The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1781-05-07 00:00:00, page 2

BASSETERR E,
April 3 On Sunday last a fleet of vessels
arrived here from St Lucia, with trobps, which
they brought from Europe, with army ffores
and tloatfling. They were convoyed by a4O
gun ihip and a sloop of war, who immediately
. b re away ; to join ihe,Admiral, for whom it is
said they had dispatches, All we hear by
them is, that preparations were making at
home with the utmost dispatch, for opening
the campaign with the greater vigour in all
parts.
The Packer with the February Mail, is ar
rived at St. Lucia, and it is supposed will be
at Antigua in a few days.
April \, We have authority to assure our
readers, that the rebel Privateer Holker,which
has been so fuccefsful in these seas, is at length
fafely cAme to her moorings in the Carenage
0 St. Lucia, She fell in with his Majesty's
Ikip the Fox, of 38 guns, convoy to the Cork
Ret, who gave her chace, and coming up to
her, Pie did not chcofe to Hand the Fox's fire,
but hauled her colours down. The Holker it
is said, has taken no less than feventy-five
prizes during her cruize. She is supposed to
be the fwiftett failing vessel that ever failed
from America; but the Fox is a new frigate,
confiruAed on the'iate Admiral Earl Ferrer's
plan, and, under her top-fails will outrun the
f^fte* /oing vefiels cfour navy, tho' croud
ingrl the fails they can carry. The HolKer,
depending on heTheels, is brought to bed of a
mistake.
'1 be following is an account of the taking of
Berbice, with the Articles of Capitulation,
'" On the sth of Maren,they made Berbice
P.iver, Capt. Wolcott sent in an officer in his
targe to reconnoitre the place, and found the
HOUSE of LORDS,
Thursday, January 25.
THIS day the house met pursuant to their
adjournment. Several Lords took the oaths;
after which Lord Stormont arose, and informed
the house that he had brought a message from
his Majefty,which being presented to the Chan
cellor, was lead by him accordingly, and was
to tne following purport: " That his Majesty
thought it neceflary to acquaint the house of
peers that he had found himfelf, during the
recess of his Parliament, under an actual ne
cessity to grant letters of marque and general
reprisal against the States General of the Uni
ted Provinces of Holland —that it was not till
after the tie of the antient friendfhip which
had adopted this measure; but notwithstand
ing his extreme aversion for entering into ho
stilities with the old alley, a regard for the
honour of his crown, and the essential welfare
of his people had at last compelled him to it.
He had ordered the various papers on which
he had been induced to take this step, to be
laid before their Lordships, and entertained
no doubt that they would concur with him on
the propriety of his proceedings, and of course
readily assist him with their advice, toncur
ence and fuppoit, in pursuing, with proper
spirit and refoluti n, a measure which the ge
neral interest of this kingdom so eminently
required, and which was so necessary for es
feeding the great end ofa speedy and lifting
peace."
Lord Stormont rose again, and moved,
"That the papers alluded to by his Majesty
should be read to the house, and be laid upon
the table."
They consisted of eight different papers,
including all the memorials which have been
presented by Sir Joseph Yorke to their high
Mightinesses since July 1778, to the final de
claration published in the Gazette, December
26, 1780, and also a copy ofa treaty agreed
upon by Mr. Van Berkel, the penfionary of
Amfierdam, and the congress of the American
colonies, found, in the trunk of Mr. Laurens.
The Duke of Richmond arose and observed,
that all the'memorials, &c. which had been
presented by Sir Joseph Yorke, in behalf of
this country, were faithfully submitted to their
infptdtions; but the answers that had been
returned, the counter complaints that had
been made, the various manifestos ^hich had,
cluubtlf fs, been urged on the part of the Unit
ed Provinces, were retained.
Lord Stormont, in reply to the Duke of
Richmond, said, that anfwer§ to Sir Jofeph'
Yorke's memorials could not. be included in
those papers, as their High Mightinesses had
no 4 mdefeended to transmit any. They pass
ed them ever in silent negled, and persevered
in their injuries and injullice, without an at
tempiat explanation or defence. His Lord
flop then proceeded briefly to state the inter
mew ae heps that had been adopted before the
recnt rupture took place.—A treaty had been
made in 1714. Rating, that ifeither of the two
nations ihoult be attacked, the other should
immediately suspend all amicable intercourse
with the state which was the aggression, and
in two /norths be bound to supply its ally
with certain stipulated fuccours. But even
when France and Spain were united in a per
f. . as c nfedcracy against us, we did not at
tempt to preclude every species of their com
merce, but only to prevent ther affixing our
fts with the illicit property of naval notes.
We received no aufwerto repeated applications,
made wth due decency and refped. No af
fect fdJuwed, however; they still continue to
fumifh the dates at open uar with their ally
with every kind of dores necessary for their
conducting it, and even took off the duty
from fcveral naval articles, in order the more
effeduaby to expediate their importation to
the hostile countries in question.- His Lord
flip concluded with a m<tion for the thanks of
the house to be given to his Majesty for his
moil gacious message, which was carried
without a division.
Wolcott, Esq; commander of the ship Regu
lator, and the bon. the Governor and Council
of tne colony of Berbice.
Article ift. The fort to surrender to his
Britannick Majesty's arms, and the troops
belonging to the United States of Holland to
pile their arms and remain prisoners of war,
on parole, until such time as a regular ex
change takes place.
Art. 2d. The arms, colours, and all war
like stores, belonging to Fort Naffaw, with
the shipping to be delivered up, with their
cargoes and utensils, without hurt or embez
zlement whatsoever.
Art. 3d. Upon which proviso, the In
habitants of the colony of Berbice shall remain
in quiet possession of their properties and
estates.
Art. 4th. And it is further agreed between
the aforefaid James Wolcott, Esq; comman
der of the private ship of war Regulator, and
the Governor and Council of the colony of
Berbice, that in consideration of'the former
giving back the ship De Vrow Johanna, Capt.
P. Kroon, to the Governor and Council
aforefaid, for the sole life and service of the
planters of the colony of Berbice, to supply
them from any British settlement with provi
fibns and necessaries of life, the Governor and
Council do covenant and agree to load the
fliip de Anna and Elizabeth, Capt. F. W< a
berg with cotton, coffee, rum, and sugars,
for the benefitof the said James Wolcott, Eiq;
and crew, to be loaded with all possible dis
patch.
Rio Berbice, Fort Naffaw, the 13th of March,
1781.
On the 14th a second flag of truce was sent
in from Fort Naffaw, with answer to Captain
Wolcott's proposals, which were all agreed to.
At 10 o'clock the morning fallowing the ship
came to an anchor abreast Fort Naffaw,
W: ere she was saluted with 11 guns.
The colours of the Fort and whipping hauled
down, the soldiers drawn and arms piled, at
the command of t Regulator's officers.
Five^rips were laying at Naffaw, (which is
upwards of 80 miles from the entrance of the
river) three of which were loaded and two
empty, one of which was left for the use of
the colony and the other loaded on her way
down the river, with coffee, cotton, &c. &c.
the ships were ten days from the time of their
leaving Fort Naffaw until they were clear of
the Bar, occasioned by length of the river,
and being several times aground on the differ
ent banks.
The Regulator draws 13 1-2 feet, turned
out 3 miles in no more than 13 feet water.
One of the prizes unfortunately got aground,
which we were obliged to leave behind with
the Trimmer to affifther, after lying 2 days
at anchor without the shoals waiting for them
3 leagues from the land in four fathom water,
made fail in company with three prizes, which
are all fafe arrived in port.
On the 31st they spoke the Heyena, and
Bermuda frigates, the Star brig, and a small
schooner on their way to Demarara, Barbadoes
then bearing N. N. W. 1-2 W. distance 35
leagues.
A return of Ordnance and Stores taken by
the Regulator in Barbice River.
At Fort St. Andrew's, 3 eighteen pounders,
2 twelve do. 6 nine's, and 4 three's ; 20 Rand
of small aims with (hot and ammunition, 1
kettle drum, 1 large bell.
Pofl LiJhnott, I four pounder, 10 Hand of
small arms.
A: Fort Naffaiv, 9 iron fix pounders mount
ed and 3 cifmounted, 12 brass field pieces,
6 howitzers, 10 swivel guns, 94 barrels of
powder, and 20, rounds of filled ^cartridges,
300 Hands of small arms, 185 cutlaflcs, 6
kettle drums, 56 suits of regimentals.
Before the Regulator left the river they re
turned the Governor 2 afield pieces and aquan-,
tity of small arms and ammunition to protest
the inhabitants from the Negroes."
The taking of DEMARARA.
The following is the conclusion of a letter from the
Commodore and Council of Demarara, and the
— d'iftrtfls annexed thereto, to their High Mighti
ness the States General after that colony bad
capitulated to the private ships of war the Belo
na, the Mercury and the Hornet.
" The loss we have fuHained is exceeding
great, exclusive of the two ffiips taken on the
22ft; there were i ffail, mostly laden, which
we had the mortification to fee carried off.
We are left depute of ships, of men, and in
Sort, are left a prey to our own slaves, and to
all privateers, and piracies; and this entirely j
channel, on the day following the barge re
turned, not being able to find a fafe channel
for the fliip to go in. On the Sth Captain
Wolcott sent in the trimmer with 40 men un
der the command of theist Lieutenant from
the Regulator, to take peffeflion of the Fort
St. Andrew, which they accomplished on the
9th by a joint attack from the sloop and a de
tachment of men, who were landed within
100 yards of their right Hank, ftorfhed the
fort, and routed them, their progress being
so rapid that, no more than three guns was
fired from the fort before the enemy were put
to flight; they immediately spiked up the
guns and rolled them over the breast works
into the river, and sent a party of men to
destroy a redoubt of 1 four pounder and eight
men, which they likewise effected. On the
gth the Trimmer returned with a pilot for the
ship, who was plying off and on without the
Banks. On the 12th the Regulator got fafe
over the Banks into the river, a Hag of truce
was sent off to the ship to know our intenti
ons, upon which Capt. Wolcott sent in his
proposals, as mentioned in the following ar
ticles of capitulation.
Articles of capitulation between James
Extract ofa letter dated at Generals Green's
head quarters, Col. Ramsay's, Deep River,
March 30, 1781.
" Our men had fuffered so much for want
of provisions in this exaufted part of the coun
try, that many of them fainted on the march,
and the difficulty of procuring any immediate|
supply, prevented our further pursuit. Thel
enemy are on their route to Cross Creek and
Wilmington.
" Nothing but blood and slaughter has pre-|
vailed among the whigs and tories, and their
inveteracy against each other mult, ifit conti
nues, depopulate this part of the country.
PHILADELPHIA, April 25.
Saturday last arrived here the Fair American
privateer, from a fuccefsful cruize.
A fleet of between twenty and thirty fail of
men of war, was seen to windward of Marti
nico, when our vessels left that island. These
ships are supposed to be from Old France, and
are said to have on board between ten and fif
teen thousand men, which will make the forces
of our allies equal, if not superior to that of
the Britifhun those parts.
ExtraCt ofa letter from St. Pierre (Martinique)
March 18, 1781.
“ Arrived here the sth inst. from Bred, in
44 days, a lugger with dispatches from the
minister to the general the marquis de Bouillie,
advising him of an approaching arrival of a
large fleet, confiding of 400 fail, or there
abouts, among which he experts thirty fail of
the line. I hope soon to be able to give you
a more particular account of this piece of
news?'
WHEREAS by the blessing of Almighty
God his Majesty's arms have been crowned
with signal success, by the complete victory
obtained over the rebel forces on the 15th inst.
I have thought proper to iffne this proclama
tion, to call upon all loyal fubjeds to Hand
forth and take an aftive part, in reflowing good
order and government. And whereas it has
been represented to me, that many persons in
this province, who have taken a ihare in this
unnatural rebellion, but having experienced
the oppression apd injustice of the rebel govern
ment, and having seen the\errors into which
they have been deluded by falsehoods and mif
reprefentttions, are sincerely desirous of re-*
turning to their duty and allegiance.
I do hereby notify and promise to all such
persons (murderers excepted) that if they will
surrender themselves with their arms and am
munition, at head-quarters, or to the officer
commanding in the diftrid contiguous to their
refpedive places of residence, on or before the
20th day of April next, they will be permitted
to return to their homes upon giving a military
parole, and shall be protested in their persons
and properties from all fort of violence from
the British troops, and will be restored as soon
as possible, to all the privileges of legal and
constitutional government. Given under my
hand at head-quarters, this 18th day of March,
A. D. 1781, and in the 21st year of his Ma
jesty's reign.
CORNWALLIS.
By his Lordship's command,
Henry Broderick, A. D. C.
owing to the want of every thing necessary
for our defence, and no man of war having
been left for cur protection. We implore your
High Mightinesses to fend Us every necessary
affidance for the preservation of this colony,
and as soon as possible. Recemmendingyour
High Mightinesses to the protection ofthe Su
preme Being, We have the honor to fubferibe
ourselves, &c."
VI. Some of the small vessels in the road
to be fold on the second or third day after the
commencement of the sales, and to be conti
nued from time to time, 'for the Conveniences
of trafporting the goods purchased to the other
islands as above.
VII. No persons whose goods have been
confifeated, to be allowed to become purchasers
at the falesp
VIII. To begin the sale at the windward
moft Hore on the Bay, and to go from Hore to,
Hore progressively, care being taking to dis
tinguish the Hores, by Americans, Dutch,
French, &c.—The English Hores to be left
Untouch'd, with a label on each by way of
Discrimination.
—Extra^sfrom Rebel Papers.—
PHILADELPHIA, April 18.
Extract of a letter dated at General Greene's
head-quarters, at Colonel Ramsay's, Deep-
River, March 30, 1781.
66 Nothing but blood and slaughter has pre
vailed among the Whigs and Tories, and their
inveteracy against each other must, if it con
tinues, depopulate this part of the country.
" Lord Cornwallis issued the following pro
clamation, soon after the battle at Guilford :"
By CHARLES EARL CORNWALLIS,Lieu
tenant-General of his Majeftf's Forces,
&c. &c. &c.
PROCLAMATI O N.
St. EustatiVs, March 12, 1781.
I. The sales to commence on Thursday the
15th inst. and to be continued from day to
day 'till the whole is fold.
11. Nothing but calh will be received in
payment.
111. All persons coming tp this island for
the purpose of pnrehafirg goods at the sales
will be permitted to pass freely to and from
the island, without let or molettation.
IV. All fams of money brought to this
island for the putpofe of purchasing goods, to
be secured effectually and bona-fide to the
owners.
V. All goods purchased at the sales, will
be permitted to be shipped off in English or
Neutral bottoms, for the purpose of conveying
them to any of the English or neutral Inlands.
} l^)ri.r:arl|i|Mfli^l P p; : .
captain All, afield p&age^^&e, weeks front
I'Orient in France, who^^T^fthe accounts
wp have already had, refpeding the spirited
preparations of the States of Holland, to rctat
llate the injuries sustained by them, frord the
Courr of Great Britain, but thk nothing very
I raaterial had happened, except an aftion in
I the channel of England, between two ships of
I 50 guns each, belonging to the refpe&ive no-
I tions, which, however, was not decisive, both
vessels having at the fame time left the feene
of action.
BALTIMORE, April 17.
The following intelligence was received just
as this paper was going to press.
Alexandria, April 15, 1781.
“ Enemy's vessels twelve miles below Alex
andria :—Ship Savage, Captain Graves ; ship
Hope, Captain Thomas; and ship General
Monk, Captain Douglass, of 16 guns and 123
men each ; —two brigs of 12 guns and 60 men
each ; — schooner Jack-in-the- Box, carrying
one 18 pounder, three 9 pounders, three 4
pounders, and 63 men ; —one schooner of 10
guns and 46 men, with three tenders.
". On Thursday last a flag was sent from the
above squadron to Major Lyles, for a supply
of vegetables and frefh prorifions, and advis
ing the militia to lay down their arms, offer
ing to pay for every thing that should be fop
plied them ; but that, if their boats were fired
upon, and their application flighted, they
would burn and destroy. On being assured
by the Major, that no part of their requifitiou
could be granted, and the militia were armed
and would defend themselves, nine barges
were sent from the squadron, with 230 men,
who landed under a heavy cannonade, and
burnt all the Major's houses, killed and car
ried off hogs, sheep, poultry, &c. The mili
tia fired on the barges and killed two men.
On Saturday last eleven men landed from one
of the enemy's barges, to cut wood; they were
attacked at forty yards distance from the shore,
and all made prisoners, by Capt, Williams's
party of Bladenburg volunteers."
NEW-YORK, May 2 .
The latest accounts from Rhode-lfland in
form us, that a number of transports with in
valids on board, failed a few days ago under
convoy of two frigates for Old France. And
that a ? considerable detachment of French
troops had marched southwards to garrison
Fort Defiance at Weft-Point, and reinforce
Mr. Washington's army.
An authentic account of an excu-fan from Lloyd's
Neck, byche Affeiated Lfoltfs, under the com
mand of Capt. Hubbill.
Captains Hubbiß, Ives, and Thomas, and
, Lieut. Sanders, with seven whaleboats, man
ned by associated Loyalids, crossed the S und
on Friday evening, the 27th ult. and landed
on the coast of Connecticut, at 12 o'clock at'
night. The party after taking a circuit of fix
miles came to Norwalk Bridge, surrounded
the house of Col. St. John, and made prisoners
of the Col-and his Son, with a Mr. Isaacs,
a young man who happened to be in St. John's
house.—Mr. St. John, is a Lieut. Col. of the
rebel militia, a Juilice of Peace, a Member of
Assembly, and one of the assistants of Mr.
Jonathan Trumbull, the Rebel Governor of
Connecticut.
On Monday evening departed this life, aft
a short illness, Miss ANN BURKE, in ti
70th year of her age, an ancient inhabitant
•this city. She was a lady that possessed eve
amiable qualification, and died much regrett
by all her acquaintance..
NEW-YORK, May 5 .
The Goodrich, private ship of war, Jo.
Buchanan, Commander, has taken and fc<
into Bermuda 2 Dutch ships, the Margare
and Cartharina, of 900, and the Leonderc
of 400 tons, both from Currocoa bound to R
terdam, laden with tobacco, sugar, coffee, < —
coa, cotton, hides, dyewoods, and indi
They were taken the 12th and 25th of A]
last, of the Western Islands; Capt. Buchai
was spoke with, in company with his pri:
by the brig Abbey, Captain Taylor, Berm
then bearing N. N. W. distant 16 leagues.
We are informed the Retaliation Cutte
this port, has taker, a French ship, with 600
hoglheads of fugar,and carried her ir.toTorA
public; AUCTION
THIS day on Murray's wharf, will be conti
by Taylor and Bayard, between 12 a:
.o'clock, the sale of the remaining part of the
Euphrates cargo, confining of a few pipes choich
Lisbon wine, 4.0 jars raisins, a few phrails figs
almonds.
JOHN SANXAY, Üb^for
BEGS leave to acquaint his friends and the p
that he is removed from Walf-ftreet, to N<
Fletcher-street, near the Fly-Market, where he ~
tinues to carry on his bufineis s iifual. '.
Ladies and Gentlemen who choose to favoui
with their commands, may depend on being 1
in the neatest and mott expeditious manner. I
for sale a subaltern's new marquee, andafecond
ditto, very good.
JOHN HENRY,
At No. 209, Queer. Street, nearly op
The FRYING PAN,
Is now opening Store, and has laid in a|
ral assortment of
India and European Go<
Suitable for the present season,
Which he will fell wholelale and retail
low for CASH.
^|'>O be L ET, two large rooms (
J second floor ; a kitchen, and a: c:
garret. Also a neat finifhed room for a ;
gentlemans Enquire of the printer.