The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1779-07-12 00:00:00, page 2

By the Cork Fleet, and the Ship George, Cap!.
^Gibfa, from Whitehaven, cue have the fol
[ lowing Advices, viz.
LONDO N, April i.
We are assured that the Camps this season
will be formed at Coxheath, Warley-common,
Winchester, &c. as last year, bat that the par
ticular corps which formed them will be drift
ed to the contrary Camps.
Upwards of 5000 Hpgfheads of tobacco are
comming home in the fleet from the Leeward
Inlands, which mull reduce the price of that
article in this kingdom, as it is nearly one
half of the annual consumption here.
The above tobacco is the produce of the se
veral prizes taken from the French and the A
mericans in the Welt-Indies, and has been
lying in our Islands for some months part.
A letter from Torbay received on Wednes
day mentions the capture of the Corageux cut
ter privateer, by the convoy to the Straits
fleet. She mounts 16 fix pounders, and might
have done much mifehief, as She had 200 men
on board.
Commissioners are come over from New-
York, to Ship goods proper for the markets in
that part of the world, to the value 0f60,0001.
which are now getting ready to be (hipped
with the next fleet.
Tub privateers of considerable force have
made their appearance as far up the Murray
Firth as Cromartie, that they took three ves
sels belonging to Inverness, and two td Leffe
mouth, but ransomed them for small sums.
The Concordia, Reeks, from Cadiz to
London, was taken by four French Ships of the
line, but afterwards retaken by a letter of
marque, of Greenock, and caried in there.
ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, April 6, 1779.
Extract of a letter from Captain Reynolds, of his
Majesty's Jhip 'Jupiter, to Mr. Stephens, dated
Plymouth, the zzd infant.
" I left Spithead yeftrday morning. His
Majesty's sloop the Delight had proceeded from
thence a few hours before. About eleven I
perceived that sloop engaged with a privateer
of force, which (truck to her about 1 o'clock ;
the particulars of which Capt. Douglass has
transmitted to their Lord Ships ; in addition to
which I mutt beg leave to observe, that the
behaviour of himfelf, officers, and people, on
this occasion, does them much credit. Upon
communicating his orders to me, I enabled the
sloop to proceed about five 0 'clock in the
afternoon. I have brought the prize into
Plymouth.
Cfv of Captain Douglafs's Letter, mentioned in the
foregoing.
w Delight, off Portland, April 1, 1779.
" AGREEABLE to the orders I received
from my Lords Commissioners ofthe Admiralty
l left Spithead this morning, and, off Dun
more, ab>ut ten o'clock, I fell in with and
took the Jean Burt, a French privateer of 20
guns, and about 190 men, which ship engaged
me for some time, during which the boatswain,
Mr. Randall, was killed, and two men much
wounded. The Jupiter afterwards coming up,
and having communicated my orders to Capt.
Reynolds, he immediately took the necessary
measures to enable me to proceed, without
loss of time, to put their Lordships commands
in execution. I mult beg leave to mention
the good behaviour of my officers and people.
It is said, that Admiral Huges, who is now
on his passage for India, had it in charge to
attack the illand of Goree, on the cdaft of
Africa, and also to re take Senegal, if the
French should have taken it.
A person of characterjuft arrived fiom Paris,
assures us, that the French King, who was all
along averse to the present war with Britain,
is now heartily tired of it, and expresses a good
deal of diffatisfaCtion, and even peevilhnefs
against those who were the firft advisers and
promoters of it. The Queen, it is allowed
on all hands, has conceived an unaccountable
animosity against ces frrs infalaires les Anglois.—
In ' France the state of parties is shortly this:
The Queen and the noblesse against the King
and the Merchants.
Extra 3 of a letter from Amflerdam, March 29.
" We learn from Dort, that the recruits
frem Anfpach and Hanau waited only for an
English man of war to convoy them to one of
the ports of England. The other recruits from
Hesse Caffel and Waldeck are to embark at
Bremer Lehe: and those of Brunswick and
Anhalt-Zerbft at Stade.—All these troops are
defined for America."
Some frigates of war are. ordered from Ply
mouth to the Weft of Ireland, to look after
two vessels which are failed from France for
that quarter: The intelligence of their failing
and destination came from a person resident at
the port from which they failed.
Orders are sent from the Admiralty to Ports
mouth for five flrips of the line to immediately
take on board fix months provisions, and hold
themselves in readiness to fail at an hour's no
tice.
A large vessel is conftruding in the River,
for a floating battery, with very heavy metal;
(he is to lie in the Harbour of Dublin, for its
better defence.
April 3. Yesterday by virtue of a Commis
sion from his Majesty, the Royal Assent was
given to the following Bills, viz.
The Bill for laying additional duties on cer
tain goods under the infraction of the Com
momiffioners of Excise and Customs.
The Bill for allowing the Import of certain
goods fold to Foreigners in British built ships.
The Bill for the better encouragement of the
White Herring Fishery.
'1 he Bill for the better encouragement of
the Irdh Linen Manufactory.
The Bill to revive and continue certain ex
piring Laws. • ##
The Spanish Plate fleet expelled to arrive
this year from South America, is said to hawe
upwards of 4 millions of hard dollars on board.
The Saint Tropes, a French ship, of about
250 tons, bound from St. Domingo, to Bour
deaux, is taken by the Harper privateer of
Guernsey, and carried in there.
Governor Johnftone is certainly to have the
command of a ship, and we hear he prefers
one of 50 guns to a superior force.
There have been upwards of two thousand
five hundred letters of marque issued to cruize
against the Americans and French.
The St. Laurent, a French ship, from Ve
nice, bound to Marseilles, richly laden, is
taken by the Beaver sloop of war, and carried
into Gibraltar.
Liverpool, April g. Yesterday arrived here
a fine ship from Guadaloupe bound to Bour
deaux, laden with 86c hhds. sugar, i§o calks
coffee, and too bales cotton, prize to the Bet
sy and Rockingham of Lancaster.
We are informed, that there are on board
the Eaft-Indiaman lately brought into Ballin
clogh, Ireland, M. de St. Preux, a General
officer, in the French Eaft-Tndia service, and
his lady, the daughter of M. de la Mothe
Piquet, so much talked of in the beginning of
the late French naval expeditions. He was
returning home with an affluent fortune, which
it is thought he has 101 l by the capture of the
vessel he came in.
April 8. Orders were Yesterday sent to
Portsmouth for Sir Thomas Pye to fail with
his Flee t immediately in order to protect the
Homeward bound Weft India Fleet (which are.
Daily expelled) from being taken by/fome
French Men of War, which are failed out of
Brest to intercept them.
Extrod of a letter from the Hague, March 28.
" Your Ministers have secured the Court of
Ruflia as well as this Republic in their Interest,
A short Retrofpe& inro Matters will place this
beyond doubt. The Court of Spain will now
take some Consideration before they join
France. The Conditions are, that if Spani
Soain breaks her neutrality Russia and this Re
public are to declare in FaAOur of Great-Bri
tain. The Spanish Court have Information
of this Negociatibn.
From the GEORGIA GAZETTE, June 16.
The following is an Extras of a Letter of a late
Date, received from an Officer of Diflinflion in
our Army, at the Camp in South- Carolina, and
contains the heft and most authentic Accounts of
their Operations.
THE success which his Majesty's army has
met with in this province by penetrating
without any loss of men to the very gates of
Charleftown, and obliging the enemy to burn
its beautiful suburbs will hardly be credited;
the natural difficulties of the country were
thought a fufficient barrier, with General
Moultrie's army, to flop us from penetrating
any distance into the. province, but the spirit
Shewn by the troops, their patience and perfe
vcrance under the severest fatigues were such
as would have surmounted greater obstacles
than the resistance of the enemy: We arrived
before Charleftown on the nth in the evening,
after almost totally destroying or taking that
famous legion of Polafki's, by forty-five of our
gallant dragoons, under the command of the
brave Captain Tawes: Amougtt the killed of
the enemy was Count Polafki's Colonel, and,
fcveral privates, besides a great number of pri
soners taken. The enemy sent next morning
to know what terms we would grant. —Four
hours were allowed them to surrender prisoners
of war, or take the oaths of allegiance to his
Majesty, and be protested in their persons and
property, and return to the class of peaceful
citizens : But an express having arrived in the
meantime from General Lincoln, with an
account of his approach, and that a reinforce
ment would be in town that day, the enemy
grew more confident, and began to talk in
higher terms, however they proposed a neutra
lity for the province until the war between
Great-Britain and America was determined,
but its being a fpropofition which the General
could not agree to, they were informed that no
thing could be granted but the most favourable
terms, as to security of persons and property if
the place was surrendered; this they declined on
the encouragement received from General Lin
coln, the arrival of their armed vessels to flank
their works, And the number of guns mounted
on them: The forming of the place was the
next point to be considered, but though it was
not doubted but it might be carried in that way,
yet as it would probably have been attended
with the loss of a considerable number of men,
which may be avoided by proceeding on ano
ther plan, where the success will be at least
equally certain, and the rifle less, it was there
fore determined to keep the field, as we were
so situated as to insure a communication with
our flipping, receive the necessary supplies
and from thence aft as circumstances should
require : This measure is now pursued, and
the arm, are in poffeflion of James and John's
Island, the enemy precipitately abandoned the
very Strong fort situated on the former island,
called fcrt Johnilon.
f Proportion made by Colonels Smith and Mac
intofo, to Colonel Prevoft and Capt. Moncrief, at
a conference on Charifown, May 12, 1779.
“ That Carolina should remain in a state of neu
« trality during the war, and the question whether
Carolina should remain an independent state, or be
fubjeft to Great-Britain, be determined by the fate
of the war."
A Copy from the original in the pffiffion of ~M.
Pre-vof.
The foregoing proposition Shews in a clear
point of view, with what case the people of
Carolina can throw off, and break their most
solemn engagements with the Continental
Congress, and France, on the approach of
real danger, or whenever they think it will
suit their private view's, 'fuch is the much boast
ed virtue and honour of the 'inhabitants of
South Carolina.
Some time ago the state of South-Carolina
made a requisition to the Continental Congress,
for a supply of troops in South-Carolina, the
Congress sent young Mr. Laurens, to recom
mend it to them to arm their domestics, and
at the fame time recommending Mr. Laurens
as a proper person to head them. This is fa d
to be the cause ofthe Carolinians being willing
to remain in a state of neutrality.,
Major Graham with a party of the light
infantry furprized a strong body of the militia
on John's Brand, killed and took about eighty
men without makingany refinance, and with
out the least loss on our fide. Captains O-Fer
rel andManfon, with the Thunderer arid Sr,?!g
gallies, on their passage from Beaufort to our
army, attacked the armed schooner Eagle and
another armed schooner, the former was taken
without opposition, tie latter on feeing the
• fate of the Eagle, was abandoned and burnt
by the enemy, Colonel Frevoft with a large
corps under his command covers the country
at Stono-Ferry.
\
Since Major 'Cbriftie's arrival with t^ General's
difetebes from the Royal Army, the following
faffs have been obtained by the Printer.
rirtHE removal of the King's troops fr^
James,, island to John's illand, having
been refoived on, the passage thither over the
Stono river was effected in the night between
the 27th and 28th of May.
A bridge of boats has been since thrown
over the river at Stono-ferry, connecting John's
island with the main, and over it the light
infantry, light cavalry, rangers, .&c. with a
battalion of Hessians are advanced and ire a
very strong position.
The army abounds with every fort of proyi
fions, and rum has lately reached it.
The rebel brigs Notre Dame and Bellona,
were stationed in the mouth of Stono-inlet;
and the Beaufort, the Wasp, and the Bee,
with tenders and other small rebel vessels,
occupied the mouth of North-Eddifto, on the
3d inst. and the two gun battery on Eddin's
point, which had been evacuated, is repossessed
by the rebels.
It was Friday night lad that the Vigilant
left Port-Royal bar, and failed with the fleet
for Charleftown harbour.
From REBEL PAPERS.
BOSTON, Jung 24.
By an express from the Eastward, we have an
account that the famous Capt. Mowat, with
several ships of force and transports from Ha
lifax, had landed 800 men at Penobfeot, and
were throwing up Yorks; but we hope the
fleet lately failed from hence to cruize on the
Eastern Ihore will give a good account of
them.
NEW-LONDON, July I.
On Friday last at 2 o'Clock Meridian, we
were informed of a fleet being off Point-Ju
dith; by the firing of alarm guns at Stoning
ton, directly after which the alarm guns were
fired at Forts Trumbull and Gr%vold, and
kept up the whole afternoon, and several ex
presses sent into the country direding the mi
litia to prepare to march at a moments warn
ing ;-at which time orders were sent to the
four nearest regiments to march in immediate
ly ; and we have the pleasure of informing the
public that the militia in the neighbouring
towns (if possible) turned out with greater
cheerfulnefs and alacrity than ever ; within
two hours after the alarm was firft founded,
numbers had arrived at this post. About 7
o'clock P. M. the fleet confiding of upwards
of 80 fail, viz. 7 ships, the rest brigs, schoo
ners, sloops, and two row-gallies, appeared
off Fisher's-island point, Banding to the west
ward ; in the evening necessary care was taken
to observe the motion of the fleet; at 11
o'clock the whole of them anchored opposite
Plumb Island, and at 4 o'clock A. M. weighed
anchor and continued their course to the west
ward ; at which time counter orders were sent
into the country to prevent any more mi
litia from coming in; at it o'clock A. M.
Brigadier-General Tyler's Brigade that had
got in upon the ground, were paraded and
dismissed with the General's thanks for their
alertness and spirited behaviour on the occasion.
FISH-KI L L, June 24.
On Saturday the 15th infant, a great Ma
jority of the citizens of Albany assembled at
the market house, unanimously nominated
a Committee, for the purpose of taking into
consideration and adopting measures to check
the evils arising from the depreciation of the
Continental currency, to prevent monopolies,
to reduce the exorbitant prices exalted for the
necessaries of life, and to restrain a variety of
other abuses and impositions.
The Committee immediately met, and after
electing Gen. Ten Broeck, Chairman, and
adopting several salutary regulations, among
which the prohibiting the circulation of spe
cie, and the reduction ofthe prices of many of
the necessaries and conveniences of life, were
the most remarkable, proceeding to address
circular letters expressive of their intentions,
to the inhabitants of the fcveral diflri&s of Al
bany county.
A numerous meeting being convened at the
request of the Committee, they required the
approval or disapproval of their conftitudnts,
to the measures they had suggested ; and had
the fatisfaftion offinding, that those measures
were approved of with unparalleled unanimity,
and it is supposed from the cheerful acquies-
cence in, and the corferm'ty to those regub
tions which the citizens of every rank have
evinced on the occasion, that the rcfalves of
the Committee" v,ill be Ibictly adhered to and
rigorouflv enforced.
PHILADELPHIA, June 23.-
On the Bth inst, off Barnegat, Capt. Sevens,
in the sloop Hornet, fell in with the sloop Re
trieve, a prize to the Hammon, which he re
took arid sent into a fife port.
The schooner- -, Cppt. Har, from tb^
port for Tenerief is taken by the Rover—• Ihe
schooner got into New- York, buc the people
who were taken on board the captor h^.v; got
home; the Rover having been taken by the
Beaver, out of New-London.
Thursday last, came up the schooner Nancy,
Nathaniel Butterfield, late Matter, retaken by
Capt. Charles Alexander in the brigantine
Active. This vessel had been permitted to Had
some Indian corn & other provisions in N Ca
"r lira, for the famifhed,inhabitants of Ber
muda, but was seized by a cruizer of the ene
my, and sent fr New-York.
POUGH KEEPSIE, Junezr. /
By our last advices from Fort Schuyler, we
hear 'hat several parties of the enemy, h^ians
and Tories, have lately appeared a; a; d nea
the fort, and that they were en foarourijg to
collet their warriors in the Seneca country, in
order to attack our Settlements and those of our
Indian allies.
# - PHILADELPHIA, July 6.
Yesterday the army under the command of
Major Gen. Sullivan, f:t out on their expedi
tion to the Indian country. During the Month's
-Hay, of, this brave army in this place, their
behaviour was so regular, and, both officers and
pen behaved with so much politeness to the
iahahrtants in general, that they merit the
:thankspfall ranks of people. That with the
{bleffing of God their valour will be crowned
§ with fucceisqnd a fafe and happy return, is
the carneft wilkof every one in this little place.
Mk. GAINF,.
Permit us to request th favour of you to insert
the inclofed deposition in your ^ext paper, which we
fatter oufelves will convince % Public of the
falsity of those afperfiohs wherewith w , have been
so injuriously andfcandaloufy vilified in ,our paper
of the 26th of June las or at least induce them to
Jufpend their opinion until by a fair and impartial
trial (for which we have petitioned) we fball
either be acquitted or condemned.
NATHANIEL WILLIAMS.
/ JONAS ROGERS.
City of New-York, ff. Nathaniel Udllfos ^
johas Rogers, of the
townfllip of Huntington, in Suffolk county,
on Long-Tfland, being severally sworn on the
Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, depose
and declare as follbweth, viz. And the said
Nathaniel Williams for himfelf faith, that
immediately after the British troops took pof
feflion of New-York the deponent came to
town and took the benefit of Lord and Gene
ral Howe's Proclamation, and swore allegiance
'to his Majesty in presence of hi Excellency
Governor Tryon, which he religiously observed
ever since, that the deponent has neither smug,
gled or taken any goods out of New-York to
his place of residence or elsewhere, for the pur
pose of supplying the rebels in Connecticut,
or in any other part of America, neither has
he had anv connection or correspondence with
them direCtly or indirectly; and the deponent
further faith, that during the last three years
he has had no correspondence or connection
with one son, and two daughters of his, who
live among the Rebels, That far from either
living or enjoying his property in peace and
quiet, the deponent has been twice robbed by
the Rebels of Four Hundred and Fifty Pounds
in money, and Seventy Pounds value in
goods.
And the said Jonas R gers for himfelf faith,
that whatever might have been my political or
speculative opinion at the commencement of
the Rebellion, he never in the least broke
through, or deviated from his oath of allegi
ance to his Majesty since he obtained the benefit
of the proclamation of Lord and General
Howe ; neither has he taken or Smuggled any
goods out of New-York for the purpose of
supplying the Rebels in Connecticut, or else
where, nor has he corresponded or had any
connection with his son in Connecticut for
near four years past, though he has been in
formed that he came with a plundering party
to Long-lfland, and further this deponent Lith
not.
NATHANIEL WILLIAMS.
JONAS ROGERS.
Sworn before me this 4th
Day of luly, 1779. 1
Wm. WADDELL, Alderman.
^^^^^m^^^^
CRICKET.
A Set of Gentlemen p op< fe playing a Match this
11 day, an • eveiy M nd/y during the summer
season, on the Cricket Ground near Brooklyn Ferry.
The company of any Gentleman to join the set in
that exercise will be very acceptable.
A large BOOTH is erected for the accommoda
tion offpeaatorr.
A LEASE, for the term of five years, a
House and Lot of Ground, pleasantly
situated for any way of Public business.
Enquire of John Aymar, living in Naffa"
Street, near the Brick Meeting.
I POUND, yesterday morning, in the Street,
'a BARREL, containing Something valu
able: The owner, j roving his property and
paying charges, may have it again. Apply to
H. Gaine.