The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1781-01-31 00:00:00, page 2

^ny more time than just necessary to shun the danger,
or acquire the innocent fuccours which they may
stand in nerd of. And in regard to the privateers,
which at this time may be in my ports, it muR be
made known to them, that they must depart in the
precise term of twenty days, to be reckoned from that
on which they shall be notified. Be it so known unto
the Councils of War, and they to execute it, expe
diting orders to the Governors and Commanders of
the p rovinces, islands, forts, and maritime garrisons.
9 Pajace^f Lisbon, the 30th of August, 1780.
• With her Majeßy's Signature.
Mr. HOLLINS,
A correspondent wiir b'emuch obliged to you for
•epublifhing, from the Pennsylvania Packet of the
23d instant, a piece on Privateering signed ' Water
man.' ft is to be wished the publick attention may
be direded to it. The fubje& is of the highest mo
ment to these states, and the writer has treated it in
a clear and judicious manner.
January 26, 1781.
Mr. PRINTER,
OUR alliance with France, in the year 1778, along
with all its benefits brought this evil, that too
many of us were lulled by it into a delusive security.
The war was believed to be drawing to a close, and
great numbers of us seem to have fondly imagined
there was very little need of any further exertions on
our part. By this time however, it is pretty clear
that we ought not to hope for a speedy and happy end
to the war, unless we employ every means in our pow
er for conducting it with vigour.
The ealieft and most effectual way of distressing the
enemy and relieving ourselves, would be to encourage
privateering. The trade of Britain is her only
strength. This can be no other way so effectually
broken as by our privateers. Our only weakness con
sists in the want of funds. Privateering requires no
publick funds to support it. In the common courie
of trade, we Ihould soon be ftript of seamen by the
captures which are continually made by the enemy.
Privateering is the source from which we are furniih
ed with seamen to give in exchange. The wealth too
which we derive from this source is clear gain. The
Algerines have long maintained themselves by this
business alone. The Buccaneers of South-America,
a handful of bold privateerfmen, for many years lup
ported themselves against the world, without domi
nion, without territory, without any pretext of jus
tice. We are indebted to our privateers, more than
to almost any other means we have tried, for our suc
cess hitherto; and yet the truth is that this impor
tant branch of the war has all along laboured under
A .ry great difeouragements. The only law we have
iur conducting this business is to^be collected from a
set of patched up resolutions of Congress, which were
made on the footing of mere temporary expedience
before our independence, and evidently calculated
with a view to the Rate we were then in. From'thefe
resolutions it is often impossible for any man to distin
guish whether he is taking a prize or involving himfelf
n a tedious and expensive law fait. The event, too,
of this law suit is made to depend upon the confeiences
of the captured. Their own story is to acquit or con
demn them ; their papers are of no weight. It is high
time that these resolutions were reviled by Congress,
and a uniform, clear system eftablilhed for the regu
lation of privateering. In hopes that this business will
be attended to, I shall take the liberty of suggesting
some things, which I conceive to be necessary tor the
full exertion of our strength in the business of priva
-ing. . .
I. It is necessary that the Captain of a privateer
ihould be able to diftinguilh with some degree of cer
tainty what is prize and what is not prize ; otherwise
law suits, disappointments and the clamour^ of sea
men, who cannot bear delay, will throw such difeou
ragements in the way as few men will chufe to en
counter, and the fa& is, that many have renounced
the business for this very reason. To attain this cer
tainty it is necessary, in the firft place, that we difcaid
the scheme of exempting Bermudian vessels, and the
property of Britilh settlers from capture. The Ber
mudians do us no service; they fopply the Britilh
fleets and armies amongst us with refreshments, and
they occasion a thousand disputes. The notion of
encouraging Britiffi people to fettle amongst us, was
ufible enough whilst we were fellow fubjeds of the
lame empire ; but in our present state of independen
- to allow of people coming directly from the ports
fan enemy, at open war with us, is perfectly fu
tile. Those few of them who are in earnest about
it, come by the way of Holland, or some other neu
tra 1 state. But the pretence of coming to fettle a
•mongft us is so easily made, and so ealily sworn to,
that it may be made and supported by every vessel that
is taken, if the people on board have a good under
standing with one another, and are hardy enough to
disregard oaths, which is but too frequent.
Another thing effeiitial to the attaining this certain
ty is to make the papers conclusive evidence ; to re
fob'e, that Britilh papers or the deftruftion or want
ot papers Ihould be fufficient ground for condemna
tion. This is the present regulation in France. This
would give new life to privateering.
The objection to this plan arises from a source which
I blush to think of. People with to keep the door o
pen for trading with the British under the cover of
dm ' - papers. What must be the feelings of our al
liv), after all they have done for us, when they fee
us neglecting them and running to the ports of the
enemy; supporting the trade and strengthening the
force of the British in time of open war? the French
have acted with gencrofity towards us. Might they
not exped, that we Ihould at leaß observe the law of
nations in refraining from the support of their ene
my and ours? the only apology (and it is a wretch
ed one) is that we have not learnt to confider our
selves as an independent people; that we do not re
gard, as we ought to do, our national character.
It is to be hoped, that the thing is owing to want of
thought and not to ingratitude. However, consider
ed in every view, it is the height of bad policy.
2. Another thing absolutely necessary is, that prizes
may be tried and condemned speedily and cheaply.
Admiralty laws Ihould be made and executed for the
benefit of the publick ; not for the fake of enriching
one or two infignificant individuals. Particularly in
the case of small prizes, care ihould be taken that
the whole amount be not swallowed up in costs. This
belongs to the dates individually to provide for, ex
cepting in the cases of appeals.
3. Great care ihould be taken to encourage the
bringing in of Prisoners. At present it is a misfor
tune for a privateer to take a number of prise
Cartels have been usually fettled upon the plan c
luing every man at a certain sum of money acc
ing to his rank: so as that the balance might be
in caih : and it is not many ages since the capto
a property in his prisoner, and was allowed to 1
the most of his rairfom. As the prisoners take
sea by privateers generally belong to the Rate to v
the privateer belongs, I ihould think that it woul
fiver the belt of purposes for each Rate to pay
ward for every prisoner taken at sea and brough
the state. This would operate at once to encoi
privateering and enable the state to redeem from
tivity a number of brave seamen, who often [
in prison or else are under the necefiity of enl
with the enemy.
Yours, &c. WATERMA
St. J O H N's in Antigua, December 9.
On the 4th instant arrived at Englilh Harboui
Boreas frigate, commanded by Captain Rodney,
ing lolt her rudder and sprung all her malts in
vere gale of wind on her palfage from North-Aine
The fame gale dispersed Adm. Rodney's fleet (w
the Boreas had fallen in with and joined pre\
thereto) and proved fatal to the Sharke, a 1100
war of 18 guns, which overfet, and every peribi
longing to her perifned. The Boreas parted witl
Sandwich (on board of which was the Admiral)
Triumph and Intrepid, at one o'clock on Sunday
they being bound for Barbados, at which place
hear they are since arrived, together with the ?
rible. ,
RICHMOND, January 13.
A narrative of the late incursion made by the en<
to this place.
On the 31st of December a letter from a priv
gentleman to General Nelson reached this place,
tifying that in the morning of the preceding day, 27
fail of vessels had entered the capes, and from the te
nor of the letter there was reason to expect within a
few hours farther intelligence whether they were
friends or foes, their force, and other circumstances.
Gen. Nelson went immediately into the lower country,
with powers to call on the militia in that quarter, or
to aft otherwise as exigencies should require. The call
of the militia from the middle and upper counties was
not made till intelligence could be received that the
fleet was certainly hostile. No farther intelligence
came till the second instant, when the former was con
firmed; it was afeertained that they were enemies,
and had advanced up James river to Warrafqueak
bay. All arrangements were immediately taken for
calling in a fufficient body of militia for opposition.
In the night of the third, advice was received that they
were at anchor opposite James-town. Williamsburg
was then supposed to be their object ; the wind how
ever, which had hitherto been unfavourable, fhifted
fair, and the tide being also in their favour, they as
cended the river to Kennon's that evening, and with
the next tide came up to Weftover, having on their
way taken possession of the battery at Hood's, by
which two or three of their vessels had received some
damage, but which was of necessity abandoned by the
small garrison of fifty men placed there on the enemy's
landing to invest the works. Intelligence of the ene
my's having quitted the Ration at james-town, from
which it was supposed they meant to land for Willi
amsburg, and that they had got in the evening to
Kennon's, reached this place at five o'clock in the
morning of the fourth. This was the firft indication
of their meaning to penetrate towards Richmond or
Petersburg. As the orders for drawing the militia
hither had been given but two days, no opposition
was in readiness. Every effort was therefore necefla
ry to withdraw the arms and other military stores, re
cords, &c. from this place. Every effort was accord
ingly exerted to convey them to the foundery and
labaratory, till about sunset of that day, when intel
ligence was received that the enemy had landed at
Weftover : From this it appeared that Richmond, and
not Petersburg, was their object ; it became necessary
to remove every thing which remained here, across
the river, as well as what had been carried to the
foundery and labaratory ; which operation was con
tinued till the enemy approached very near. They
marched from Weftover at two o'clock in the after
noon of the 4th, and entered Richmond at one o'clock
in the afternoon of the sth. A regiment of infantry
and about fifty horse continued on without halting
to the foundery ; they burnt that, the boring-mill,
the magazine, and two other houses, and proceeded
to Weftham, but nothing being in their power there,
they retired to Richmond. The next morning they
burnt some buildings of public and some of private
property, with what stores remained in them ; destroy
ed a great quantity of private stores, and about 12
o'clock retired towards Weftover, where they en
camped within the neck the next day. The loss sus
tained is not yet accurately known. At this place a
bout 300 muskets, some foidiers clothing to a small
amount, fulphur, some quartermasters stores, of which
120 sides of leather was the principal article, part of
the artificers tools, and 3 waggons ; besides which, 5
brass 4 pounders, which had been funk in the river,
were difeovered to them, raised and carried off. At
the foundery about 5 tons of powder was thrown into
the canal, ot which there will be a considerable saving
by remanufaduring it. Part of the papers belonging
to the Auditor's office, and the books and papers of
the Council office, which were ordered to Weftham,
but in the confufion carried by mistake to the foun
iery, were also destroyed.. The roof of the foundery
was burnt, but the Racks of chimnies and furnaces
lot at all injured. Within let's than 48 hours from
he time of their landing, and 19 from our knowing
heir deßination, they had penetrated 33 miles, done
he whole injury, and retired. Our militia, dispersed
iver a large trad of country, can be called in but
lowly. On the day the enemy advanced to this
Race, 200 only were embodied ; they were of this
own and neighbourhood, and were too few to do
iny thing effectual. The enemy's forces are com
nanded by the parricide Arnold.
B A LTIMO R E, January 16.-
A letter from the Weft-Indies mentions the arrival
1 thole leas of 10 fail of men of war of the line and
2 regiments, from Great-Britain. The men of war
nd troops are as follow, viz.
Men of war, under command of Sir Samuel Hood,
arfleur, Gibraltar, Monarch, Piinceffa, Minorca,
Jfred, Prince William, Belliqueaux, St. Allan's,
'anther.
Regiments. 2d, 3d, 13th, 19th, 25th, 30th, 32d,
7th, 69th, 78th, 81st, and 83d.
Extract of a letter from Frederickfburg, dated the
9th instant.
" General Arnold, with about 15 to 2500 men,
.nd a few lighthorfe, landed 15 miles below Rich
nond, and got into the town lak Friday. They have
leftroyed Weftham, and all the public works, great
[uautities of rum, sugar, &c. They retreated the
lext day about 12 o'clock, the fame way they came,
die militia are after them."
Another letter from Frederickfburg, dated the
ime day, mentions, that the enemy, in 24 hours,
cicroyed all the public buildings at Richmond, and
tat private property there was favtd excepting salt,
am, sugar, and coffee; that after having destroyed
the public buildings, foundery, rope-walks, &c. they
went down James river on Sunday the sth instant.
A few days since the floo) Porpoise, of this port,
carrying 10 guns, had a fhaip engagement off—
in Chelapeake, with the privateer schooner Hibernia,
of 12 guns, from New-York. 7he former, it is said,
had manifeftly the advantage, but unluckily ground
ing, the schooner took the opportunity of iheering
off, and immediately proceeded down the bay. The
Porpoise ( now refitting at Annapolis for another
cruise) had 5 men killed and 13 wounded.—Major
Eustace, a gentleman well known for his military ta
lents, bravery, and other accomplishments, nobly
distinguished himfelf in the abovementioned conflict,
as did likewise the Captains Revelly and Weems, and
Mr. Vining.' Capt. Revelly was (hot through both
legs, in attempting to wedge the. Hibernia's rudder.
A gentleman just arrived in town, from the south
ward, afferts,.that General Greene's head-quarters
were a few days ago at Camden, the Britiffi troops
having abandoned that post : That Lord Cornwallis,
who had only received a reinforcement of about 400
men, from New-York, had taken pest at Ninety-fix :
That our army, under command of General Greene,"
was daily increasing, and in such circumstances as
promised farther success to the American arms.
A body of American troops, it is said, lately took
possession of Georgetown, Sopth-Carolina.
By the latest accounts Gen. Arnold and his troops
were encamped about 10 miles below Peteifburgh,
and that the Virginia militia had marched to attack
them.
" Berkeley county, Virginia, Dec. 30, 1780.
" This day Mr. Andrew Minton, aged eighty-one
" years, was married to Miss Sally Vanvadtor, aged
" thirteen."
FIS H-K IL L, January 25.
We learn that General Parsons is just returned from
a fuccefsful expedition to Morrifina, where he fur
prized and took prisoners sixty or seventy tories and
burnt a considerable number of huts. He also passed
to Frog's Neck and destroyed some stores there. He
loft one subaltern, and the enemy had one man killed.
On Arnold's arrival in New-York, the sagacious
great ones supposed, that upon paying particular at
tention to the villain they would lessen his crimes in
the eyes of the world, and introduce him to the no
tice of their circle, without which they fortlaw he
muR fink into obfeurity and contempt ; he was ac