The royal gazette — [Charleston] S.C., 1781-10-06 00:00:00, page 3

PRINCE WILLIAM HENRY,
Third Son of our Mort Gracious Sovereign. The honour
conferred on this" continent by the arrival of so exalted and
amiable a character upon it, is sensibly felt by all His Ma
jesty's faithful fubjerts on this fide the Atlantic.
His Royal Highnesscame up to this city on Wednesday
afternoon, in perfect health, and was cordially received upon
bis landing with the honours due to his dignity and merit.—
It is impossible to describe the exultation of the navy, army
and loyal inhabitants on the cccafion.
The Brother of the Right Honourable General Earl Corn
wallis, commands one of the line of battle ships in Admiral
Digby's fleet, which has brought over the Mail for July last,
and two hundred and thirty thousand pounds sterling.
The following is an extract of a letter from airofficer in
the hundredth regiment, dated on board the Jupiter man of
war, off Madeira, March 31, 1781.
“ After having touched at St. Jago, one of the Cape de
Verd Islands, we shall proceed from thence directly to Buenos
Ayres, the capital city of the Spaniih territories in Paraguay,
on the river La Plata. The famous serial from that country,
together with one hundred thousand Land of spare arms,
painted in the Indian Stile, are on board the fleet. To reta
liate the encouragement the Spaniards have given to the spirit
of revolt in North-America, I conceive to be the object of
this enterprize, as promising as it is just."
One of the ships of Admiral Digby's squadron, on the pas
sage, fell in with a Portuguese venel from the Brazils, by
which we have assurance that on the 18th of July, Commo
dore George Johnftone, to the aftoniihment of all mankind,
the destination of his squadron being generally supposed against
the Cape of Good Hope, had landed his troops in the river
Plata, on the coast of Brazil, and taken possession of Buenos
Ayres, an immense rich city, in the province of La Plata,
on the Eart-fide of South-America, lying 50 miles within the
river's mouth, which is there seven leagues in breadth, well
fortified and defended by many guns.
N. B. Sixty thousand inhabitants of thati country are in
arms against the Spaniards, so that the revolt of almost every
province in South-America is now accomplilhed.
Thursday fe'hnight a cartel arrived here in ten days from
Boston, with a number of prisoners, among them about 12
makers of effels, one of whom is Capt. Cobb, of the Lockhart
Ross, from Quebec to Cork, that had the misfortune to be
taken by the Hermione and Aftrea, two French frigates, and
carried into Boston.
By the above prisoners we have certain advice of the cap
ture of a number of the enemy's privateers that had been
dogging the Quebec fleet; that no less than 9 of them had
been carried into Halifax, among them the Thorn (but it was
said she was afterwards re-taken by a French frigate) and 15
into Newfoundland ; a lift of them we have not yet been able
to obtain, we only know the names of a few of those carried
into St. John's, Newfoundland, viz.
Brig Sharp, Captain Allen, belonging to Boston.
Ship Congress, Captain Rhodes, Salem.
Ship Lewey, Captain Nicolas, Portsmouth.
Brig Active, Captain Pattin, Beverley.
Sloop Fish-Hawk, do.
Brig New Adventure, Captain Neil, do.
Ship Oliver Cromwell, Captain Bray, do.
Ship Mercury, letter of marque, Captain Storer, belong
ing to Port@fa^:.. . ~: ; ,
Ships Alexanffg^rc^^e.^dm^rfyfe
The day cn which the last packet arrived at Boston express
from France, the French frigate Hermione failed either for
Philadelphia or Virginia.
When the cartel left Boston harbour, there were then there
a French 50 gun ship and four frigates.
The whole of the Quebec fleet, (three excepted, which were
taken) are fnppofed to be fafe arrived, as they were seen in
the River St. Lawrence, pretty far up.
The following prizes are taken and sent into Penobfcot,
by his Majesty's ships the Amphitrite, Captain Biggs, and
the Monk, Captain Rogers, viz.
The Ship Salem Packet, from Bilboa, with silk and cordage.
Brig Dolphin, loaded with lumber.
The fliip Enterprize, formerly belonging to us, of 22 guns.
And the brig Endeavour.
The following is mid to be a pretty accurate account of the engage
ment off the Chefapeak, the sth infant, between the British
and French fleets.
THE firft certain notice our Admiral received of the ene,
toy's fleet being actually upon the coast, was from the advan
ced fliip of the fleet on the morning of that day, when the
French were seen at an anchor, extending from Cape Henry
to the center of the middle ground, (a shoal so called which
confines the entrance into the Chefapeak) apparently in three
divisions.
As the British fleet advanced with a fair wind, the French
got their ships under fail, and extending themselves in a line
of battle a-head, feretched out to seaward.
The British ran down upon an East and Weft line, with
the wind at N. N. E. formed, and put themselves into order
and preparation for battle.
As the British advanced towards the shoal of the middle,
they were prepared to veer by signal, the whole fleet together
to bring them upon the fa ne tack with the enemy, who were
all this time forming t..e line as they advanced to sea.
NE W-Y O R K, September 12.
WE are informed that Mr. Washington has moved from
Chester in Pennsylvania, where he halted on the sth inst.
and it is expended he would reach the head of Elk last Mon
lay ; himfelf is to proceed by land, but his stores, provisions,
and baggage, by water, down Chefapeak Bay.
On board the ship Marquis de la Fayette, of 1200 tons,
were, betides many other valuable articles, one hundred thou
sand louifdofes, eloathing for forty-three thousand men, and
a great number of brass cannon, field pieces, mortars, &c:
She was taken by the Endymion frigate.
We feel vast regret in mentioning that the noble ,and brave
Lord Rawdon, on his passage to England in a South Carolina
packet, in an infirm state of health, has been taken by the
French fleet, commanded by M. de Grade.
September 28. By a gentleman who arrived here yesterday
from Philadelphia, we learn, that previous to his departure
from that city, a report prevailed, and was universally cre
dited, that an express had arrived from Virginia to Congress,
with an account of, an action which lately happened between
the army commanded by the Right Honourable General Earl
Cornwallis, and a large body of French and Rebel Troops,
commanded by the Marquis de la Fayette; in which the
latter loft two hundred men killed, and five hundred taken
prisoners.
His Majesty's frigate Perfeverante, one of the Honourable
Admiral Digby's fleet, on her paflage from England, retook,
off the Western Isles, the Lively of twenty guns, which was
captured by the French grand fleet in the year 1778; also the
brigs Rosamond and Catharine, (her prizes) from Glasgow
bound for this port, all of which were ordered for England.
Last Monday arrived at Sandy-Hook, in a fleet of the
King's ships from Great-Britain, under the command of the
Honourable Admiral Digby,
His Royal Highness
American Intelligence.
Charlestown, October 10.
YESTERDAY his Majesty's ship Solcbay, returned from
a cruize.
Same day arrived off our Bar, from New-York, his Majesty's
ships Santa Monica, Capt. John Linzee, and La Fortune,
Capt. Christian, of 44 guns each, with the Jane sloop,- Capt.
Burr.
When these vessels left New-York, a large body of land
forces were embarking on a secret expedition.
It was said, they were to be escorted by the fleet under
Admirals Graves, Digby, Hood and Drake; and that the
objert of their destination is Virginia ; there to ad in co-ope
ration with the army under the command of out gallant and
noble Earl Cornwallis.
The Magicienne French frigate of 40 guns, is taken by the
Chatham, and sent into Halifax. Another French frigate is
taken by the Assurance.
The taking possession of Buenos Ayres, by Commodore
Johnftone, is an event of the utmost consequence. In a poli
tical view, the advantages are immense: The opposition to
the Spanish tyranny, which has for some time pad diftraded
the greater part of thgir extensive dominions in South-Ame
rica, will now be strengthened in such a degree, as to render a
total defection not improbable.—The commercial benefits
that will immediately accrue, from opening this new vent for
British manufactures, throughout the vast Southern Continent,
will more than amply compensate any injury that can be
supposed to arise, from French and Dutch interlopers in our
trade with North-America.
Extract from Rebel Papers.
New-London, (Conneflicut) September 10. We had pre
pared our paper thus far for publication, when at about day
break on Thursday morning last, twenty-four fail of the
enemy's flipping appeared to the westward of this harbour,
which by many were supposed to be a plundering party, after
flock; alarm guns were immediately fired, but the discharge
of cannon in the harbour, has become so frequent of late,
that tliev answered little or no purpose. The dcfencelcfs state
of the fortifications and of the town, are obvious to our
readers ; a few of the inhabitants who were equipped, advan
ced towards the place where the enemy were thought likely
to make their landing, and manceuvered on the heights ad
jacent, until the enemy at about 9 o'clock landed in two divisi
ons of about 800 men each, one of them at Brown's farm near
the light-house, the other at Groton Point; the division that
landed near the light-house marched up the road, keeping out
large flanking parties, who were attacked in different places
on their march by the inhabitants, who had spirit and refc
lution to oppose their progress; the main body of the enemy
proceeded to the town, and set fire to the stores on the beach,
and immediately after to the dwelling-houses on the Mill-cove;
the scattered fire of our little parties, unsupported by our
neighbours more dirtant, galled them so that they soon began
to retire, setting fire to stores and dwelling-houses promifeu-
The moment it was no longer fafe for the British van to
advance further, on account of the shoal, the fleet wore to
gether, and came to the fame tack with the French, and
formed a line a-head nearly parallelled with them, with their
main-topsails square, to let the enemy's van-guard advance,
until the British could operate to advantage.
The French came forward slowly, and shewed twenty-four
large ships of their line of battle. The British formed nine
teen in theirs.
It will be needless to give you a detail of signals. A great
number were made, and I believe all that were necessary to
prepare the British line for an united effort.
1 he French van had extended themselves considerably too
much from their own center, and teemed to present the fa
vourable moment for an attack.
The British line had been continually pressed down to ap
proach the enemy as near as possible, and the moment the
French van betrayed their apprehension of our design, by
bearing away, the signals for a close action were made, and
the signal for the line taken down, that nothing might cross
the opportunity.
The action began at a quarter after four, about the fourth
or fifth ship, and in a few minutes extended from the van to
the second ship a-stern of the center.
Rear-Admiral Drake's division composed the van of the
British line, Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, Bart, that of the
rear.
The action in the van was very close and sharp for some
time, and continued so until the French ships put before the
wind to prevent being cut up.
The French center and rear pushed forward, and kept much
from the wind as they approached the British center, and
appeared to have little more in view than to advance far e
nough to receive their own van, who were nearly before the
wind, and the better to effect this purpose, they constantly
declined close action with the center of our fleet.
Every necessary signal was made to urge a close as well as
a general artion, which the enemy appeared as much to de
cline, and did not permit our rear to close with them, which
prevented that part of our fleet frem having any share of the
atlion.
All firing ceased on both sides soon after fun set.—About
ten o'clock it was made known to the Admiral by two fri
gates, which had been sent throughout the line, that several
of the ships of the van were not capable of keeping extended
with the enemy, having fuffered so much in their masts and
rigging, they must attend to its security or be difmafted.—
That two of the ships which came very leaky from the Weft-
Indies, had aggravated their complaints, and one of them
could only be kept free with all her pumps.
The two fleets remained near each other for five successive
days, at times very close. The enemy, it was visible, had
received much damageto their van ships, and from thence quite
on the next a-head of the Admiral's ship ; —but our masts and
yards had fuffered much more apparently—this enabled the
French to gain the wind of us, and two changes of wind much
in their favour, prevented our recovering it. No time or effort
was neglected which could put the British in proper order;
for the enemy with their superiority of numbers ought cer«
tainly to have attacked us. On the 10th the Terrible could
no longer relift her leaks, and the fleet was obliged to bring
to, as well as to give time to fhift some top masts. This was
done at night, and the next morning we saw no more of the
enemy, who certainly pushed to egain the Chefapeak, having
been driven a great way to the southward.,
The day being calm, the Terrible was dismantled and set on
fire, and several of the Weft-India squadron, that had very
little bread on board and but a few days water, were supplied
from other ships of the fleet, and the whole moved towards
Cape Henry, which we made on the fourteenth ; and finding
the French fleet had placed themselves so advantageonfly be
tween the sands, as to give no probability of. our being able to
force them, or get any fuccour up to York river, it became
abfolutdy necessary to shelter the fleet before the approaching
equinox, as a gale of wind by dismantling our ships, might do
us more injury than a general artion. The fleet therefore re
turned to New-York.
We loft in the action, one Lieutenant and 90 men killed ;
and 246 wounded. One Captain having loft hid leg.
-(BY PERMISSION.)
On THURSDAY the 18th Day of Ortober instant,
At TEN o'Clock in the Forenoon,
WILL BE SOLD,
By COOKE &WE 88,
At the E XCHANG E,
THE commodious HOUSE No. 31, Broad-street; the lot
is 40 feet in breadth and 187 feet in depth; the house has four
good rooms on a floor, two new stables for eight horses, with kitch
en, wash-house, carriage-house, &c. &c.
ALSO,
A. TRACT of LAND containing 1500 acres, on Sampit within
12 miles of Georgetown, 300 acres whereof are good fwanip, and
any vessel that can come over Georgetown bar can come to thu
landing about two miles distant.
Two TRACTS of 500 acres each on Oxfwamp, about 14 miles
from Neilfoa's-Ferry, on the waters of Black river.
A 1 RAC 1' of 500 acres on Maple Swamp, Waccamaw, joining
lands of Blakely White. *
A TRACT of 238 acres on Walnut creek, about eighteen miles
above Dorchester.
A TRACT of 321 acres on Edifto river, joining lands of Lewis
Rolfon.
A TRACT of 150 acres on Muddy creek, bounding on lands of
George Snow, near Witherspoon's avern.
LIKEWISE,
A PEW No. 40, in the South Aile of St. Michael's Church.
AND,
Several very valuable NEGROES, among whom are a wench a
good Washer and her husband a sober honelf fellow, another good
waiting math Also, a middle-aged Negro Man, capable of doing
any business in town or country, is sensible and clever, but has a
particular liking to the butcher's bufmefs; likewise, a Negro Wo
man, particularly qualified for a dairy woman, is a good cock; very
clean, and otherwise very handy about a house.
TO BE LET: °
A commodious DWELLING-HOUSE,
in a plcafant situation, near White-Point, with Coach-House, Stable,
Kitchen, Wash-House, and other conveniencies for a genteel family.
Possession will be given oh the loth of next month (November.)
For terms apply to | ALEX. ROSE, No. j/Tradd-Erect.
TO BE LET, '
A Front and Back Parlour,
With the use of a kitchon, in a house in Meeting-street, well situated
for trade. Enquire of the Printers. f<
WANTED TO PURCHASE,
From 20 to 500 Cords of Oak Wood,
to be delivered at a landing the nearer to Charleftown the better.
Apply, in Broad-street, No. 16, to | ZEPH. KINGSLEY.
RUN away from the subscriber lart evening, a young ne
gro man, named Paris, country born, artful and fenfib'e,
about live Let 8 inches high, tolerably well made and flout, of a black
complexion, very much pitted with the small-pox, has rather a fiat
nose, large eyes and mouth, ihews his teeth when he laughs, is re
markably ugly faced, and has loft one of his small roes. Makers of
vessels and others are hereby forbid from harbouring, employing or
carrying off said negro, as they may depend on being anfwerahle
for their conduct. TWO GUINEAS reward will be given on deli
very of said negro, to JACOB DEVEAUX.
Cburlefloiun, lOib October, 1781. tb.
Oa FRIDAY next, the 12U1 of October,
(If a fair Day, if not, the firft fair Day after)
Will be SOLD at PUBLIC SALE,
By CO OKE & W EB B,
At the late Miss Mary Ladson's Plantation near Aihley Ferry,
ALL the Personal Estate and Effects of the said deceased,
consisting of about SIXTY.PRIME FIELD and HOUSE
SLAVES, all country born ; some Fforfes and Cattle, among which
are a few working Oxen, Plantation Tools, the Crop on the Ground,
Houfhoid Furniture, &c. &c. JAMES LADSON, Executor.
The conditions will be declared on the day of fale.|
TO BE SOLD,
By William-Kerr Rofs,'
At No. 2, Tradd-fcreet,
For Caftj, Government Bills, or Produce,
JAMAICA Rum by the Puncheon, Mufeovado Sugar by the
Hogffiead or Barrel, Port Wine in Pipes, Quartercalks and
Bottles ; Soap and Candles, Irish Butter, and an Affortnicht
of Dry Goods suitable to the Seafon.X
ouHy in their way; the fire .om the stores comthtihi&ted t&
the flipping that lay at the wharves, and a number were
burnt, others swung to single fart and remained.unhurt. At
three o'clock they began to quit the town with great precis
pitation, and. were pursued by our brave citizens with the
spirit and ardour of veterans, and drove on board their boats.
Five of the enemy were killed, and about twenty .wounded,
among the latter is a Heflian Captain, who is a prisoner, as
are seven others. We loft four killed and ten or twelve wound
ed, none mortal.,.
The most valuable part of the town is reduced to ashes, and
all the stores. fort Trumbtill not being tenable on the land
fide was evacuated as the enemy advanced, and the few men
in it eroded the river to Fort Griswold, on Groton. Hill,
which was soon after inverted by the division that landed at
the point; the fort having in it, only about 157 men, chiefly
militia haftly collected, defended it with the greatest rcfolu
tiop and bravery, and once ^epulfed the enemy; but the fort
being out of repair, could not be .defended by such a hand
ful of men, though brave and determined, againrt so supe
rior a number ; they did all. that men of spirit apd bravery in
such a fituation.could do; but after having a number of their
party killed and wounded, they found that further resistance
would be in vain, and resigned the fort: The valiant Col.
Ledyard, whose fate in a particular manner is much lament
ed, and 70 other officers and men were killed, most of whom
were heads of families. The enemy loft a Major Montgome
ry, and fifty-two officers and men in the attack, who were
buried near the fort; their wounded were carried off. Soon
after the enemy got possession of the fort, they set tire to and
burnt a number of dwelling houses and stores on Groton
bank, and embarked about fun set, taking with them sundry
of the inhabitants, of New-London and Groton.
About fifteen fail of vessels with effels of the inhabitants,
retreated up the river on the approach of the enemy, and were
saved, and four others remained in the harbour unhurt. The
troops were commanded by General Arnold, who headed the
division which marched to this town. By this calamity it is
judged that more than one hundred families are deprived of
their habitations,, and mort of them of their all.
This neighbourhood feel sensibly the loft of many deserv
ing citizens, and though deceased, cannot but be highly in
debted to them for their, spirit and bravery in their exertions
and manly opposition to the merciless enemies of our country
in their last moments.
*/ Advertisements omitted now, will be inserted in our next'