The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1782-12-25 00:00:00, page 2

-M A DRI D, September 24.
w'"' '3" ' n " at ' even in the morning, the
4 ten floating batteries took their refpettive po
fitiuns, in four and an half fathom water, and at the
distance of about 140 toifes, they began their fire
at the enemy's works, arid seemingly with good ef
fe&, which was Seconded by the batteries on shore;
in order to divide the attention of the enemy as
much as possible, the gun-boats and bomb-boats
were ordered to place themselves in the most con
venient manner, to annoy the enemy, but the ex
treme violence of the wind, and the great swell,
prevented them executing their orders, which al
lowed the enemy time to dired their whole fire of
bombs, grenades, grape shot, and, above all, red
hot balls (forty-two pounders) on the ten floating
batteries ; the constant firing of those balls, in spite
of ail necessary precautions, set the batteries on fire
in the day-time, which were extinguished by the
pumps, &c. but in the latter part of the night the
Prince of Nassau's battery caught fire, and after
wards don B. Moreno's, which were quitted, after
throwing over the powder, to prevent their damag
ing the other batteries; the other eight were soon
in a similar Situation, owing to the enemy's firing on
a fixed and visible object without danger to them
selves.
The Duke of Crillon and Don Cordova, in
formed of this event, sent off boats, &c. to take the
men from the batteries, which was executed with
unheard of valour, in the midst of the most terrible
fire of grape Shot from the enemy's batteries*;but
in spite of all their aftivity, some of the batteries
were funk,and the crews were obliged to save them
selves by swimming, and were mostly taken up by
the boats. As soon as the Englilh perceived that
the batteries were silenced, they sent out their gun
boats, &c. and took several of our boats which were
employed in the above service, and took the re
mainder of the sailors and soldiers which had not
is yet been withdrawn from the batteries. All the
floating batteries soon after blew up, except three
which were entirely consumed.
H A G U E, September 25.
The following is the report of his Serene Highness
the Prince Stadtbolder, to the Secret Commit
tee of the States General.
Noble and Might, Lords,
SINCE the return of the fleet of the republick
into the Texel, I have omitted nothing which
was in my power to fend it out again to sea. For
this purpose I repaired to the New Diep the 2d of
August last, in order to be exactly informed of the
condition of the ships, and whether they would im
mediately go to sea. The 21st of August I had a
conference of the chief officers, whereat were pre
sent the counsellors and ministers of the admiralty.
I cannot refrain from communicating to you the mi
nutes of this conference, and 1 refer you to them
for their contents. Your noble mightinesses may
thence perceive, among other things, that a Ihip of
the line and four frigates might fail in a few days;
that eight ships of the line would be ready in ten
days, and four others a few days after; and that
whilst one frigate is repairing another is careening.
I have recommended the greatest dispatch to be ex
erted in re-fitting the ships, that nothing be neglected
to get them out to sea. Having, betides, learned
that divers British ships are cruizing in the North
seas, I have ordered to be got ready for Drontheim,
the Dolphin, the Texel schooner, and the Sperwir
cutter, of the Meafe, arid to hire as many neutral
vessels as possible, to carry intelligence of the ar
rival of this British fleet in the North seas, to Cap
tain Gennip, who commands the ships of the repub
lick employed to convoy the East-India ships ex
peded at Drontheim, so that he may take suitable
measures for the fafety of the vessels entrusted to
his care. Herewith 1 give you copies of the letters
which I sent on the 22d ult. to Vice-Admiral Dedel,
and Captain Gennip. The ten days being elapsed,
fince.moft of the ships were to be at sea, I wrote to
Vice-Admiral Hartlink, on theist of this month,
which I refer to, as also his answer of the 2d, my
reply of the 3d, and two despatches from said Ad
miral of the 4th. You have copies of all these here
with. On the sth I invited the Fiscal, Counfellors,
Bifcom and Van-Derhop, and the Vice-Admirals
Reynft and Zoutman, to attend me to consult an
answer to Admiral Hartfink. I annex to the pre
sent, the confederations of these gentlemen, as also
the minute of the message which I sent to the Ad
miral by a courier. The 7th of this month, the
Captain, Count de Welderen, arrived express with
a letter from Admiral Hartfink of the evening be
fore; a copy whereof your noble mightinesses will
find herewith annexed to the resolution of the coun
cil of war. On receiving this letter, I determined
to go to the New Diep, to hold a council of war,
at which I Should be present, and to resolve, as
occurrences should direct, for the best good of the
service.
I dispatched Colonel Bentick with the meflage to
Vice-Admiral Hartfink, a copy whereof I fend also
to your noble mightinesses. she Bth, I received
the letter from the Admiral of the 7th, of which a
copy is hereto annexed, in answer to my second
message the evening before. The fame evening I
set out, and having passed across in the night, up
on my arrival on Monday last, I called a council of
war at the Helde, consisting of all the superior offi
cers and Captains of the fleet, where was present
the Counfellor Fiscal Van-Derhop, of the college of
admiralty of Amsterdam. I think it my duty to
communicate to your noble mightinesses the result
of this council of war, together with the opinion of
Admiral Zoutman thereon. Your noble mighti
nesses will thereby find the unanimous fentiraent of
all the officers above-mentioned. It went against
me to order, against these decided sentiments, the
failing of the fleet, but I believed it right to dired
that all ships which had received wood and water,
should, on the firft order, put to sea, suitably pro
vided; and I address myfelf to your noble mighti
nesses, with a wish to know the intention of their
high mightinesses as to the departure of the fleet,
and whether, notwithstanding the unanimous opini
on of the officers, they must fail. Having ordered
Vice-Admiral Hartfink, in presence of the su
perior officers, that as soon as he Should receive cer
tain accounts of the failing of the Englilh fleet,
which is upon these coalls, and also of its return to
the channel, so as to be able to calculate that Lord
Howe shall be gone for Gibraltar, he (the Admi
ral) shall put to sea without waiting further ordeis,
referring him to my several orders thereupon, but
particularly to my letters of the Ift, 3d, 6th, and
7th of this month.
I hope I have Satisfied the intentions of your no
ble mightinesses; and I am ready to fend forward
any orders you may be pleased to give, having dif
poled every thing for to execute them without delay.
Upon which having deliberated, the deputies re
turned their thanks to his highness for the disclo
sure he has made. At the fame time it is ordered,
that copies of the papers aforefaid be put into the
hands of Meffis. Lynden de Hemmen and the de
puties for maritime affairs, in order that they obtain
the considerations of the colleges of admiralty there
upon, and make report thereof; and that it be in
timated to the said colleges, that they immediately
fend their committees to this residence to confer up
on this business, so that they be here on Monday
evening next at fartheft. And the orders provision
ally given by his serene highness the prince, were
unanimously approved, &c.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. jB.
Extrafl of a letter from John Barry, Efquirc,
Commander of the United States frigate Alli
ance, dated I'Orient, ORober 18, 1782.
" A few hours after 1 failed from New-London,
I retook a brigantine and sent her in there ; pro
ceeded as faft as possible off Bermudas, in my way
I took a schooner from that place for Halifax; after
cruizing off there for twelve or fifteen days, I re
took a iloop from New-London, and lent her for
Cape-Francois, binding the prizes I had taken of
little value, either to myfelf or country, and in all
likelihood Should be obliged to return into port soon
for want of men, was determined to alter my cruiz
ing ground; I therefore thought it best to run off
the banks of Newfoundland. In my way there I
fell in with a whailing brigantine with a pals from
Admiral Digby; I manned her and sent her for
Boston. A few days after, off the banks of New
foundland, I took a brigantine from Jamaica, bound
to London, loaded with sugar and rum, and sent
her for Boston; by this vessel I found the Jamaica
fleet were to the eastward of us ; I then carried a
press of Sail for four days; the fifth day I took two
Ships that had parted from the fleet, after manning
them, and having a frefh gale weftwardly, I thought
best to order them for France; a day or two after
Itook a snow and a ship belonging to the fame fleet.
LONDO N, October 4.
News has come, that the French have taken all
our fadories in Hudson's Bay. [A Short history
of this place, and its commerce, will be given in our
next.]
October 8. We daily hear of damages received
by the Jamaica convoy; some lunk, others dif
mafted, &c.
Extras of a letter from Cadiz, 25th Oft. 1782.
" Lord Howe, with 34 fail of the line and trans
ports, with troops and provisions, about fifteen days
ago arrived in the neighbourhood, and immediately
on their appearance the combined fleets, to the
amount of 45, moored in the bay of Algeliras, got
under fail to offer them battle. The Englilh not
being of Efficient Strength to accept the challenge,
retired into the Mediterranean. M. Cordova pur
suing. A few days being expended there in ma
noeuvring, the former, favoured by the wind, found
means to pass the latter, threw fuccours into the
garrison, and are gone off again."
The privateer Holker, Captain Quinlin, of d ;
port, has taken, after a severe engagement, a very
valuable ship from Liverpool, and carried her into
Martinique.
We hear that besides the Centaur and Ramilies
°' 74 guns each, the Glorieux of 74 also foundered
in the gale that dispersed the Jamaica fleet.
Private accounts from Europe mention, that there
is the highest probability that the united forces -of
France and Spain, will be sent in a very short time
against the remaining Englilh poffellions in the Weft-
Indies, which there is little doubt must fall, thro'
the incredible weakness of their land forces in those
islands.
Being Short of water, and a number of prisoners on
board, the weftwardly winds still blowing frefh, and
in expectation of falling in with some more of them,
I thought it best to proceed to France, with a de
termined view to get those (I had already taken) ia
fafe, and after landing the prisoners to put out im
mediately: but meeting with blowing weather and
a high sea, 1 loft the rails of the head, and was in
great danger of losing the head; which accident
obliged me to put in here, where I arrived yester
day, with the above four prizes. After repairing
the damages, and getting what the ship may want,
I shall put to sea on a cruize. I have likewise to
inform you, that the Ramilies, Admiral Graves's
ship, foundered, but all the crew were saved; seve
ral of which were on board the prizes I took. We
have likewise an account that another ship of the
line was loft, and the crew saved; the merchant
fliips fuffered very much ; there are a few vessels of
the fame fleet in here, taken by American vessels
belonging to Salem. There are about 1200 hogs
heads of sugar, and 40c hogsheads of rum in the
four prizes, besides some coffee and logwood."
Extrafl of a letter from a gentleman at I'Orient,
OQober 24. '
" With refped to a peace I can scarcely convey
to you my own ideas; Mr. Fitzherbert is still a,
Paris. However, when I reflect on the revolution
in the Ministry since the death of the Marquis of
Rockingham—on the advantages the neutral powers
are experiencing from the trade on the coasts of the
European powers at war—on the disposition of
France—and on the variety of interests there is to
consult and reconcile before it can take place—l
am of opinion, on the whole, it is at a greater dis
tance than many people exped. I believe Great-
Britain would willingly acknowledge the independ
ence of America, but for the alliance with France
offenfive and defenfive, are words they cannot di
geft.
The homeward-bound Jamaica fleet has fuf
sered exceedingly by a gale of wind on the 17th 01
September ; and since that by captures. Two of
the convoy, viz. the Ramilies and Centaur, ear!
°f 74 g uns > went down; great part of the crew 0
the former are at present in this place, that of th<
latter, we are informed by the prisoners, went 01
board the Ville de Paris, which was difmafted. Se
verai of the merchantmen allo foundered. Three
New-England privateers have brought seven int(
this port, and five or fix days ago Captain Barr
arrived with four, besides a number I have heard c
being in different ports of France. Above 5 tho^
sand hogsheads out of that fleet in I'Orient—a go
sample of Jamaica sugars."
TRENTON, December 25.
" On Monday the ninth inst. about 11 o'clock ;
night, Lieutenant Nicholas Morgan, of the state re
giment, was mortally wounded by a party of refu
gees from New-York, of which wound he died aboi
four hours after.—The circumstances are related a
follow :
'' He was on guard on the shore at South-Amboy
and feeing a party coming toward him, fuppofe<
they were his own men until they came pretty neat
when, on challenging them, he found his mistake
The tories that lately arrived at New-York, from
Charleftown, are billeted, to the amount of several
hundred, upon the inhabitants cf Long-Illand.