the chains of lla
very on the wretched inhabitants. It was a piece of French
fineffe to grant General Washington a Marshal's commission.
This was their firft step, and it was done in order that all their
conquests might run in the name of the French King ; and,
whatever may be imagined to the contrary, it is certain that
the French will never relinquish what they have obtained, till
they are driven out by force.'
The Admiralty Board have ^iven'an order for the Dutch
privateers, taken by the Artois man of war, to be fitted'on
the lixth rate establishment, and to be employed in protesting
the coasting trade.
Extra# of a letter, dated Leyden, December to.
“ The Court of St. James's have accepted the mediation of
Russia, for the purpose of restoring peace between England and
the Stated-General, but without the abidance of the Kings of'
Sweden and Denmark, as was at firft proposed. The follow
ing state paper is handed about here, as being the genuine
answer delivered in writing to his Excellency Mohf. de Simoliu,
by Lord Viscount Stormont.
“ THE alliance which has fnbfifted for 'fo long a fcries of
years, between Great-Britain and the States-General, was ever
looked upon by his Majesty as an union fotindedon the most
natural connexions, not only conformant with the real intereh,
but truly eflential to the mutual welfare of the two nations.
The King has left nothing undone on his' part, to maintain and
strengthen the bond of friendship, and, had the monduCt of
their High Mightinefles seconded that of his Majesty, it wo ild
still subsist in all its force. But since the beginning ofthe pe
fent war, the only return made be the Republick for theKiug's
invariable friendship, was a deviation from the principles ofan
alliance, the firft intent of which was a mutual defence of each
other; a most obstinate refufal of fulfilling the mod sacred ob
ligations ; a daily violation of the most solemn treaties ; an
assistance openly given tothofe very enemies against whom the
King had a right to claim the aid and fuccour of the Republic!;. ;
a fafe retreat granted to American pirates in the ports of Hol
hnd, in- open violation of stipulations most clearly expressed;
and to sum up the whole, a denial of justice, and suitable fatis
fattion for the iufult offered to the Royal dignity, by a secret
league entered into with his rebellious liiSjeds.
" So many accumulated grievances left no alternative.to his
Majesty, and pointed out that course only which his Majesty
was forced to take, though much against his inclination. When
the motives which rendered the rupture inevitable were made
publick, the King attributed the conduct of the Republick to
its real cause, namely, to the baneful influence of factious in
dividuals, who, to their own private views, facrificed the in
terest of their country; yet even then the King expressed the
most sincere with, that the Republick might be brought back
to that plan of ftri& union, ufeful alliance, and mutual pro
tection, which have contributed in so great a degree to the
welfare and glory of both States.
“ When the Empress of Russia tendered her good offices
for bringing about a particular peace, the King teftified his
gratitude for this frefh proof of a friendlhip which he so highly
values; but declined exposing her Imperial Maiefty to the
hazard of a fruitlefs mediation. He explained the reasons he
had to believe that, considering the present disposition of the
Republick, governed by a faction, a reconciliation, during the
ivar with France, would turn out a mere illusion, and givean
'opportunity to the prevailing party of anting in the character
of a concealed auxiliary to all his Majeffy's enemies, under the
mafkof a pretended alliance with Great-Britain. But ifthcre
should now exist any likelihood of an alteration ; if the power
ful intervention of her Imperial Majesty can effeCt it, and recal
the Republick to thofc principles which the more sensible part
of the nation have never forfaken; his Majesty will be ready
to treat of a separate peace with their High Mightintfes, and
he willies that the Empress of all the Ruffias may be the only
mediating Power. Her Majesty was the firft to offer her good
offices, and so potent an interference could derive neither
weight nor influence from the accession of the most refpe&able
allies. The friendship which the Empress bears to the two na
tions, the interest of her empire being conceded with their
mutual welfare, her well-known impartiality, and her exalted
views, are so many pledgesof the manner in which her Majesty
will set about that work; and as the final intention of the ne
gociation is to put an end to a war, occasioned by the violation
of treaties, anj an insult offered to a crowned head, his Ma
jesty trulls with equal fatisfaCtion and confidence to the me
diation ofa Sovereign who holds sacred the faith of treaties,
who knows the still value of the dignity of Sovereigns, having
maintained her own during her glorious reign with so much
grandeur and magnanimity."
PeterJbur^h, (Rtfa) November 16. We are assured that
the Empress means to add 20 fail of the line to her navy, which
will then confifl of 54 fail of the line, besides frigates, &c. It
is her Maiefty's determination that a fleet of 12 fail of the line
ihall always be kept up in the new port of Cherfon on the
Black Sea. To cornpleat the above augmentation, ten ships of
100 guns are to be immediately built in our dock-yards.
London, December 22.
To tbe Right Honourable CHARLES WOLFRAN CORN
WALL, Speaker, and tbe Honourable the HOUSE of COM
MONS.
EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.
of rigour almost, if not altogether, unexlffipled in modern Bri
tish history.
That from long confinement, and the want of proper exer
cise, and other obvious causes, his bodily health is greatly im
paired, and that he is now in a languishing Rate; and,
1 heref&e, your Representer humbly prays your Honours
will condefeend to take his case into cenfideration; and, un
der proper conditions and reftriCbons, grant him enlargement,
or such other relief, as to the wisdom and benignitv of vour
Honours fh^l seem fitting. HENRY LAURENS.
To<wcr of London, December I, 1781.
Extra# of a letter from tbe Hague, December 2f.
" Their High Mightinesses having received a final answer
from the Imperial Minifler to their Memorial, relative to tbe
barrier towns, they have lent the necessary orders to the Ge
nerals and other officers of their troops, which garrison the
said towns, to prepare to inarch to these provinces.
" The loan of five millions at four per cent, to be negoci
ated here for the court of France, is guarantied by the States
General, both as to principal and interest ; it is however said
that not a foils of this sum will go to France, but it is designed
to pay the considerable arrears due by that Court to the mer
chants of Arnfterdam, for fllip-building, timber, &c. so that
the court of France contrive to pay the Dutch with their own
money.
“The States of Holland have resumed their deliberations,
and it is Did that they mean, during their present session, to
come to some refolutious relative to the affair of the Duke
Field Mai flial, and also to debate upon laying a new tax upon
houses, winch has been long talked of, but does not seem to
give much fatisfuflion, and will most likelv occasion murmurs."
Tbe Dean of Gloucester's Scheme for a GENERAL
PACIFICATION.
ift. LET the countries and places, taken during the war,
be mutually restored, and as nearly as possible in the fame con
dition they were in before the war began. This rule Should
extend to every part of the globe ; nnlefs to such places as
Ihall be otherwise difpofcd of, in, or by, the following treaty.
2d. T,et the countries between the rivers Penobfeot and
Connecticut, containing almost all the provinces of New-
HampPnirc, Maffachuffets, Rhode-Bland, and Connecticut,
be ceded to the American Republicans in full right.
3d. Let the American Loyalists enjoy the dißrift from the
river Comie&icnt to Hudson's river, together with Lorw-
Island and Staten Island.
4th. Let all the countries from Hudson's river to the nor
thern boundary of North-Carolina be ceded for ever to the
Republican Americans. By this partition they will have pos
session of nine provinces out of thirteen, for which they con
tended. In these they wil I be independent of Great Britain,
and Great Britain independent of them.
•th. Let the Loyalists retain the three remaining provinces,
North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia.
6th. As the Provinces of New-York, North and South-
Carolina, and Georgia, will thus become asylums for the loyal
refugees, let the fame royal and mixed government be restored
to each, as obtained heretofore. But let it be fipulated, that
this government ffiall continue no longer than for ten yea s from
the date of the treaty; then the adembly of each province to
be at full liberty to chufe f any form they Ihall think proper.
-7th. Let the Eastern Florida be ceded to Spain, with the
fortrefs of Gibraltar, provided his Catholic Majesty will give
the Island of Porto-Rico'in exchange; a place of as little use
to them as Gibraltar is to England.
Bth. Let Minorca be ceded to the House of Austria, as an
intermediate depository between the ports of Trieste in Dal
matia, aud Oftend in Flanders. But let the whole island and
its dependencies be considered as one general free port, or
common magazine, wherein no duties are to be paid on export
or import; where tbe ships of all nations, military or mercan
tile, flhall be fafe and free to go in and out, to load and unload,
to careen and refit at pleasure, without molestation of any
kind, only paying necessary charges to the refpcttive trades
men, carpenters, &c.
9th. Let the Emperor of Germany invite the Powers at
war to fend deputies to meet at Brussels, on the means of pro
curing a general pacification; and if peace can be obtained on
the above terms, or on any more acceptable to the above con
tending parties, let the great Powers of Germany, the Em
preG of Russia, the Kings of Sweden aud Denmark, solemn
ly guarantee the fame. ,
December 27. We are informed that orders are given from
the War-Office for a body of 2000 men to be in readiness to
embark for Jamaica on the firft notice.
A letter from Antwerp, dated December 18, fays, “ Last
Monday a courier from Spain passed through this place on his
way to the Hague. On Wednesday arrived a courier from
London with dispatches to Prince Gallitzin, and to Peterfburgh,
who came from Oftend with another courier from Count
Belgiofo, the Imperial Ambassador at London, which last cou
rier set off with the utmost expedition for Vienna. On Thurs
day, at four in the morning, a French courier went through on
his way to Holland; and at fix in the evening another cabinet
courier from Versailles. The fame evening, 'at eight o'clock,
a Dutch courier from Brussels passed through, on his way to %
the Hague. On Saturday morning a Dutch courier arrived
from Madrid and Paris, and set off in haste for the Hague.
This uncommon bustle induces us to think that matters of' the
utmost importance must be in agitation, which we hope may
redound to the happiness of Europe in general."
By private advices which Government has received from
Madrid, it appears that on the joth of last month, three line
of battle fliips arrived at Cadiz from the Havana, with twelve
millions of dollars on board, being the treafme of the King.
These Ihips had been separated in a gale near the Azores, from
a fleet of 90 fail of merchant ships bound from Domingo and
the Havana, including the Flotilla from Vera Cruz; which
contained in specie ten millions of dollars, the property of the
merchants. The alarm which the arrival ofthe ships of war oc
casioned, without their convoy, is not to be described. An in
surance of 45 percent was refufed by the underwriters, it being
the prevailing belief that Admiral Darby was at that time cruiz
ing in the Bay ofßifcay. This alarm was, however, done away
oh the morning of the 19th, by the appearance of the convoy
off Cadiz, under the protection of a single frigate of 32 guns.
They were in a most shattered condition, scarcely a yard or
mast in the whole fleet, but what was damaged.—The fame
accounts add, that the greeted commotion and difeontent
prevailed through every mercantile institution in Spain, in con
fequenee of the Government having permitted a free trade to
be carried on between the Americans and the residents at Vera
Cruz, the Havana, and other ports in the Spanilh colonies.
The cargoes of the American ships employed in this traffic,
config of beef, pulse, wheat, flour, and other necessary arti
cles of life.—The return is chiefly in specie, three millions of
dollars being paid to the Americans, on account of this com
merce, in the course of the present year. The severest effects
are felt by the merchants in the mother country, from so strange
an innovation in trade; their granaries and store-houses being
full, in expectation of receiving the annual demands from their
tranf-atlantic correspondents, but the commifiions are so few
that the property must perish on their hands -A very violent
infurredtion, occasioned by this disappointment, happened at
Barcelona on the 29th of last month, at midnight, when a body
of the insurgents attacked the palace of the Viceroy, and at
tempted to force the Arsenal. The tumult was however quel
Extra# of a letter from PeterJburgb, December r.
" The preliminaries for adjusting the difference between
England and Holland, are not yet fettled; that business goes
on very slowly. The very constitution of the Dutch govern
ment, prevents quick operation, and the French faction still
retards more the work: this business is, however, in the hands
of a iovereign used to difficulties, and who will not ealily give
up what Ihe undertakes, notwithflanding the frelh difficulties
that arise daily."
December 29. It is reported,that the following are theterms
proposed by the Dutch Minifler, appointed to treat with the
Ruffian Ambassador, under the Empress's mediation, for a
peace with England, and the English answers, viz.
I. A fufpenlion of hoflilities to be immediately declared.—
Ans. Agreed.
IR A general refloration on both sides of all places taken,
or to be ta^en, to the day of signing the treaty.—Agreed, with
this exception, that the island of St. Euftatius shall remain in
the hands of England till Ihe either subdues her American re
bels, or makes peace with them, as a hostage that the Dutch
shall not supply them with arms or military stores..
111. In case of Holland being attacked by the House of
Bourbon, England to turnifh 10,000 troops and 20 fail of the
line to assist her.—Such an article must be exactly mutual : En
gland agrees to such condition, provided Holland stipulates
the fame hipport to England, who being at present attacked,
demands her immediate afliltance.
IV. A free navigation is demanded without right of search
on any pretence whatever.—The treaties with the law of
nations, on which this point depends, must regulate it.
V. The Dutch Barrier, orwhich England is guarantee, not
to be dtmoliihcd.— England will use all good offices with the
• Emperor to engage him not to demolish it.
This was the opening of the negociation; and the Ruffian
Minifler declared, that England mud unequivocally agree to
a positive free trade; and that Holland should not be forced
into a war with France. These points were to be difeuffed
before Van Berkel fhou'd be named, and, if fatisfaaorily a
greed an apology was to be rente to the King of England.
Last week the Right Honourable the Earl of Lincoln (lately
returned from America) was chosen Member of Parliament
for East Retford, in Nottinghamshire.
The late luccefsful filly from the garrison of Gibraltar has,
we are well assured, occasioned no small fluctuation of opini
ons in the Cabinet of Madrid. Anthentick advices from that
capital fay, that great stress was laid on the efficacy of the
new works, which were conftrufted on a particular plan, for
accelerating the reduction of the fortrefs; but that now the in
stantaneous and unexpected destruction of those works, to
gether with the loss of so many men, has greatly abated the
ardour of the Court refpedting the prosecution of that siege.
By this event, they fee themselves no nearer the accomplish
ment of their views, than when they firft fat down before that
place; and therefore it is thought they will soon abandon an
object not likely to yield any advantage, and employ that
array on some other service, from which they may expert
better success.
led by morning. These dispatches further add, that the peo
ple very much despair of the success of the siege against St.
Phillip's. *
December 28. The favourable news which we continue to
receive from Gibraltar and Minorca should serve to en
liven our spirits during the present recess of Parliament. The
siege of Gibraltar has continued longer than any one du
ring the present age, and the enemy, without being able to
obtain any material success, have sustained very heavy los
ses, and they are rather in a worse condition' than when
they began. In Minorca they arc full worse, for after all
their boasting, they have not obtained any thing. And to
this may be added, the diffentions between them and the
French, which, in the end, will probably be attended with
fatal consequences to them. The valour of our troops may
furprize our enemies, but it is whatwe expeiftfrom them.
Extra# of a letter from Paris, dated December 2.
"The dispatches received from M. de Suffrein (by way of
Cadiz) relates, that that commander having been informed
that Commodore Johnttone was at St. Jago, with his squa
dron, resolved to go and anchor in the fame bay, imagining,
thatthe Englilh pride would not fuft'er an enemy so near, and
the imprudence of their Commodore would bring on a battle.
It fell out as he had forefeen. Commodore Johnstone had no
sooner perceived the firft French Blip approach, but he fired on
her; (he returned the compliment; and an action began. If
the Captains of the Annibal and the Artelieh had not, by a
misplaced? want of subordination, neglected the orders of M.
Suffrein, who, an hour before they entered the bay, had made
the signal for getting the quarters clear, (by getting the ham
mocks up, and drifting the chests and every incumbrance down
into the hold) they would not have loft the flower of their
crew. Not conceiving, that in a far didant and neutral port
they had any thing to apprehend, they did not regard their
Commodore's signal, and paid dearly by their lives, that dis
obedience to his orders. M. de Suffrein had still greater cause
of complaint against Messrs. Du Chilian and Forbin, the Cap
tains of the Sphynx and Vengeur, who not only by their bad
manoeuvres, had scarce any iharc in the action, but even hin
dered the effect of the other ships guns. Their cond id ap
peared so rcprehenfible, that they have been both deprived of
their commands. This is the more to be regretted, as, if the
dispositions of M. de Suffrein had been followed, and all his
fllips had anchored like his, the squadron of Commodore John
ftone, with all his'convoy, must have been totally destroyed.
“ The conduct of our officers in India is as reprehensible.
M. d'Orves is blamed for having t'aken the longcft route to
Coromandel, to intercept the ships that came down the Ganges.
Having thus expended all his provisions, in that long tra&, or
rather his cruize, which lasted one hundred days, he only just
Viewed himfelf off Pondicherry, where he set at liberty the
crews of the small prizes be had taken, contenting himfelf with
( l eta j^ing some officers, for the security of their ransoms. These
English, once let on ihore, alarmed the coast. Before they
were landed, it was not known even at Madras, that a french
squadron was in their neighbourhood. But, as soon as these
prisoners had declared tbe news, the Fnglifh drew all their
troops from Pondicherry, to augment their force at Fort St.°
George. They repaired their fortifications, eroded new bat
teries: in spite of which Hyder Ally acquainted M. d'Orves,
that it he would lend him 1200 men, and remain at anchor
before Madras, he was certain the place could not hold out
two month:. M. d'Orves did not thinly proper to comply,
but returned to the Isle de France, where we was when rhe
accounts came away, waiting for M. de Sufficin, to return
with him to the coast of Coromandel. What a pity that M.
de Suffrein, with his great zeal and talents, should be under
the command of an officer, whose firft campaign was so unfuc
cefsful!"
7 'HE Directors of t^ t>t<ery In the enclic of the Refugee
I Poor, arc requeue 0 meet on T^rfdav next, at one
o'c ock, at Stricken ;^n, +0 ascertain th number of
Tickets fold, and t meafu es or accelerating the
drawing thereof; :, r m ay ile pR vested from kt
person, will be pk :a : + the numbers difpofcd
of by them.
Gbarkfowr,, \