The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1780-06-07 00:00:00, page 1

The PARIS ACCOUNT of D'Estaing's Attempt
upon Savannah, in Georgia.
From the PARIS GAZETTE of Jan. 7.
SUMMARY oj the Operations of the King's squadron,
commanded by the Count D'EJlaing, Vice-Admiral oj
France, after the taking of Grenada, and the naval
engagement off that island with Admiral Byron's
squadron.
A DETACHMENT of the King's mips and
frigates, under the orders of Captain de
Suffren, went to make the islands of Curi
acou and Union capitulate, and received
the oatn of allegiance of the inhabitants. The Sieur
Montet, Governor of the island of St. Vincent, per
formed the fame operation in the islands of Becouya;
the surrender of the other little Grenadines followed
immediately that of the principal islands.
I The 22d of July the King's squadron appeared be
fore St. Chriltopher's, where the Engliih squadron
was at anchor under the batteries in the road. The
Engliih Admiral did not think proper to accept the
battle.
After remaining two days before St. Christopher's,
the King's squadron failed for St. Domingo with the
trading fleet of the French windward islands.
The Count d'Estaing dispatched all these ships to
Europe, which were joined by those of the leeward
islands, under the protection of the thips le Protedeur
and le Fier, and the frigates la Minerve & l'Alcmene.
With the remainder of his squadron he steered for
the coasts of the continent of America. A gale of
wind he met with the 2d of September, whilst at an
chor before the mouth of Savannah, prevented his
^oing up more northward. Molt of his ships were
idifabled, and five of them had their rudders broken.
The repair of the King's ihips required a consider
able time in a country where naval itores arc hard to
be come at. That circumstance decided the Count
d'Estaing to undertake the siege of Savannah with the
troops he had on board his ihips, which were joined
by 2000 men from the United States of North-Ame
rica, under the command of General Lincoln.
The French troops consisted of 2823 Europeans,
draughted from the regiments of Armagnac, Cham
pagne, Auxerrois, Agenois, Garinois, Cambrefis,
Haynault, Foix, Dillon, Walsh, le Cap, la Gaude
loupe, la Martinique, and Port-au-Prince, including
a detachment of the Royal corps of artillery, another
of the Royal corps of infantry of the marine, the vo
lunteers of Valbelle, the dragoons and 156 volunteer
grenadiers, lately raised at Cape Francois. The co
loured troops consisted of 545 volunteer chaffeurs,
mulattoes and negroes, newly raised at St. Domingo.
The total of the troops of the besiegers, including
the 2000 Americans, amounted to 5524 men.
The Engliih had in Savannah 3085 Engliih Euro
pean troops, 80 Cherokee savages, and 4000 negroes;
the total of the troops of the besieged was 7165 men,
under the command of General Prevoft.
The 15th of September, the Engliih General was
summoned to surrender the place, and on his refufal
the siege was begun ; it was carried on with as much
vigour as the small number of workmen would admit
of. The enemy made a sally the 24th of September,
and were repulsed with loss, and the Sieur O'Dun
pursued them as far as their intrenchments.
The impossibility of continuing a siege in form, a
gainst superior forces, decided the Count d'Estaing to
order the attack on the entrenchments the 9th of Oc
tober. The enemy, being informed by deserters of
the plan of the attack, had prepared their defence on
the fide intended to be furprized.
The French and American troops attacked with
the greatelt vigour, and returned three times to the
charge; but the superiority of numbers forced them
to give way.
The season was too far advanced for the Count d'
Eftaing to hope he could terminate the operations ofa
siege ; he was afraid left one of those gales, so fre
quent on the coast of Georgia, fliould drive his ihips
out of the road, and oblige him to put to sea, in or
der to save them, and thus abandon the troops em
ployed in the expedition. He resolved to raise the
siege ; the retreat was made in the best order, and
without being molested.
The King's troops re-embarked the 20th of Octo
ber; only two days after the rudders of the Ihips
could be repaired and placed.
The greatest union has subsisted between the com
bined forces.
The Count de Dillon, the Viscount de Noailles, the
Marquis de Pont de Naux, the Baron de Steding, the
Viscount de Fontanges, Colonel, and the Sieur O'
Dun, Lieutenant-Colonel, particularly distinguished
themselves in an operation, as painful by the fatigues
erf a service rendered continual by the small number
NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
[Vol. lII.]
Wednesday, June 7, 1780.
Extract of a letter from Madrid.
'' A very important object takes the attention of
the whole kingdom. All the trade of the Spanish New
orld is to be laid open foi thwith, and become free
to all the ports in Spain, as well on the Ocean as the
Mediterranean ; the trade to Mexico alone to be ex
cepted, and confined to Cadiz. On account of this
plan, worthy of a great Minilter, all the provinces in
Spain will acquire that activity which creates indus
try, and promotes agriculture and population."
Sir Henry Clinton is a good deal chagrined at the
dismemberment of his army, and anxiously wishes to
come home.
Nothing can be a greater instance of the tyranny
and folly of Administration, than their conduct to the
people of Ireland. The latter are naturally a brave,
loyal, lettering people, but hitherto rather servile in
their political pretentions.—Repeated wrongs have
at last routed them, and they now begin to make de
mands. However, 'tis a bad wind that blows no
body good : This neglect and tyranny of the Engliih
Administration, will, in the end, procure Ireland its
liberty, and England the benefits of her free trade.
Extra# of a letter ft*om Prflon.
" Thursday last a mob made their appearance near
this place, with an intent, as it is supposed, to des
troy the manufactory of Messrs. J. Watson and Co.
but were beat off, and ten of them secured. We
hope this will ditperfe them, and as we have now got
plenty of the military, have little doubt but the riots
will fublide."
A peace is now talked of, but O “ what a falling
oft is here!" We have loft the power of dictating,
and must submit to any terms which our haughty e
nemies may be pleased to make, however humiliating
to the spirit of a brave people, and be content with a
dismembered empire, a ruined commerce, and every
species of insult and contempt which France and Spain
may, in the pride of conscious superiority, think fit
to load us with.
By late returns from Sir Henry Clinton, it appears
that his army conlifts of no more than 23,540 effec
tive men. —
I he lion-importation resolution of the people of
Ireland, relative to the bare article of clothes, has
upon a very moderate calculation, saved that country
2c0,0001. a year, consequently mutt be that loss to
the people of England.
By the Carteret Packet, Capt. Newman, arrived at
New-York, in five weeks and Jour days from Fal
mouth, we have the following advices :
H A G U E, March 23.
SIR Joteph Yorke, Ambassador Extraordinary from
his Britannic Majeity, presented a memorial to
the States General on the 21st inflant, which, after
a recapitulation of many matters that had been part
ly urged in former memorials and some other repre
sentations, concludes thus:
Londo n.
The late, and almost unanimous resolution of the
Parliament of Ireland, has much furprized and dis
appointed our government here, who did not think
they would go lo tar as to tell his Majesty, “ No o
tner expedient but a free trade would relieve them."
Ilie adminiftiation of Ireland had it early in com
mand, to endeavour to have every thing left to the
gracious beneficence of the best of Kings, and his
Privy Council; but the wrongs and poverty of the
people could no longer mince the matter; and the
Attorney-General himfelf, that brazen Drawcanfir,
was obliged to meet the unanimous demands of the
people.
'' His Majesty has ordered the under-written to de
clare to your High Mightinesses in a manner the most
amicable, and at the fame time the most serious, that
if, contrary to his just expectations, your High
Mightinesses do not, in the term of three weeks from
the day of the date of this memorial, give a fatisfac
tory answer relative to the ships which were claimed
eight months ago; his Majesty regarding such con
duCt as an abandoning of the alliance on the part of
of men, as it Was glorious for them, by the dangers
,, hrch the y were perpetually exposed, and by' the
°manoeuvres with which they were charged.
I he Chevalier de Trolong du Rumain, and the
Count de Chaftenet de Puyfegur, have proved, by
conducing the King's lighter la Truite Under the very
batteries of the town of Savannah, that an armed
hoop, laden with artillery of the calibre of 12, too
ftiong for its pattern, could back itfeif against land
batteries of the largest calibre.
total of the killed, 15 officers, and 168 subalterns
and soldiers.
Total of the wounded, 43 officers, and 411 sub
alterns and soldiers.
THE
The natives of England, who are in Holland, are
treated with the greatelt refpe<ft; and several letters
which have been received, all speak of the manifeft
uneasiness of persons of peculation and property re
lative to the affair of Commodore Fielding. Those
who have no cath in the British funds, have the fame
alarms as those who have, from a commercial lire of
connexion reciprocally dependent on the credit of
deposits in the Engliih banks.
The French have permitted some of their best and
most experienced engineers to go over into the Ame
rican service. Among them is the celebrated Ceren
zo, a Neapolitan by birth, who has been in the pay
of France upwards of thirty years.
April i. It is generally conjectured that one of the
squadrons now fitting out for sea, will actually fail for
Gibraltar, as well to convoy the Levant trade as to
protedl the several homeward bound ships in the dif
ferent ports of the Mediterranean, who have been
waiting for convoy for several months.
The Lords of the Admiralty have confirmed the
Captains and other officers in their appointments in
the captures of the Spanish and French men of war,
given them, as due to their merit, by the Admirals
Rodney and Digby ; and also the officers appointed
to the British ships in lieu of them so promoted.
His Royal Highness Prince William Henry will pass
for a Lieutenant before the Comptroller of the navy,
&c. the firft board day after the holidays ; and we are
informed that he will be appointed 6th Lieutenant in
the Prince George, and do duty in the fleet as such
for at least a year before he is appointed Post Captain.
We are informed that there are accounts arrived in
town within these few days from America, which
lignify that Congress are in speedy expectation of a
large body of French troops, which are to co-operate
with their army in attempting the conquest of Que
bec this summer.
Yesterday morning notice was given to the ships in
the river, bound to Quebec and other places in Ame
rica, to get round to Portsmouth as faft as possible,
as the convoy was to fail the firft fair wind after the
10th of April.
April 4. An express was yesterday sent down to
Portsmouth to flop the failing of the fleet for theWeft-
Indies, under Commodore Walfingham, till the ships
that are equipping to form a squadron, (to be com
manded by Admiral Graves) are ready to fail.
Insurances to a very large amount are now making
on Dutch fllips and merchandizes, as well homeward
as outward bound.
LOND O N, March 31.
A gentleman of eminence in the political world,
lately arrived from Holland, had two several confe
rences with Lord Hillfborough and Lord Stormont,
at the Secretary of State's office last week ; and on
Thursday the fame person was introduced to a great
man in the closet.
Orders are sent off to Corke, Dublin, and other
ports of Ireland, for all the sailors which have been
procured for his Majesty's service, to be immediately
sent round to Portsmouth.
By the new works lately erected at Plymouth,
Portsmouth, and Sheerness, our dock yards are now
rendered perfectly secure from any sudden attacks of
the enemy.
Two large floating batteries are now getting ready
in the river, one of which is to lie off Margate for the
better protection of that part of the Kentifh coast.
Extract of a letter from Paris, by way of Oflend, dat- s
ed March 12, 1780.
" The most extensive preparations ever remember
ed are now making in this kingdom. Were France
at war with all the powers on the globe, more vigour
could not be exerted. A new body of militia is talked
of, to be formed for the service of the ensuing sum
mer; their number is stated at 15,000, and they are
to do duty in camp with the several regiments on the
sea coasts; but fliould any embarkations take place,
these last are not to be reckoned among them. Ex
presses are very frequent between our Court and Ma
drid, as, well as from our Ajubaljador at the Hague.''
your High Mightinesses, shall no longer confider the
United Provinces on any other footing than that of
other neutral powers, not privileged by treaties ; and
confequehtly will, without further delay, suspend
provisionally, and till further orders, with regard to
their iubjeCts, all the particular stipulations of the
treaties between the two nations, especially those of
the treaty 061774, and will adhere solely to the gene
ral principles of the law of nations, which ought to
lerve as a rule between neutral powers not particu
larly privileged.
Signed, “ The CHEVALIER YORKE.
" Done at the Hague, March 21, 1780."
[Numb. 128.]