The New-Jersey gazette — Burlington [N.J.], 1780-12-20 00:00:00, page 1

Intelligence translated from French papers.
BAY O N N E, August 15.
DON Barcelo has hung two of his Captains,
who, having left their frigates and gone to
fee a play at Algefire, did not attend to the
signals he made for them to intercept a vef
iel going into Gibraltar.
London, August 3. The last letters from India, re
ceived by the Swallow packet, bring us an account,
that on the zd of September last the Strafford India
min, with all her treasure, foundered in Bengal river ;
but the passengers and crew, except the First Lieute
nant and one seaman, were saved. Welearn, also at
the fame time one of the magazines of the India Com
pany, at Calcutta, was wholly destroyed by fire. And
letters from Port Louis fay, that five French Ihips had
failed from the island of Bourbon for India, under
convoy of 2 ihips of the line and a frigate, and 4 other
French line of battle ships had lately failed from that
port for the Weft-Indies.
Aug. 11. They are now making at Deptford, by
order from Government, four chains of a particular
contrivance, which will weigh from 50 to 70 tons
each; it is supposed they are intended for securing
the entrance of some port. They are also building,
for the use of the King's army in America, boats of a
conftruftion perfectly new, of tin lined with cork,
and so light that a man can carry one of them on his
Ihoulders. Americans, keep a good look out !
Aug. 25. The capture of the fleets bound to the East
and Weft-Indies has put the Insurers at Lloyd's Cof
feehoufe into such ill humour, that, since the account
thereof arrived, not a single policy has been signed ;
offers of 50 per cent, upon the fleet returning from
the Leeward Islands, and 40 on that bound from Ja
maica to Charleltown, commonly a passage but of a
fortnight, have not been capable of tempting them.
We learn by the latest letters from Portsmouth, that
the 12 fliips of the line which we said had received
orders to put to sea again have received counter or
ders ; and they add, that the Formidable, Ocean,
Queen, Princess Amelia, and Dublin, which are part
of the channel fleet, have received orders to return to
Plymouth, and prepare for sea again, with the rest
of the fleet, with all possible expedition. We are told
too, that the fleet ready to fail for Quebec have re
ceived counter orders, and is still at Portsmouth.—
The misfortune of those of the two Indies makes us
infinitely circumfped, and puts us in fear for those
who failed on the 12th instant, for New-York and
Charleftown.
NEW-JERSEY GAZETTE.
This accident, which we published in our last pa
per under the article of trade, is of the molt grievous
importance ; the national papers give an account of
it, in the following terms:
" The 28th of July the following ships set fail from
Portsmouth, under convoy of the Buffaloe and Inflex
ible, of 64 guns each ; the Ramilies of 74; the fri
gates Southampton and Thetis, of 32 guns each ; the
Royal George for Madrafs and Bengal; the Mount
Stuart for the fame ; the Gatton for St. Helena and
Bencoolen ; the Godfrey for Bombay, and the Hillf
borough for Madrafs and Bengal ; in all five ihips be
longing to the East-India Company; 13 ship. ibound
to Jamaica, 18 for the Leeward Islands, and 28 tor
Madeira, New-York and Carolina.
The 4th of August the Buffaloe and Inflexible left
them well near Cape Finiftere and returned ; on the
,th the combined fleet, consisting of about 40 ihips,
set fail from Cadiz ; late in the evening of the Bth the
.Commodore, on board the Ramillies, had an account
of seven fail which he did not imagine to be enemies ;
so that he did not alter his course. On the 9th he saw
his whole convoy surrounded by the combined fleet,
which formed in a half-moon ; and he gave the signal
for every one to endeavour to escape ; but it was too
late ; the circle was almost made, and there was a
dead calm. The Ramillies, the two trigates, and the
British Queen and Fanny merchant ships were all the
vessels that had the luck to escape ; as they failed for
Madeira, the firft mail from that island will, doubt
lets, bring a confirmation of this difalter, of which the
following account has been given:
The 5 East-India ihips (which are never
enfured)£. 445,000 sterling, £.445,000
The 47 Weft-India ships, some of which
are ensured (it is said) abroad, 805,000
Amount of the bounty paid to the troops
which were on board, 12,000
Value of the arras and accoutrements for
the said troops, 8,400
Maintenance of the prisoners for three
months only. Seamen, 4,873
Land forces, 2,730
Total, 1,278,003
[Vol. lII.]
WE D NES D A Y, December 20, 1780.
Some papers estimate the loss in cash at a million
and a half sterling ; but all agree in considering this
loft as the iealt of our unhappiness the following
is the worst part of the calculation :
On board the five East-India ships 560 feamen,four
companies of land troops, amounting to 300 men, of
ficers not included, - - - 860 men.
On board the ihips bound for Jamaica, a
regiment of volunteers, embarked at Ports
mouth for the defence of that island, 860
On board ships bound for New-York, a
Hefiian regiment, - - - 800
Sailors on board the Weft-India ships, 624
Total, 3144 men.
It would be very affecting to observe how sensibly
this ftrwke will be felt, wherever the recruits there
ships were carrying were impatiently expected ; Ja
maica on the one hand, on tne other Admiral Rod
ney, &c. &c. Independently of 20,000). sterling in
fpccie, the five Ealt-india ships had on board 18,000
stand of arms in complete order ; 3000 tons of pow
der were going for Antigua ; and so of the rest.
Aug. 29. On board the Ealt-lndia ships lately taken
by the combined fleet were several ladies going to
their families in Bengal ; and also two clocks of ex
quisite beauty and very great value, intended for the
Rajah and one of the Princes of Tanjour.
A great number of the seamen on board the mer
chantmen for the Eaftand Welt-Indies intercepted by
the combined fleet being foreigners, will, according
to appearance, be an unexpected resource and benefit
to our enemies; for it is not doubted they will enter
immediately into service in that fleet.
The East-India Company have with great difficul
ty, and at an exorbitant price, procured vessels to re
place those they lately loft. All velfels fit for being
armed or converted into privateers are at present molt
horridly dear. The Company have also taken into
service the Pacquet boats Southampton and Mercury,
which are equipping with all possible expedition, and
also fix ships, which they expert will be ready to fail
some time in December. On board those they have
loft there was a vait quantity of naval stores for Sir
Edward Hughes's squadron Rationed in the East-In
dies: One of them had twelve months provilion for
the island of St. Helena, which, fublifting only by
such as they receive from England, will feel this loss
the more fcufibly, as the London, which was laden
some time past with the like supply, was run down
and funk by the Ruffcl man of war as Ilie was failing
from Spitlicad.
THE King being informed that some difficulties
I had arisen relative to the condemnation of prizes
brought in by American privateers, has oi dered that
all prizes taken by privateers of America fitted out in
France, and brought into any of the ports of that
kingdom, shall be adjudged to be prizes, the fame as
if taken.by French privateers.
Sept. 29. M. de ia Touche Treville, who has been
for some days here and at Versailles, is to be ready
to fail by the 10th of October with his squadron.
We have accounts from Brelt, that 60 merchant
men failed from that port, under convoy of one man
of war, and that the copper bottomed ships arc all in
the road.
As the war continues longer than was imagined it
would in 1777, the King has published an ordinance
with the regulations relative to all batteries, corps of
observation, and lignals established on the coasts, &c.
Madrid, Sept. 11. It is said here that the Emperor
of Morocco has permitted the Spaniards to attack
Englilh vessels under the cannon of his forts, and to
pursue them on his coasts.
We have accounts from Cadiz, that the combined
fleet entered that port the 29th of lalt month ; and that
the Englilh troops, who were priloners on board, will
be landed at St. Maria, where all the other priloners
and passengers are, and from whence they will be
sent to Cordoua.
RatiJbon, Sept. 17. On Wednesday morning last a
fire broke out at Straubing in Lower Bavaria, which
in lel's than 14 hours consumed two large churches,
one convent, two or three public edifices, and up
wards of 180 private houses, making in all nearly half
the town. The damage is estimated at upwards of
500,000 pounds.
Hague, July 9. We hear that there is no more talk
of the holding of a Congress here; her Majesty the
Empress of Russia having fignificd her desire to have
the conference held at Peterfburgh, the States Gene
ral have in consequence appointed, on the proposal of
the Prince Stadtholdcr, Mell: de Waffonaar de Star
renburgh, and de Heckeren de Brantzenburgh, de-
P A R I S, August 31.
THE
puties to the assembly of their High Mightinesses, from
the provinces of Holland and Weft-Frizeland and of
Utrecht, Minillers Plenipotentiaries to go to Pcterf
burgh, in order to allift at the conferences to be hdl
tiicre for the protection of neutral commerce.
London, Aug. 12. It 13 to be hoped that our Mini
sters will keep a vigilairt watch over the neutrality ar
maments, left they may be used as a pretext to cover
tome hostile design. Much is to be apprehended from
the profound policy of the Ruffian Queen, joined to
the artful projects of the sagacious Mynheers.
Almost all the neutral powers in Europe, except
Portugal, seem to have joined this league, which,
though it should be really deligned, as it is pretend,
ed, tor the protection of commerce, is yet very for
midable for the facility with which it may be turned
to the accomplilhment of any other Durpofe.
Aug. 24. The taking the East and Welt-India out
ward bound fleets hath spread a general coniternation
through the mercantile part of this metropolis. Ma
ny complain, that the commerce of this kingdom is
neglected, and that the return of Admiral Geary's
fleet hath given room for the capture of this capital
convoy.
Aug. 26. The greatest and in fict only real enemies
to America, have been her own sons, viz. the people
called Refugees, who fled from America to this coun
try with their mouths and hearts filled with calumny
and falfchood. These people, by their talcs, have de
ceived the Ministers, and, through the Ministers, have
deceived both the Parliament and the nation; and
many of them are now living in this country, upon
much better incomes than they ever had in their lives.
Oct. 11. Saturday private advices were brought to
town from France, and immediately sent to the Kin,
at Windsor. We learn that they contain the particu
lars of the intended military and naval reinforcement,
going to. America, and that instead of 8 fail of the line
and 7000 men, 12 fail of the line and 10,000 choice
troops are ordered on that service.
Government have received dispatches from Gene
ral Vaughan, dated at St. Lucia, with accounts that
the army is in the most lamentable situation from sick
ness, nearly one half of the nominal troops being, at
this time, totally disabled. What is very singular, he
mentions that the 98th regiment in particular has fuf
fered so much from the prevailing contagion, that
there is not one man in it capable of bearing arms.
Extract of a letter from Amflerdam, Sept. 30.
" On the 25th a Congress brig, mounting 18 guns,
arrived from America in the Texel, and immediately
landed two gentlemen, who, it appears, are going to
Copenhagen, as Resident and Secretary fiom the
Congress: Their names were Brown and Williams,
and they are to set off from this city, on their jour
ney to Denmark, to-morrow."
j)ifpatches of great consequence are said to have ar
rived yesterday from the continent, supposed to be an
official confirmation of the Queen of Portugal's ac
ceding not only to the armed neutrality, but to an
alliance with the House of Bourbon; in consequence
of which, a meeting of all the great officers of Rate
was held last night at Lord Hillfborough's office, the
particulars of which have not yet transpired.
The grand fleet are not to fail from Torbay, until
the fleet for America are ready to fail, which are ex
pected the firft fair wind.
The outward bound fliips, which escaped being
taken on the 9th of August, were underwrote last
night at forty guineas per cent.
A great fire broke out on the 16th of August last at
Salonica, in the Levant, which burnt down above fix
hundred houses, the greatest part of which belonged
to Jews, who have thereby loft all they poflefled in
that city.
Extract of a letter from Paris, Sept. 26.
" The Prince de Montabarrey, Minister and Se
cretary of State for the war department, has sent cir
cular letters to the commanders of all the French and
foreign regiments of infantry, acquainting them, that
it is the King's intention that the different corps which
the war has required to be sent to America, shall be
completed : And that to this effect, each regiment
shall furnifh a detachment, consisting of two ferjeauts,
three corporals, and 75 soldiers, excepting only such
regiments as have already furnifhed detachments for
the service of his Majesty's navy, and which are now
only to furnifh a proportionate number of men. The
Minister recommends to prefer such men as shall offer
voluntarily, declaring unto them, that they are to be
incorporated into the regiments of land troops actu
ally Serving in America: And he further observes.
that these detachments should only consist of men
from the age of 18 to 30, or such as have been at sea,
though they mould happen to be older; but that if
a fufficiem number should not offer voluntarily, hi#
[Numb. 156.]