The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1777-06-02 00:00:00, page 2

Letters from Nantz adyife, that T English
flips cf war were cruizing off Ulhant, in
order to intercept the American vessels which
were b^und for the diriment French ports ip
ic^ny.
Admiralty Office, March 12, 1777.
By letters received this day from Vice Ad
m'rai Young, commander in chief of his Ma
jesty's ships and vessels at the Leeward Islands,
dated the 9th of December last, it appears,
that besides the dutnam American privateer,
carrying twelve guns and eighty men, the
ihips of his squadron had taken and sent into
that port twelve vessels belonging to his Ma
jeUy's rebellious Colonies, since the 30th of
Sept. lalt.—lt also appears by letters received
at the fame tim^ from Vice Admiral Gayton,
commander in chief of his Majesty's ships at
Jamaica, dated the 8:11 of January last, that
the ships of his squadron had sent in fifteen
fail of prizes since his lad account.
March 15. There had been this week more
goods exported at the Cuftoin-houfe for Que
bec, Montreal, Halifax, &c. than ever was
known to be in one week when America and
England were w perfect union.
Yesterday at three o'clock an express arri
ved at St. James's, from his Majelty's Refi
uentat Copenhagen. The fame messenger was
detained, and dispatched back that evening.
Yesterday his Majesty did Lord North the
honour of a visit, and continued with him
near three quarters of an hour.
Lord North is so well recovered that he took
the air in Hyde-Park yesterday and this morn
ing. His physicians have prescribed the use
ot the Bath waters, as soon as his Lordship
has {efficient ftren^h to undertake a journey
to that city.
Letters from Ccmftantinople, dated Feb. 19,
mention, that Sir Robert Ainiley has taken
great pains to accommodate the disputes be
tween the Port and the Ruffians relating to the
Crimea, and that the Grand Signor had been
to fatisfed with the Ambassador's proceedings,
that he had sent him a letter of thanks, with
a rich present of a feymitar and belt embossed
uith valuable pearls.
I he above letters mention that the Dniper,
the Don, and Donetz rivers, had overflowed
in the middle of January last ; and that a
caravan of Tuiks from Ockzakow, and a
body cf 400 Cossacks, which had been polled
by the Ruffians in a small fortrefs on the fron
tiers, with a great number of peasants, cattle,
&c. had perilled in the inundation.
LOND ON, March 7.
Letters from Constantinople advise, that
the reason for refuting two Ruffian lhips a pas
sage into the Black Sea was, that they were
frigates of war b and by the last treaty none
but merchant snips were to be allowed to pass.
The Ruffian Resident fay, though they had
been frigates, they are n< only traders. The
Turks, in answer, fay, they may be easily
armed, and for that reason refufe to admit
them to pass. la this situation flood the dis
pute in the middle of January.
They write from Dumfries, that the She
riff-depute of that county has Paut the port
for importation of all kinds of corn and grain,
at the low duty. The letter adds, that it is
expected there will be great quantities of grain
exported from that place, owing to the late
plentiful crops. Two large vessels have al
ready been loaded, on account of Govern
ment, with iLeal from Annan water foot, for
the use of the troops serving in America.
March 10. When Lord Stormont demanded
his late audience of the French King, and
was about to remonstrate to him in the molt
Spirited and difinitive terms, dn the assistance
given by that Court to the rebellious Ameri
cans.—his Majesty anticipated his address in
the following words : —“ My Lord, I know
the cauie of this visit, and the nature of your
demand ; —I have given directions for every
American vessel to depart my ports within
twenty-four hours, in pain of confifcation of
ship and cargo ?”
A letter from Hamburgh, dated Feb. 21,
lays, " Ihe number ®f recruiting parties in
this city are really furprizing ; one would ima
gine the several Powers thought that men
Sprung up like muffirooms, in a night's time :
here are no less than fix parties for Great-Bri
tain, or her auxiliary troops, and they get a
number of men, because they give a large
bounty, and we indeed have a number of
idlers, who resort hither from every part of
Germany. We thought once the German
troops, to be taken into the Britifn service,
would have embarked at this port, but we
now find they are to march through Holland,
and there go on board."
6 A ^ % 11 A G ^ KA, jar.'lfo
^~l VIE C>urt hzs forbid any person, of
a what ddlir&ion soever he may be,
A from catering any of the arsenals,
except those whose buiinefs requires it. The
reason of this Eri& order is said to be on ac
count of the various incendiary attempts that
have been madoagainft several of the arsenals
of foreign powers.
Paris, March 21. A woman has been taken
up here end committed to prison for having
forged the Queen's signature, and having re
ceived in person from her Majesty on coun
terfeit orders, very considerable sums. It is not
yet known whether she has any accomplices.
The Cardinal de Rochcchouart, Bishop
Duke cf Laon, Peer of France, &c. died here
suddenly yekerday.
Cologne, March 11. A Transport with 217
troops of Hanau, among whom are 117 Chaf
feurs, arrived here this morning, and will
this day continue bervhyage for America.
One thousand two hundred men from Anf
pach will pass through here next Thursday
for the fame place.
March %/. Yesterday the Lord Bishop of
Chester preached before their Majesties at the
Chapel Royal; the Sword of State was car
ried to and from Chapel by Lord Willoughby
de Broke ; afterwards there was a great draw
ing room, at which Were present his Grace
the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Dukes of
Ancafter, Chandos, Argyle, and Gordon, the
Lord Chancellor, Lords Gower, Hertford,
Mansfield, Suffolk, Sandwich, Abington,
Brownlow, Clarendon, Amhurft, Townfhend,
Hinchinbroke, Clifford, Newhaven, Milling
ton, Lord George Sutton, and Falmouth, all
the foreign Ministers, their Ladies, all the
Ladies of her Majelfy's Bedchamber, Maids
of Honour, and a great number of other la
dies ; after it broke up Lord Townfhend had
a long conference with the King.
Extras cf a Letter from Boulogne.
" On the 24th of February last (being St.
Matthew) the clerk of a little village, called
Andre Seitte, between Calais and Boulogne,
being obliged to attend divine service, left
his wife at home, (who expected to be brought
to bed every hour) and a little boy about
seven years old. The man had no sooner left
his house than a woman, who was a near
neighbour, came to visit his wife. After the
firft salutation was over, the visitor told her,
that when the was quite acquainted with the
reason of her visit, ihe imagined it would not
be very agreeable to her. Alarmed at this,
the good woman asked her what Ihe wanted ?
She replied, her money or her life. Upon
which the poor creature, unable to defend
herfelf, gave her the keys of her raoney,
which Ihe took ; but not being fatisfied with
her booty, Ihe demanded to go into the cellar,
where the good woman secured her by lock
ing the door, and immediately dispatched the
little boy to call his father from church. The
little boy was met in his way by the Husband
of the woman, who demanded where he was
going ? the boy told him. He flopt the boy,
took him back, and knocking at the door,
the woman, being above hairs, looked out
of the window. He insisted on being let in ;
but Ihe resolutely refufed. Upon which the
villain, with the barbarity that would disgrace
a savage, took a large knife and instantly cut
the boy's head off, and held it up to its much
afflicted and unhappy mother.
Extract of a Letter from Dublin, March 11.
" On Thursday last his Excellency the Lord
Lieutenant went, at noon, to our University,
escorted by a squadron of horse; he was re
ceived at the entrance of the Old Hall by the
Provost and Fellows, and the different Profef
fors, the Dodors being dressed in their scarlet
gowns ; upon his entrance the Rev. Dr. Kear
ney made an elegant and suitable oration;
after this he went in procession to the Printing
office, where another oration was made by
the Hon. Mr. Jones (son to Lord Ranelagh.)
After being entertained here some time with
a view of the artists, his Lordship was con
duced to the Anatomy and Philosophical
rooms, were he was addressed by the Hon. Dr.
Decourcy, son to Lord Kinfale, and Mr.
Hutchinson, yenngeft son to the Provost ; from
thence he went to the Library, where an ex
cellent oration was made by Dr. Leland, the
Librarian and Oratory Profeffor; His Excel
lency afterwards dined in the New Hall with
the Provost, Fellows, and numbers of the
Nobility and Gentry."
Substance of the Aft for enabling the Lords of
the Admiralty to grant commifons to private
fifes &c. employed in trade, or retained in bis
Majesty's service, to make prizes of fueb sips,
t^c. as are therein mentioned for a limited time.
HIS Act, after in part reciting that of 16
A Geo. 111. ch. 5. enacts, that the Lord
High Admiral of Great-Britain, or the com
miflioners for executing that office, or any three
of them, er any person by him or them appoin
ted, may, from Feb. 20, 1777, at thtf request
of the owner of any ship, &c. employed in
trade, or retained in his Majelty's service, giv
ing fuch' security as after mentioned, issue
forth commissions to the commanders of such
ships, for taken fhips,&c. belonging to the
rebellious colonies; apd also all British and
Irilh ships, trading to and from the said colo
nies, contrary to the said ace, of the 16th Geo.
Ill.ch. 5. and that such ships (being firft legally
condemned) shall belong wholly amd entirely
The murderer then was resolved to set his
wife at liberty, and rAurder the diftra&ed
victim. He immediately got a ladder, and
mounting the roof of the house, determined
to go down the chimney. Upon which ihe
went down stairs, and, as the chimney was
wide, Ihe saw him defeending. In a moment
fire piled a considerable heap of straw (which
was near at hand) upon the hearth, and set
fire to it. This had the desired effect; he
dropped, very nigh fuffocated with the smoke.
She was as well prepared to receive him as her
miserable condition would admit of. She gave
him some blows, as he lay upon the hearth,
with a large hick ihe had, but observing him
to revive a little, Ihe took the knife from his
hand, with which he had just before murdered
her innocent child, and cut off his head.
The cellar was searched for the authoress of
this bloody feene, who was immediately con
ducted to Boulogne prison, with the head and
body of her lifeiefs husband."
March 20. A gentleman just returned from
Paris, desires to acquaint his fair country
women of the Ton, that her Majesty, hearing
of the order of the Superintendant of the
Opera-house for the ladies to abate their high
head-dresses, thought it would have a better
effed to set the example herfelf She accord
ingly wears her hair almost quite fat, with a
small wreath of artificial flowers in front; —
which is now a fafhion not only adopted by
the whole Court, but advancing faft over all
Paris.
" You tell me you are still alarmed on your
fide of the water, with reports of war : What
ever hostile intentions the English or Spanilh
Ministers may entertain, I know not, but you
may rest assured, that the French Ministers
j have no hostile designs at present, the faction
jwho are now in administration, are undoubt
edly pacific; I call them faction, for we have
, our factions here as well as you, only the na
ture of government keeps them under ; the
Choifeul (like Lord Chatham) would probably
be called to the helm; but you can plainly
Ifee, that it is the interest of administrations
; on both sides the water, to maintain the pub
;lie tranquility as long as possible; and in or
! der to prove how much the French Ministers
have this matter at heart, they had given orders
;for the release of the Lisbon packet (taken by
an American privateer) even before Lord Stor
mont presented any memorial on the fubjefL"
Notwithstanding the report of a war with
France, we are assured from good authority,
that advices arrived last night from Lord
Stormont, declaring that he had received the
strongest assurances of the pacific disposition
of the court of Versailles, and that even if
they had any hostile designs, they were not in
a situation to put thm in execution for acon- %
fiderable time.
to the owners and crew H futh co.amjin^ta
ships, without any deduction whatever (cutloms
and duties only excepted) to be divided in such
a manner as the said owners and crews shall
agree among thcmfelves; except when such
commissioned ships are under convoy.
That the Lord High Admiral, &c. by orders
in Writing under their hands and seals, may
revoke any such commissions; provided, that
the Secretary of the Admiralty shall cause no
tice in writing to be font to the owner, agent,
for security, of the ship, &c. and, iffuch ship,
£c. shall be in the channel, such 'order of
revocation shall effectually supersede the said
commission in 20 days after such notice given,
or sooner, if notice shall be actually given to
the commander thereof; and, if such ship, &o.
shall be to the southward of Cape- Finifterre,
in fix weeks; and if in North America, or the
Weft-Indies, in three months; any comman
ders, &c. may complain of such revocation to
his Majesty in Council, within 30 days after
such notice is given as aforefaid ; and his Ma
jesty's determination in Council, shall be final;
provided also, that, when any order of revo
cation shall be fuptreeded, the commission
shall be deemed to have continued in Force,
and all prizes taken by virtue thereof shall
belong to such owners, &c. as if such orders
had not been made; and no person shall be
liable to be punished for doing, before recei
ving notice of such revocation, any thing
which he might lawfully have done, under
such commifficn.
his Majesty's fubjeds, not in rebellion, are to
be reltored to the owners, on payment of one
eighth of the value thereof as salvage:
That all offences on board commissioned
ships, shall be punishable in the fame manner
as on board ships of war:
That this act shall continue in force until
the expiration, or other sooner determination,
of the aforefaid ad, 16 Geo. 111. chap. 5.
Extract of a letter from a Gentleman at Paris,
to bis friend in London, dated March 8.
That the fame security, &c. as for private
ships of war, shall be taken, before granting
any such commifflon:
That all persons applying for commissions
shall set forth in writing, an exa& description
of the vessel, its cargo, burthen, number and
nature of the guns, from and to where bound,
names of the principal owners, and number of
men, which are all to be inserted in the com
mission ; and which commission the commander
shall produce the collector, &c. of the customs,
at the port from which such ship, &G. shall be
fitted out; who are to examine such ship, &c.
without fee o'r reward; and if found agreea
ble to the description, to grant a certificate
thereof, gratis ; and, if any commander shall
leave port without such certificate, or with a
force inferior to that fpecified in the commiffi
^n, his commission shall be void; and the
commander, on conviftior, imprisoned,
without bail or mainprife, any time, not ex
ceeding one year, for oneoffence:
That, if any collector, &c. shall grant a
falfe certificate, he shall forfeit his office, and
be forever incapable of holding any office in
the customs, and shall also forfeit 100 L one
moiety to the informer, and the other to the
Corporation for the relief of sick and wounded
seamen in the merchant's service ; or, if such
penalty be incurred in any out port, where a
like Corporation is established, then the last
moiety is to be paid to such corporation.
That, if the commander of any commissioned
Blip shall agree with any person belonging to
any prize taken, for the ransom thereof, and
set such a prize at liberty, he shall be deemed a
pirate, and fuffer death accordingly : -
That all agents for prizes condemned, ffiall
register their letters of attorney in the Court
of Admiralty, where such prizes shall be con
demned, within fix months after condemna
tion ; or, on default, shall forfeit 500 1. to be
recovered by any person who shall sue for the
fame; but agents appointed after condemna
tion, are to register their letters of attorney
within fix months after the date thereof:
That all condemnations, or other determin
ations concerning prizes,apprifements and sales,
payments of prize-money, forfeitures, &c. &c.
shall be regulated by the Aft, 16 Geo. 111. c. 5.
That the Treasurer of the Navy shall pay
to the officers, seamen, &c. on board any cf
his Majesty's ships, or any commissioned ships,
who shall take any ships of war, &e. from the
rebels, 51. for every man found on board such
ships, &c.
That all prizes which have been taken from
Also, per sloop Peggy, from Antigua, excellent
mufeovado sugar, in hot [heads and barrels.
ALL persons that have any demands on tne tfhie cf
Thomas Hicks, Esq; late of Flushing in Queen'll
county, deceased, are desired to fend them in; and all
these who were indebted to him at his decease, are de
sired to pay the fame to
Whitemead Hicks, Alminiftrator.
Wanted to Purchase,
A Pair of steady, well-broke horses for a carriage :
Enquire of Albert Smith, in NafTau-ftreet, No,
46, next door to commissary Grant's office. The said
Smith returns his fineere thanks to the public for theie
pad favours, and acquaints them that he has on ha^d,
for sale, HOUSHOLD FURNITURE; and that h~
continues the turning business in all its branches ; those
therefore who may be pleased to favour him with their
custom, will find him at the above place.
A frefh importation from LONDON,
And is now opening for S ALE at
Rem Rapalje, and Son's Store,
Just below the New-Dutch Church, in Crown street,
A Large affottment of Irish linens, sheetings, dowlas,
ozenbrigs, cotton and linen checks of all forts,
cambricks, lawns, mens white and brown thread flock
ings, the best of White Chapple and common needles
and pins, a very neat assortment cf callicoes, writing
paper, Russia duck. And also, fpermaceti candles by
the box, refined and Bloomery iron, shear moulds, Weft-
India rum, molasses and red port by the hogshead, best
French indigo, and a quantity of freffi ship bread.
Five Dollars Reward,.
RUN-away from the fubferiber, the 30th of May, a
negro boy named POMPY, about 17 years old, and
well-made : : Had on when he went away, a red jacket,
ozenbrigs shirt and trawfers, shoes and flockings, with a
kind of jockey cap, and is supposed to be gene in the
Queen's Rangers, or some other department. Its hoped
no gentleman in the army or navy, or master of veffcl
will inlift or carry him off; and whoever will bring him
to the fubferiber, shall have the above reward, and all
ftafon^ble charges paid by
JOHN MOWATT, cabinet and chair maker,
in William Rreet,New-Ywk.
NhXT Tuesday bang the third day of June infant,
aS age will set off from the place known by the
name of Doyle's Ferry, near the Watering Place, on
Staten-Island, now kept by Capt. William Leake, and
w.ll proceed to John Stillwell's Ferry, on the weft fide
of the Island opposite Amboy, and continue the fame
every Tuesday, rhurlday and Saturday, and carry pas
sengers at Eight Shillings each ; and goods as left as pos
sible. The best nfage will be given, and great care taken
of every thing sent by the said waggon. The waggon
will set oft in the morning as soon as passengers arrive,
agreeable to the tide.
™ e S'"' Lord North,
George Ross, Master:
Mounts twelve Guns, with
Men answerable,
WILL fail in ro Days. For passage, apply to the
master on board, at Peck's-flip, or at. Mr. Jo
seph Allicoke'a, next door to the Merchant's cofi-e
---houfe.
Three Pounds Reward.
RUN-away from the fubferiber, about four weeks
ago, a negro fellow named York, about twenty
years of age, is short and well set, fpwks broken.Engliffi,
and is apt to stammer : Had on when he went away a
ffiort light brown coat, with green cuffs and collar, an old
pair of leather breeches, with yarn flockings and Heffiara
ihoes. Whoever takes up said negro and secures him,
or gives information so that he may be had again, ihall
receive the above reward,with all reasonable charges, from
Thomas Griswold, distiller, at No, 10, in Ferry-street,
near Peclt's-flip.
Imported in the sloop Phenix, Robert Cunningaam,
matter, from Cadiz, and to be fold by
WILLIAM HODGZARD,
On board of said sloop, (lying near Murray's wharf, with
a jack at the mast head) or at Cameron and Blaikie's
cellar, in Queen- street, opposite Beekman's-flip,
EXCELLENT Sherry and St. Lucar Madeira,
in quarter calks,
A h,ter from Plymouth informs us, that
General Burgoyne, and several other officers,
arrived there on Sunday last, and were to fail
in two or three days in his Majesty's frigate
the Apollo, for Quebec.
Edinburgh, March 29. This morning two
companies of the 70th regiment arrived in
town from Dumfries ; all the out- parties have
now joined the main body in, the Castle.
The regiment is soon to be reviewed; after
which they are to embark for America. They
are to be Succeeded by the Queen's or Second
Foot.
*— —— —^—*==E^™=***™^^
The il t t cf h;n^;b (with, troops ex
board) at Spithead, wait only the arrival of
the firft division ' of Germans, when they will
fail immediately for New-York.
Orders, we hear, are issued from the War-
Office, to raise immediately fix regiments of
infantry, four Scotch, and two Irilh, to consist
of two battalions each, to replace those now
preparing to embark for America.
The widows of all the Hessian officers who
were killed at Trenton, will be entitled tc a
year's pay.
March 28. Yeflerday General Burgoyne;
attended by his Aid-de-Camp and other offi
cers, set out for Portsmouth, in order to take
their passage for Quebec, in the Apollo man
of war, ready to fail from that port.
Wednesday the wind coming round to the
S. E. upwards of 20 fail of ffiips bound to
Qlbec, Montreal and Halifax, with several
other ships, all outward bound, failed out of
the Downs, on their refpe&ive voyages, and
as the wind continues to the eastward, they
will get quite clear of the channel by to-mor
row morning.
foil 2. Letters from Hanover by the last
mail mention, that a body of 6000 troops of
that Electorate are kept in readiness to em
bark for America, in case of an emergency.
Friday fe'nnight four additional companies
of the 71st, or Frazer's Highlanders, arrived at
Glasgow from Perth, in order to embark for
America.
Lemons,
Oranges,
Almonds,
Walnuts,
Filberts,
Rai fins,
Olives,
Anchovies,
Capers,
Florence oil,
Corks,
Jalop,
Jesuit's Bark.