The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1778-03-23 00:00:00, page 2

BELGRADE, November 30.
LETTERS from Constantinople fay,
that the Grand Seignor fees with
regret the approaching necessity of
renewing the war with Russia: But
the Mufti dill continues to inflame
the minds of the people, by declaring that
the Ruffi ms deserve to be punished for having
dared io attack the religion of their holy
empire, by infixing on the religious as well
as civil independence of Crimea.
In confeque^ce of the ferment occasioned by
the indignation of the Mufti, the Porte is
obliged to raise troops on all sides, which, as
soon as they arrive, are ordered to file off to
wards Crimea.
The Ruffian vessels that lay before Constan
tinople have failed for the Archipelago: and
every preparation indicates a speedy com
mencement of hphilities.
Madrid, Nov. 24. The articles of the trea
ty with Portugal are yet a secret, but it is
generally believed that Spain will restore all
their conquests in South America, and that
Portugal will pay a Rated sum for the expen
ces of the expedition.
We are impatiently waiting for the failing
of the fleet under Don Michael Gallon, which
is in the Bay of Cadiz, and whose destination
is unknown. We are assured that the fleet
from Mexico, which has received orders not
to fail to Vera Cruze till farther notice, is
valued at 150,000,000 French livres.
Utrecht, Dec. 11. Letters from Poland ad
vise, that the Minjfter of the Court of Russia
at Constantinople hath been-arrested and con
finedin the castle of the Seven Towers. This
news, however, stands in need of confirmation.
Hamburgh, Dec. 2. 'N,e have accounts from
Warsaw, that the Ruffians are assembling very
thick in the Ukraine, and we are assured that
a large detachment of the troops of that
nation have entered Moldavia.
Hamburgh, Dec. 9. All our letters from
Pcterfbourgh and Warsaw speak of a war be
tween Russia and the porte as a certainty.
Those from Russia mention, th ;t the Court had
sent back the courier which came lately from
Constantinople, and as it was imagined that
a declaration of war would follow, they are
taking the necessary measures for that event.
Those from Warsaw fay, that a necessary diet
will absolutely be held, and that the Republic
are making such arrangements as fcem to indi
cate,that they would/take part in the approach
ing war, that 600 men are commanded to put
the fortifications of Kaminiekin order, the gar
rison of which will be doubled, and made to
consist of 4000 men, and that 20,000 muskets
are making for the Republic at Liege, which
are to be ready early in the spring. These
preparations may have given rife to a report
which gains much credit, that Poland will
declare in alliance with Russia against the
Turks, as soon as the war breaks out.
Hamburgh, Dec. 14. We have accounts
from Copenhagen, that the town of Scheen,
in Norway, has been entirely consumed by a
most dreadful fire, by which a large quantity
of timber for ship building and several saw
mills were burnt.
Warjaw, Dec. 3. It is said that the Ruffi
ans will soon quit Poland, and that they will
be replated by the troops of another power.
; From the Frontiers we hear, that the Turks
are 30,000 strong at Bucharest, in Wallachia,
where they are fortifying themselves, and
have raised redoubts, and that the Porte have
cutoff the communication between the Ruffians
and Moldavia by another corps of troops.
On the other hand we hear, that the Ru
ffians have an army of 30,000 men in Cri
mea, and on the frontiers of that peninsula,
betides 30 armed vessels, which are at anchor
in the different ports of the Black Sea, without
reckoning the considerable forces which the
new Chan has on foot.
There is no likelihood that the Permanent
Council will grant the request of the Porte,
to furnifh Moldavia and Wallachia with corn.
This seems to confirm the opinion that they
will declare against the Turks, when the war
commences.between them and the Ruffians.
Wai;iw, Dec. 6. Our Ambassador, Mr. de
Bofcamp, is said to be on his way hither from
Constantinople, and the Turkish Ambassador
here has also been recalled. The common
people in Turkey are very clamorous for war,
and have been guilty of many excesses. If one
may guess by the preparations, the Black Sea
will be the principal theatre of the war, though
we have reason to believe it^will also be car
ried on in many parts by land at the fame time.
Vienna, Dec. 4. The report which has been
some time.current of an alliance between five
Great Potentates hill continues, and appears
to be equally current by our letters from seve
ral quarters.
From the Lower Elb, Dec. 12. The follow
ing is an exaCt lift of the Ruffian land forces,
viz. fix regiments of Cuiraffiers, ten regi
ments of Carabiniers, nine regiments of dra
goons, eight regiments of Hussars, besides 12
Squadrons of what was the Muscovite legion,
fix regiments Which are in New Russia and at
Azoff, 72 regiments of infantry, eight field
battalions of Chaffeurs, four regiments of Pike
meh, 113 garrison battalions, besides ten re
giments of Cossacks.
Hague, Dec. 16. We have accounts from
Archangel, dated Od. 17, that a violent fire
had, on the 14th and 15th, consumed 300
houses, and magazines filled with corn and
merchandize; the damage done by this acci
dent is very considerable. This is the second
time this city has fuffered this year by fire.
Peterjbourg, Nov, 20. We have accounts'
from Constantinople, that Caftans of honour,
and inftrndtions to act as circumdances may
require in the different places on the frontiers
of the Turkish Empire, have been given to
Jan. 17. Yesterday the Lord Mayor waited
on the King at St. James's, and laid before
his Majesty the Plan of the Citizens for open
ing a Subscription to raise Soldiers and Sailors
for the publick Service. He was honoured
with a most gracious Reception. The Com
mand of the Liverpool Blues is given to Ma
jor General Calcraft.
The following are the Regiments of Foot
now in England, all of which are complete.
HL Colonel, Duke of Argyll, ^0 vunfifts
of two Battalions.
2d. Lieutenant General Sir Charles Mon
tague.
13th. Lieut. General James Murray.
18th. Lieut. General Sir John Sebright.
25th. Lord George Lennox.
41st. Col. Jorden Wren, Invalids.
48th. Major Gen. William Sorrel.
50th. Major Gen. G. Monfon.
59th. Major Gen. Sir Divid Lindsay.
65th. Lieut. Gen. Edward Urmfton,
69th. Hon. Philip Sherrard.
,70th. Lieut. Gen. Cyrus Trapaud.
Besides the above, there are 26 Companies of
Invalids doing Duty in the several Forts of
Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man, Portsmouth,
&c. &c.
The following i^ the Copy of a Hand-Bill
distributed, at Halifax, Yorkshire, in Conse
quence of railing Men for his Majesty's Ser
vice, viz. f' A Number of Gentlemen of the
Town and Neighbourhood of Halifax are
desirous to promote the Plan already entered
into by many considerable Towns in the King
dom, of raising immediately Troops for his
Majesty's Service, that Government may be
enabled to offer constitutional Terms of Peace
to America, at the Head of a powerful Army
the surest Means of effecting a timely and per
manent Conciliation ; of preventing a tedious
Effufion of Blood and Treasure, which is ever
attendant on Sufpence and Uncertainty in
War; of asserting the Dignity cf the Mother
Country, and of securing the British Mer
chants trading to America, in their Estates
and Property."
Thursday Night Dispatcher arrived at Lord
George Germain's Office from Gen. Clinton
at New-York, brought by the Success Mr.
Millan, arrived off Dover,
Yesterday the Provosts of Edinburgh and
Glasgow were both at Court, and had the Ho
nour of a Conference with his Majesty in Re
ference to raising a Body cf Men for the Sup
port of Government. They were graciously
received and the Plan proposed was approved
of.
fan. zc. Qn Saturday Night at 12 o'Clock
Lord Cornwallis arrived in Town from Phila
delphia, as did likewise Sir George Osborne,
the Cols. Stewart, Twiflton, Crofbie, Major
Elliot, Major Eustace, and a Son of Lord
Middleton.
11 Bin Bachio officers who commanded tdoo
men each. This, with the orders given for
examining and furnilhing the arsenals and
magazines, and for every Turkish and Chris
tian fubjeft of the Porte to furnifh a chilo or
quintal of corn, or the value thereof per an
num, are so many proofs that the Divan have
resolved to go to war.
On the part of our government they have
made every necessary disposition to be ready on
the shortest notice; and letters have been sent
here with orders to inlift the hundredth man
throughout all the provinces of Russia.
PeterJburgb, Dec. 23. The last Advices from
the Crimea mention, that the Ruffian Troops
have gained a complete Victory over the re
volted Tartars, near Caffa, and have taken
that Place. The Court are so well fatisfied
with the Zeal arid Attachment of Sakin Gue
ray upon this Occafibn, that a magnificent
Present is preparing for him.
Ulm, Jan. 5. Several Storms appear to be
forming, and every Thing announces an ap
proaching War ; so that it is much to be fear
ed the Peace of Europe will very soon be di
sturbed. According to Letters of good Au
thority from Vienna, the Preparations making
there for War are by no Means equivocal.
Very considerable Magazines are forming in
Hungary ; and all the Surgeons and Journey
men Bakers are engaged that can be met with.
The People believe these Preparations are in
tended against the Turks; but some who pre
tend to be better informed, are of Opinion to
the Contrary. We expect some Bickerings
also on the Side of Bavaria; and for these
two Days past a Number of Couriers have
passed through this C ; ty.
Oran, Nov. 19. On the 23d of October
some Moorish Trgops were perceived at a
Distance, and by Spies we learnt they intended
to attack the Place commanded by the Bey of
Algiers. Our Commandant accordingly pre
pared for their Reception ; on Friday they
advanced, and altho' they were ftopt some
Time by the Deftruftion the Cannon of the
Place made among them, they at last all at
once, notwithstanding all the Fire, rushed on,
and did not Hop till they came close to the
Entrenchments; this they continued till E
leven o'Clock, when they retired. We have
since found, that they were 4000 in Number
and that they had 100 Men killed, and 300
wounded. Of the Garrison they were only
two Men killed and fix wounded.
Lord Cornwallis went Yesterday Morning
at io o'clock to the Queen's Palace, where
he had a Conference with his Majesty for near
three Hours ; he likewise went to Lord North,
at his House in Downing-Street, with whom
he staid a considerable Time.
The Marquis of Lindsey, Son of the Duke
of Ancafter; and Lord Chewton, Son of Lord
Waldegrave, who both served as Volunteers
in the last Campaign, in the Army under
General Howe, are arrived in Town in per
LONDO N,
And whereas by a resolution of Congress cf
the 19th December last, a release of prisoners
in the power of these States cannot take place,
before the account of all provisions and other
necessaries, which have been supplied by the
public to such prisoners, are liquidated and
discharged ;
And whereas it is the wish of Congress, to
accomplish the desirable purpose of exchanging
the prisoners without unnecessary delay ;
Resolved, That an express be sent to the se
veral legiilatures, or supreme executive autho
rities of the refpedive States, for such ac
counts of money, provisions, and other ne
cessaries, which they have supplied to prison
ers taKen by the ,United Stacey &»&& ilrv vum
mencement of the war, as have not been al
ready transmitted to Congress; that they be
requeued to make up the said accounts to the
firlt day of March next, and transmit them
as speedily as possible to the Commiflioners of
Claims at the Board of Treasury: That the
accounts of each State fre n New-Hampshire
to Virginia inclusively, be sent to the said
Commissioners, on or before the 15th day of
April next, and of the other States on or be
fore the firft day of June next; and that the re
fpedive States sustain the losses which may arise
from detaining such accounts, longer than the
time herein allowed them for rendering the
fame.
Refolded, That all officers in the depart
ments of the Quarter-Master, Pay-Master, and
Clothier-General, and Commissaries of pro
visions and prisoners, the Commissioners of
accounts, and other officers who may have ac
counts or charges of money, provisions, or
other necessaries in their refpe&ive offices, for
supplies furnifhed the said prisoners, be direct
ed to fend such accounts to the Commissioners
of claims at the Board of Treafary, on or be
fore the 15th day of April next, and that they
refpedively sustain the losses that may arise
from a neglect thereof.
That the Commissioners of claims be di
rected to prepare the said accounts for adjust
ment without delay ;. and that no exchange of
prisoners be made until the balance due thereon
to the United States is discharged.
February 27.
Whereas a few deluded inhabitants of these
States, prompted thereto by the arts of the
enemy, have associated together for the pur
pose of seizing and secretly conveying, to places
in possession of the British forces, such of the
loyal citizens, officers and soldiers of these
States, as may fall into their power, and being
assisted by parties furnifhed by the enemy, have
in several infences carried their nefarious dc
figns into execution, and such practices being
contrary to their allegiance as subjects, and
repugnant to the rules of'war ;
Refolded, That whatever inhabitant of these
States shall kill, or seize, or take any loyal
citizen or citizens thereof, and convey him,
her or them, to any place within the power of
the enemy, or shall enter into any combination
for such purpose, or attempt to carry the fame
into execution, or hath assisted or shall assist
therein, or shall, by giving intelligence, ad
ing as a guide, or in any other manner what
ever, aid the enemy in the perpetration thereof,
he shall fuffer death by the judgment of a court
martial as a traitor, assassin or spy, if the of
fence be committed within seventy miles of
the head quarters of the grand or other ar
mies of these States, where a General Officer
commands.
Extrafl from the Minutes,
CHARLES THOMSON, Sec'%
fe& Health; with Lord Cornwallis from Phi
ladelphia.
EDINBURG H, January ?o.
The following lift of officers is handed
about for the Edinburgh volunteers, and is
sent up to the War-office for his Majesty's ap
probation, viz. Colonel Sir William Erskine.
Lieut. Col. Thomas Dundas, Major of the
65th regiment, ill Major, James Gordon, Esq;
of Ellon, 2d, Major, Sir James Murray, Cap
tain of the 57th regiment, Captains ^—
Boyd, David Kinloch, Lieutenant of the 71st
regiment, John Murray, Lieutenant of the
69th regiment. George M'Murdoch, Royals.
George Cumming of the 59th regiment. P.
Tytler, Ensign of the 57th regt. A member
of the committee set off for London this morn
ing, to lay the proposals and lifts of officers
before his Majesty.
BALTIMORE, Feb. 17.
A gentlemen lately from Charleftown (S.
Carolina) brings the melancholy account of a
dreadful fire breaking outon Thursday the 15th
of January^aft, in which great part of that
place was deftroyed.—lt was perceived about
four o'clock in the morning, and continued
burning with the greatest fury till the next
day, though several houses had been blown up
to stop its progress, but without any effect.
Notwithflanding all the exertion and vigilance
of the inhabitants (whom the lives of several
were Toil) there were, besides a considerable
deal of property, the printing-office, and up
wards of five hundred houses consumed.
YORK- TOW N, Feb. 28.
In CONGRESS, Feb. 26, 1778.
WHEREAS it appears to Congress by the
copy of a letter from Gen. Waffiing
ton to Gen. Howe of the loth of this month,
that he has consented to the propositions of
Gen. Howe to the following effeCt, “ That
an exchange of all prisoners now in our pos
session, officer for officer, soldier for soldier,
and citizen for citizen, so far as number and
rank 11 apply, be carried into execution as
exped^ioufly as the nature of the case will ad
mit, and without regard to any controverted
point, which might prove an impediment to so
desirable an end."
Feb. 21. We had occasion in our last to
mention some exploits performed by Captain
Hoveden and his light dragoons, and Captain
Thomas with his company of Bucks volun
teers : We are happy in having, so soon after,
another opportunity of doing justice to the
merit and bravery of these two American
On Wednesday evening, about eighto'clock.
Captain Hovcden, with a party of twenty
four dragoons; and Captain Thomas with
fourteen foot, left Philadelphia and passed
into the county of Bucks, and, at the fulling
mill of Mr. Jenks, surprised and took a guard
of continental troops on their post there,
guarding a considerable quantity of cloth be
longing to the poor people of the country, of
which they had been robbed by orders from
the rebel head-quarters. Qi^as performed
with the secrecy the principMtaign required,
which was to take another party, at a small
distance off: Without firing a gun, which
must have alarmed the other post, they took
prisoners the whole guard. Immediately after
they proceeded to Newtown, surprised and
took the firft centry without alarm. On ap
proaching near the quarters of Major Murray,
they were fired upon by the centry at his
door. This alarmed the guard about 40 yards
distance, who, being sixteen in number, and
under cover of the guard-house, immediately
took to their arms, and discharged their pieces
on the troops surrounding them ; but such was
their activity and alertness, that after returning
the fire, and before the enemy could load a se
cond time, they stormed the house, killed five,
wounded four, and took the rest of the guard
prisoners, and with them a considerable quan-
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. it
On the 4th inst. Captain Hoveden, with a
part of the Philadelphia troop of light dra
goons, passed up the Bristol road, and Capt.
fhomas, with a part ofhis independent com
pany of Bucks county volunteers, passed up
the Buftletown road, with orders to take a
number of militia officers, justices of the
peace, and colhaors,of fines, under the new
date, and some other difaffeded perforis: On
their return Capt. Hoveden brought in with
him the following prisoners:
Gunning Bedford, former commissary of
musters, and now detected ofrobbing the
market-people, in company with two
more.
Edward Duffield, on suspicion of being ac
tive against governmet.
Charles Edwards, light horse man.
Frederick Cambright, ferjeant of light hoffe#
John Miller, collector of fines.
Benjamin Walton, ditto.
FrederickWilliamfon,a militia artillery man,
N John Rogers, mate of the Randolph.
John Webster, militia man.
Thomas Millard, lieutenant of militia.
Joseph Allen, lieutenant of fire-works of
the train.
John Vandegrift, jun. militia man; had
arms in his house.
John Snider, a major of the militia.
George Vantzant.
John Huftey, robbing r the people when
coming to market.
John Vandgrift, a congress justice of the
peace.
And Captain Thomas brought in the follow
ing prisoners :
Samuel Butcher, a militia man.
Jof ph Barr, ditto;
\ 1 Wm. Preston, second lieutenant of artillery.
Wm. Kinnard, private in ditto..
John Oggburn,' lieutenant of militia.
Alexander Burke, private in the militia.
Wm. Tiller, fufpeded of collecting fines.
John Blake, second lieutenant of militia.
Nicholas Helvifton, a militia man.
John Boucher, ditto, informed against
Luff berry.
James Woolard, riding post forthe congress.
John Orr, a sailor; belongs to the lloop
Sally, went out of the lines with a Mrs.
Courtney, about a week ago, and was
taken this morning.
The conduit of this young troop of light
dragoons deserves to be mentioned :—The re
gular and exaCt performance of the orders,
and the secrecy, dispatch and spirit, with
which they were executed, reflect much cre
dit on the officers and' men ---Capt. Thomas,
and his company of independent volunteers,
also deserve commendation, as this is the se
cond expedition he has made against those un
happy men, who are keeping up the flame of
rebellion, and supporting a violent persecuti
on against all who differ in sentiments from
them; In both which he has conducted him
felf with that prudence, secrecy and spirit,
which we ihould not think of finding in men,
never before inured to arms or discipline.
On the 15th instant, John Benner, a noted
rebel, who has for some time past made it his
practice to rob on the public highway, and
take from the people coming to market, what
ever he found with them, was brought in by
some British light dragoons, and immediately
ordered into the dungeon, the only proper
place for such atrocious offenders; He just
before had robbed two young women, and we
hear depositions are ordered to be taken, to
prove the fad, preparatory to his trial for his
life: From whence we may conclude, that
men of this damp will hereafter meet with
the puniihment their offences deserve.
On Sunday last about 400 rebels came down
within about 600 yards of one of the pickets,
and after making a terrible howling, fired
upon th< ticket, which was so fuccefsfully re
turned, that obliged then\ immediately to re
treat, leaving three of their men dead On the
spot. This trifling circumstance we havf no
doubt of feeing exaggerated to a capital bat
tle in the rebel papers.