The royal gazette — [Charleston] S.C., 1781-06-27 00:00:00, page 1

Extra# of a letter from Waterford.
" The recruiting service in Ireland has been carried On with
the most rapid and uncommon success. The military associati
ons have diffufed a martial spirit through all ranks of people,
and almost every man bears arms in some line or other. Orders
were received about two months ago for railing a number of
Independent Companies, in consequence of which thirteen
hundred men have already been recruited, and the returns
transmitted to England.
Paris, (France) April 6. It is said, Mr. Neckar has just
concluded a most advantageous bargain with Dr. Franklin,
having purchased from the Congress, for three millions of
livres, as much Virginia tobacco as cost heretofore nine mil
lions. The people, however, are not to purchase this com
modity the cheaper, Government only being to profit by it.
[Mr. Neckar may make a bargain upon very advantageous
terms with Dr. Franklin for Virginia tobacco ; but how will
the Doctor be able to fulfil his part, as to the delivery of the
commodity ? for it doth not seem that Chefapeak-bay is quite
open to the Doctor's friends, or that the coast is clear from
British cruizers, if the tobacco ships could get to fea.]
London, April 18. The fleet of observation now forming at
Spithead is to consist of 20 capital ships, including the Victory
a firft rate, which are ordered to be compleated by the firft
of next month.
LONDO N, April ii.
THE merchants of France have been very unfortunate
in losing several of their fined privateers, from 44 to
28 guns, on the home station. The lifts of St. Maloes
give the lots of one of 44,' two of 36, and four of 30 guns,
re-de-Grace, four of 36, three of 32, and three of 28 guns.
Brest, two of 36 guns. Bayonne, one of 32, and two of 28
guns. Dunkirk, one of 30, and one of 28 guns. Total, 24.
3 The new flrip Le Majefteux, a firft rate, of 112 guns, lately
lately come round to Brest from Toulon, is, upon infpedion,
found to be in so bad a condition, by her running on shore,
losing her falfe keel, lower-masts, &c. &c. and other defeats,
that she must undergo a very long repair before she will be fit to
join the fleet. She will be of no service to the navy this year.
' The Lady Howe pr vateer, of Dartmouth, has taken and sent
into that port, a Dutch Weft-Indiaman, worth 20,0001.
A new regulation has been introduced into the army, in
consequence of which every officer absent from his regiment,
in case of a vacancy, loses his turn of promotion. The Captain-
Lieutenant of a regiment in the island of Jersey has lately loft
a step in conformity to this order, but his character and ser
vices having endeared him to his corps, all the officers (except
the Colonel) have signed a memorial to Lord Amherst in his
favour.
Vienna, ( Aujlria) March 24. We have accounts, that the
States of the Austrian Low Countries have requested permission
of the Emperor to put' the port of Antwerp in the fame Rate it
was two centuries ago; audit is generally believedtheir request
will be granted. In the mean time all accounts from those Pro
vinces agree in the great advantages they reap at present, par
ticularly in the extension of the trade of Offend.
' Ant<wef, (Netherlands) April g. Prince Sulkowfky, Duke
of Bielck, Privy Councelfor and Chamberlain of his Imperial
Majesty, has passed through this city in his way to the Hague,
to execute a commission from the Emperor his Sovereign.
. London, April 14. A private letter from Peterfburgh fays,
" Provifions'and stores for 12 fail of the line, and smaller ships
of war, for four months sea service, are ordered to be got in
readiness by the middle of May, which will be Under the com
mand of Admiral Greig. Whether they are for the assistance
of Great Britain or not, we cannot vouch, but generally be
lieve they are."
Extras of a genuine letter from France.
" The fleet was originally intended to be commanded by
M. de la Touche Treville, who resigned the fame for the rea
sons mentioned in his Memorial to the King, presented the
beginning of February, and from which the following is ex
traded: “ Your Memorialift finds the ships under his com
“ maud ub very unfit for the service they are to be employ
ee ed in, several of them having but lately returned from the
“ Weft-Indies, and required a very thorough repair, instead of
“ v/hich they have but barely been docked." On the difmif
fion of M. Treville, the command was proffered to many offi
cers, but refufed, being jealous of their own and their coun
try's honour, particularly Mons. de Guichen, who declared
in the presence of the King, that he would sooner resign his
commission and rank in the navy than take upon him the com
mand. However, M. Le Graffe being neither rich in honour
or pocket, accepted the fame with very uncommon advantages,
emoluments, and precedencies.
“ The equipment of the fleet has cost the nationa vast sum
of money, and yet we are assured Mons. Le Graffe, though he
accepted the command, is not fatisfied with it. In his last let
ter to a principal naval officer in Paris, he fays, " Though I
“ am far from being fatisfied with the equipping, storing, and
" manning my armament, yet I will most chearfully obey my
“ Sovereign's orders ; but should I be disappointed in the pro
'• mises of the court of Madrid, for their fleet to join me from
“ the Havana, it is my determination to moor the fleet in
“ Fort Royal Bay, Martinique, and take my passage to Europe
“ in a frigate, and lay my grievances personally at the King's
“ feet."
April 19. Several private letters were received in town
yesterday, which positively confirm the report that was cur
rent on Tuesday, of the death of Dr. Franklin. These letters
particularly mention his having died at Paris on the 7th of this
month, in a very advanced age.
A letter from Paris by yesterday's mail fays, " M. Mau
repas had, on the 7th instant, a conference at the State
Chambers with the Dutch, Swedish, Danish, and Spanish
Ministers, upon the fubjedt of the dispatches received from
their refpeftive Courts; at the breaking up of which, it was
confidently reported, that the Dutch Minister had declared
that the States had accepted the offers of mediation from the
Courts of Petersburg and Vienna for a peace with England."
Vienna, ( Austria) March 31. It is pretended here, that a
cessation of arms will shortly take place between the belli
gerent powers, and that there will be a Congress held to medi
ate affairs, to which Sir Joseph Yorke will be sent on the part
of Great-Britain, being it is said, already appointed for that
SOUTH-CAROLINA: Printed by R. WELLS & SON, Printers to the King's Most Excellent Majesty.
ROYAL
Vol. I.
European Intelligence.
From W EDNESDAY, June 27,
purpose ; and on the part of France the Duke de Choifeul.
hamburgh, (Germany) April 10. They write from Peterf
burgh, that Prince Wolkowfky arrived there the 23d of last
month from Vienna, and was presented immediately to the
Empress by Prince Potemkin, to whom he delivered his cre
dentials. A courier from the Emperor was also arrived there.
We are assured in General, that the belligerent powers occupy
themselves very seriously in there-establishment of peace, un
der the auspices of Catherine the Great.
Paris, April 13. We have accounts from Brest, that the
Couronne, one of our fineft 80 gun ships, took fire, and was
burned a few days ago.
London, April 21. Orders are given for ten fail of men of
war to be in readiness for failing on the firft notice, as a rein
forcement to Admiral Darby's fleet on his return from Gibral
tar, which is to aft as a fleet of observation.
The Ruffian Ambassador at the court of Versailles had a
private audience of the King on the Bth instant, and the only
person present with them was Maurepas. The consultation is
said to have ended in a manner no ways fatisfa^tory to his Ex
cellency.
Extra# of a letter from Paris, April 13.
" An engagement appearing inevitable between the English
and Spanish fleets, all our politicians were full of eager expec
tations, and their whole thoughts turned towards the Straits.
Attentive to the smallest variation of the wind, they made cal
culations concerning the way which the English fleet would be
able to make each day, and it was reported that the King of
Spain had written to Don Louis de Cordova, to attack the
English at all events, and to induce the officers by the hopes of
an adequate recompence, not to discredit the ancient valour of
Spain. By this we were led to believe that a decisive action must
soon take place, when, in the midst of these pleasing expectati
ons, we were informed by the last letters from Spain, that the
Spanish fleet had returned to Cadiz on the 27th. This news
gained very little credit at firft, but it is now too certain ; so
that the re-victualling of Gibraltar will again take place ; which
is a heart-breaking matter to our zealous patriots; nevertheless
our politicians will not renounce their hopes. They fay, that
as the Spanish fleet can be only gone to take in water, it will
certainly put to sea again without delay, as it cannot be sup
posed that Spain, whose force is superior to that of the English,
will allow them a free passage to Gibraltar."
Eaf-India HoUfe, April 19, 1781.
THE 24th of July, 1780, advice was received at Fort St.
George, that Hyder Ally's cavalry had entered the Carnatic in
different places ; whereupon the troops in cantonments were
ordered to assemble at St. Thomas's Mount, and a strong de
tachment under Col. Baillie, who commanded in the Guntoor
or Circar, was ordered to the Presidency. In the mean time
time Hyder himfelf with the main body of the army, entered
by the pass of Changamah, reduced Pollour, Chittapet, and
Arnee, and on the aid of August fat down before Argot.
The 26th of August Sir Hector Munro took the field, and
moved towards Conjeveram.
The 6th of September the General was informed, that a
large detachment from Hyder's army had attacked Colonel
Baillie at Perambancum, and been repulsed ; but as Colonel
Baillie was thereby weakened, he found it not in his power
to join the General; it was therefore resolved to reinforce
Colonel Baillie with a strong detachment, and Colonel Flet
cher was ordered on that service.
The 10th of September the General was informed that
Col. Baillie had been attacked and entirely defeated; where
upon it was resolved to fall back to Chingleput, and afterwards
to St. Thomas's Mount, where General Munro arrived the
14th of September.
The loss sustained by the unfortunate defeat of Lieutenant-
Colonel Baillie's detachment amounts in killed, wounded and
prisoners, to about 508 Europeans, and 3300 Seapoys.
So soon as intelligence of the above disaster reached Madras,
requisition was made to Bengal for a suitable reinforcement to
be sent from thence with all expedition ; whereupon it was re
solved that a supply of money should be sent to the relief of
Fort St. George, and that a large detachment of European
infantry and artillery should also proceed thither immediately;
and likewise that Lieutenant-General Sir Eyre Coote should
fail diredly to take upon himfelf the command of the army
on the coast.
It was also resolved to detach a large body of Seapoys for
the further protection and defence of the country, so soon as
the season should permit of their marching by land.
In consequence of the above resolutions, Gen. Coote left
Calcutta the 13th of October, 1780, and arrived at Fort St.
George the sth of November following, with two companies
of European artillery, 660 Lafcars, fix companies of European
infantry, and one company of volunteers ; but Arcot had un
fortunately surrendered to Hyder two days before the arrival
of General Coote at Madras.
The army under General Coote was formed into three grand
divisions on Choultry Plain, between three and four miles
Southward of Madras, during the North-East Monsoon. The
General took up his residence with one of them, in order to
be in readiness to embrace the firft opportunity that should of
fer of gaining advantage over the enemy, and has given the
strongest assurances, that his utmost endeavours shall be used
to re-establish the interest of the Company, and to support the
honour of the British arms on the coast ; and he hopes, by the
next opportunity, to be able to transmit more agreeable ac
counts.
London, April 23. A letter from Paris, dated the loth in
stant, fays, 66 M. Neckar's plan for raising money by way of
annuities is annihilated, as the merchants were very averse
to the scheme, thinking it was for no other purpose than
railing money (as it really was) for the use of Congress."
Extra# of a letter from Liverpool, dated April 18.
“ The Sifters privateer, belonging to this port, is arrived
at Beaumaris, and has brought in with her the Dorothee Ca
tharina, Brandt, a Dutch ship of 240 tons, from St. Euftatia,
bound to Amsterdam. She is a valuable prize, being laden with
sugar, cotton and indigo; also the Ferret, a French snow from
Nantz for Martinico, with dispatches ; the letters, however,
were thrown overboard and funk."
Extra# of a letter from Edinburgh, April 18.
“ Yesterday morning, about two o'clock, the Berwick man
of war, and Belle Poule frigate, four miles of St. Albe's Head,
fell in with Le Calonne privateer, of Dunkirk, (formerly the
Tartar) the noted Luke Ryan, commander, mounting 32 guns,
fll^^^^s^b^^
THE
C A7FTTF
to SATURDAY, June 30, 1781.
and 250 men. The privateer having in the dark mistaken th e
Berwick for a Greenland ship, -ordered her to bring to, and
fired several broadsides before they difeovered their mistake;
but when the Berwick's lower ports were opened, they endea
voured by crowding fail to make off, at the fame time cutting
adrift a boat, with a Lieutenant and 13 men, which was lying
at the stern, for the purpose of boarding the supposed Green
landman; having shot a-head of the Berwick, the Belle Poule
gave chace, and engaged her 45 minutes, until the Berwick
came up, when she struck at half pad eight A. M. The pri
vateer had one man killed and two wounded: the Berwick
one man wounded, and the Belle Poule none in the least hurt.
Ryan had only been five days from Dunkirk, and had taken,
a short time before he fell in with the above ships, the Nancy
of Aberdeen, Ramsay, bound for Newcastle, and ransomed
her for 300 guineas.
“ We are informed, that this celebrated depredator behaved
with great intrepidity. He is now on board the Belle Poule,
and at liberty to walk the deck; but, till her arrival in the
Roads, he was kept in irons. The crew are a mixture of
French, Yankies, Scotch, Irilh, and one Dutchman, who
was pilot."
Admiralty-Office, April 24, i,Br.
CAPTAIN Balfour arrived this morning with difoatchea
from Vice-Admiral Arbuthnot, Commander in Chief of his
Majesty's ships in North-America, to Mr. Stephens, of which
the following are copy and extraft.
Copy of a letter from Vice-Admiral Arbuthnot to Mr.
Stephens, dated Royal Oak, in Lynhehaven Bay, March
20, 1781.
MY letter of the 15th ult. by the Mercury packet will have
acquainted their Lordships with the loss of the Culloden, and
difmafture of the Bedford, in a gale of wind on the 23d of Ja
nuary, at the East end of Long Island, and of the absence of
the America, which at that time was driven to sea, but
returned without damage on the Bth ult.
In the mean while every possible exertion was made to get
the lower masts out of the Culloden, for the Bedford ; but the
weather was so exceedingly severe and tempestuous, that it
was not effected until the firft instant.
The enemy, deriving courage and confidence from thafe
misfortunes, at one time, during the absence of the America,
and believing that the Bedford also was loft, meditated an at
tack upon us, which however they laid aside, after their emis
saries had reconnoitred our position in Gardiner's Bay.
An attempt was next made against our naval force employ
ed to co-operate with Brigadier-General Arnold in Virginia.
I received early intimation of their intentions, and according
ly put these officers upon their guard. This was to have been
executed by the Eveille, a coppered 64, and twd frigates,
which failed from Rhode-Ifland on the Bth of February ; but
finding it impossible to succeed in that quarter, left it on the
19th following.
I had, on the communication of this intelligence, dispatch
ed the Charleftown to Carolina, to order the Chatham (of
whose arrival I had been informed) with the Roebuck, Romu
lus, and some frigates, to proceed to Virginia, and endeavour
to cut off their return ; which, however, was rendered abor
tive by the shortness oftheir stay. I am sorry to add, that they
fell in with and captured the Romulus on their passage back:
off the capes of Virginia, as she was proceeding thither from
Charleftown to relieve the Charon ; having failed in conse
quence of a prior engagement, before the Charleftown could
reach her.
It was now necessary, from the difeontents in the rebel ar
my, and among the minds of the people, to attempt feme
thing to revive a drooping cause ; the danger of Virginia from
the enterprizing spirit of Brigadier-General Arnold, had he
been strengthened, which was likely to happen, must become
imminent ; the plan therefore, adopted by the rebels and their
allies, was by a combined operation to attack him, and, by
reducing him and his detachment, to set at liberty the whole
force of the southern provinces, to ad against Lord Cornwallis
in Carolina. The parties from Mr. Washington's army, un
der the Marquis de Fayette, were to proceed down the Elk by
the way of Maryland ; whilst a large body of Virginia militia,
under a Mr. Nelson in this colony, were collecting to attack
him in concert with the French troops commanded by the
count de Rochambault. I had the honour to give information
of these designs to Sir Henry Clinton at New-York ; and as
my intelligence from Rhode-Ifland was frequently and accu
rately repeated, the objects for the service of the Squadron
became clear and open to my view.
The season the enemy chose to execute this measure, was
while the Bedford was re-mafling. The lower masts of the
Culloden having been brought into Gardiner's Bay, she hauled
alongside the London, and got them in on the sth inst. and
was completely rigged and ready for sea the 9th.
The enemy, I presume, were very soon apprised of the Bed
ford being entirely stripped, and conceiving this work would
take up a considerable time, began to embark troops on the
sth : by the Bth near 2000 of their troops were put on board
the squadron, which had been previously prepared in other
refpeCTS, and pushed to sea with a strong easterly gale the even
ing of the fame day.
On the 9th the whole of his Majesty's squadron under my
command fell down to the entrance of Gardiner's Bay ; and
the next morning, just before I weighed, I received corrobo
rative information from Sir Henry Clinton, that very consi
derable detachments were fending to the Southward from Mr.
Washington's army ; but his Excellency did not appear to
have any immediate idea of reinforcing Brigadier-General
Arnold with troops. Supposing, however, that he might af
terwards judge it necessary, as his situation would become
extremely critical, I directed Captain Hudson of the Rich
mond, the senior officer at New-York, to take his Excellen
cy's sentiments on the subject ; and, should it be deemed pro
per, to take under his convoy the troops that might be sent to
aid those already employed in Virginia ; but, should his Ex
cellency think such relief unnecessary, he was to join me off
the Chefapeak with the Richmond, Orpheus, and any others
of his Majesty's ships that might arrive at New-York in the
interim.
On the 10th I cleared the coast of Long-Island with the
squadron, and proceeded to the Southward as expeditiously
as possible, in the hope of being able to fight the enemy be
fore their entry to the Chefapeak, or, if practicable, to at
tack them there.
Numb. 35.