The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1781-04-02 00:00:00, page 2

LON D 0 1$ December 16.
E.&raß of a l^tler from Plymouth, Dec. 12.
•• Yesterday arrived the Jason man of war
fiom Admiral Darby's fleet, which she left well
off Cape Finiilerre. . , ,
" The jafon has brought in the Duke de
Mortimers, a French privateer of ^ guns,
fix pounders, and nomen. Cn the goth ult.
ihe tock off the Deadman, the Mary, Stuart,
from London, for Brazil; and Michael, Milb,
of Younghall, for Southampton ; f and on the
Sth inst. took off the Edyftone, the SuCcefs,
Reily, from Arlindell, for Waterford, and
the Prince of Wales, Bag Well, for Oporto;
the Mahers and Crew on. board the privateer,
they feet for France." .
A report was current last night, that a Eftaing
had seen his convoy fafe into Brest harbour on
, the :Bth ult. and after putting about 1500 sick
on shore, and Whipping a thousand seamen, and
five hundred marines, had again failed from
Brest water the sth, and was out of light ° n
the 7th, in quest of the English fieet, in order
to bring the British Admiral to a decisive en
gagement. We give this as a mere report,
and mere, because we can hardly think that
an account, which wall supposed to be dis
patched from Brelt on the Bth instant. coaid
have reached London, by the Way of Ollend,
so early as yesterday afternoon,,
Wr.cn the Count d'Estaing made bis attack
upon Savannah, a lady of relpc^able charac
ter belonging to the place, liruck with the ter
rors of the siege that was going to commence
a?ainft the town, attempted to fly from the
feenc of adion. Having palled the British
lines, ihe was flopped by the advanced out
polls cf the enemy, and was interrogated as to
the cause cf her departure; but being filled
with such an agitation of mind, was unable to
give any fatisfaftbry answer to their interroga
tories; upon which ihe was immediately taken
. before the Bobadilian Couht, who, upon the
lady's refuting or wanting ability to give the
information the Count expelled, imagining
ihe was sent out for some particular purpose by
Gen. Prevoft, he threatened her with the molt
dreadful menances, and caused her to return,
telling her at the fame time to inform the Com
mander of the British forces; “ that in twelve
hours time the town should be laid in ashes."
Extras of a letter from Liverpool, Dec. 13.
66 Arrived the Tom Lee, from Charies-town;
Carpenter, from Rig ; Snapper privateer from
a cruize, with a re-taken brig, laden with oil,
and fiffi from Newfoundland, and has also ta
ken a French privateer of 6 guns."
BASSETERRE, (St. Chrillophers) Feb. 10.
By the ship which brought the Dutch sol
diers and other prisoners to .this island, we
are informed, that the fleet of ' vessels, a
mounting to 27 in number, bound to Holland,
under convoy of rhe Dutch Admiral, which
took its departure only two days before the
capture of St. Ehflatius, was all brought
back in fafety to that road, by a detachment
Admiral Rodney had dispatched for that pur
ofe :—That the Dutch Admiral was killed
e hrll broadside,. and after a very ihort but
i; : rt engagement, the whole ffruck.
Ye^erday evening about 6 o'clock, appeared
cff this road a brig, with the signal of a white
jack at her fore top mast head, on which the
fire ship and frig ate that were here, immedi
ately got under way, and proceeded with the
brig, supposed for St. Euttatius. Various
arc the conjectures upon it; a report fays,
there was a fleet seen to Leeward of Martin
nice.
BOSTO N, March S. ,
From the New-Jersey Journal, Mar. 21.
Extras of a letter from Tbonafown, dated
February 22, 1781.
" Last Saturday night about twelve o'clock,
a party of refugee tories and Britifn soldiers,
commanded by two British officers, surround
ed the house of Gen. Wadsworth, and seized
the centinel.—l was awaked by a Locking
noise and trampling in the crufled snow round
the house, and ran across the entry into Mr.
W 's room, but saw no fafety there—Se
ve:a) guns were fired into the windows as I
opened the door—The windows were dashed
in, and the officers in the room through them
—The kitchen was forced Open and full of
men, who fired indiscriminately every way—
The house was dark, and full of fmoak of
gun powder—Mr. W h all this while de
fended himfelf in his room, and kept the
enemy out —He discharged his pistols and
gun, mortally wounded two, and broke the
- n of a third, supposing the guard and fer
.nts would do the fame; but 'the former
re militia, who ail run and hid themselves,
d never fired a gun—One of the waiters was
mortally wounded, and the other taken pri
forer before he was well awaken—The General
was badly wounded, and being overpowered
and unassisted, was obliged to surrender ; they
would hardly allow him time to put his deaths
oh, he was pale and faint with loss of blood.
—They said what they could to comfort us,
afiuring us they would take the best care of
(he General, and hurried away leaving us
greatly distressed. —The poor wounded fellow
lay groaning and bleeding to death—The
house was torn aimoil to pieces, not a door
nor window whole in it, all covered with
blood, and near a mile from any house, or
any one to come to our assistance. "Twas a
nightof woe The men were like so many
d'\ib, swearing and flashing the things to
duces; cne while they would burn the hcufe,
and throw tire all over the kitchen, and fired
into the beds, the officers could net keep them
in order, and I believe if they had been com
manded by a tory, they would have killed us
all and burned the house."
ANNAPOLIS, March !§<
We are informed that the Warehouses for
the reception of tobacco on St. Mary's river,
were fee on fire on the 7th inst. by a party sent
on ffiore by two British ships which laid in
said river. The weather wa 3 thick and hazy,
which prevented any difeovery of them until
their landing, when they pushed a detach
ment of fifty men to occupy the hill above the
warehouses, whilst as many more below per
formed the burningwork. They stayed about
two hours, and on their departure, plundered
some of the neighbouring plantations of cat
tle and sheep. Upwards of 200 hogiheads of
tobacco was destroyed.
BALTIMORE, March 14.
Our bay is now infelled by upwards of 20
fail of British men of war and privateers.
There are, it is said, upwards of the latter,
the crews of some of which have committed
great exceffus on both Ibores.
We have received no material news from
the southward since our last.—The Britiih
forces, confining of about 5000 rffe&ive men,
under Earl Cornwallis, were about a fort
night ago, at Hillfborough, in North-Caro
lina; and Gen. Greene, having been con
fid'erably reinforced, had crofted the Dan
river, about the fame time, and was advanc
ing towards his Lordfhjp.
It, is reported that 2000 Britiih troops have
lately arrived at Wilmington, on Cape-Fear
river, North Carolina ; and a body of Hessi
ans at Charleftown.
Extras of a letter from Williamfurg, dated
March 10.
“ We hear to day the enemy are drawing
in their cutpofts, and 1 fear are going to leave
us before the arrival of our allies; but if the
French arrive in time, I hope to give you a
good account of Benedid, as the militia are
collefling fall, and every thing feenis to be in
readiness."
NEW-YORK, March 27.
Last Sunday night arrived here Mr. Galgey,
Midjhipman cf his Majefy's fi, Royal Oak,
dispatched express by Dice Aamiral rirbuthnot.
The following is an account of an action fought
on the l6tb, between the British and French
fguadons, off the Chefapeak :
Royal Oak, Lynhaven Bay, March 21, 1784.
On Friday the 16th infant, at 6 A. M. the
Iris made the signal fur difeovering five strange
fail to .the N. N. E. and soon alter hailed the
Admiral that they were large ships landing for
the Capes of,Virginia, and supposed to be di
stant about 3 miles; the Admiral immediately
concluded it must be the enemy he was in
search of, and accordingly prepared the squa
dron for battle, ' by forming the line a-head to
the wind, which was then frefa, and proceed
ing on with a press of fail in the chace; at
this time Cape Henry bore S. W. by W. di
stant about fourteen leagues, wind at weft, the
French bearing from us N. N. E. the weather
so hazy as fiercely to be able to difeern the
length of the British line; at a quarter after
eight the wind veered to N. W. by W. which
gave the enemy the advantage of the weather
gage, about this time several of the ships were
difeovered (^windward, endeavouring to form
a line; 23 minutes alter eight, the Guada
loupe ranged up under our lee, bringing the
fame intelligence with that already "given by
the Iris, 35 pinutes after eight, the Admiral
directed the Iris by signal to make fail a-head,
and keep fight of theFreuch fleet; the British
line was by this time completely formed, fleer
ing close hauler on the larboard tack.
At twenty minutes after nine, the h:adtndft
of the French flrips tacked, as did the rest in
succession, and formed the lineon the Larboard
tack; at 35 minutes after nine, the wind be
ing very squally, the Admiral formed the line
a-head two cables length asunder.
At a quarter after ten, the Admiral made
the signal for the squadron to tack, the head
moft and weathermoil firtt, and gain the wind
of the enemy; at a quarter after eleven, the
headmoft of the French line tacked, but one
of them having miffed flays, the rest wore and
formed the line on the larboard tack; at 40
minutes after eleven, the Admiral again form
ed his line at a cable's length asunder.
Atl2 o'clock, there being a profped of the
van of the British line reaching the enemy, the
whole of the British line tacked by signal; at
cne F. M. the French squadron being also in a
line a-head of 8 two-deckers, bore E. by S.
the Britiih line close hauled fleering E. S. E,
wind at N. E. At 30 minutes after one, the
enemy being apprehensive of the danger and
inconvenience of engaging to windward, from
the very high tea that was running, wore and
formed their line to leeward of the British line;
at two o'clock the British squadron wore in the
line, and in a few minutes the Robust, which
led the fleet in the moil gallant and officer like
manner, was warmly engaged with the van of
the enemy, the ships in the van and centre of the
line were all engaged by half past two, and by
th ee the French line was broke, part of their
ships began soon after to wear and to form their
line again, with their heads to the S. E. At
zo minutes after 3 we wore, and flood after
them, but the Robult, Prudent, and Europe,
which from the manner of the enemy's engag
ing, had bore the brunt of the action, were so
entirely disabled as to be incapable of pursuit,
and of securing the trophies of the viftory they
had already gained.
' At half pad four, a" thick fog which arose,
intercepted the fight of the enemy from our
view; the Medea joined ns, soon after which
we were directed to proceed and observe the
route of the enemy, while the British squadron
proceeded to the C^ fapeak, in the hope of
intercepting them, Biould they attempt to get
in there.
Aty o'clock we brought to, to put the dis
abled ships in a situation to execute these in
tentions.
Next morning we made fail, and the fame
evening the whole squadron anchored in Lyn
haven-Bay.
Return of killed and wounded.
I Lieutenant, 2 Midshipmen, and 40 Sea
men, killed; and about 80 wounded in all.
Last Sunday evening arrived here the Sloop
Hibernia, Captain Dempsey, from Chefapeak-
Bay, which place she left last Tuesday; and
Yeftefday morning arrived the Schooner
Dolphin, prize to his Majefly's ffiip Pearl, from
the fame place,which she left last Wednesday.
A midshipman of the Royal Oak command
ed the Dolphin, and brought such particulars
of the engagement between the British and
French fleets as are above related.
A French officer, on descrying Admiral Ar
buthnot's fleet under French colours in Lynha
ven-Bay, engaged a number of pilots to em
bark with him on board the Dolphin, to con
dud them up to York-Town; and so certain
was Monsieur that it was 0e fleet of his Most
Christian Sovereign, that he run under the
guns of the Pearl before he difeovered his
mittake.
Same day arrived the Pciacre Squirrel,
Capt. Gaven, in thirteen weeks from Liver
pool, but brings no material intelligence.
Captain Duncan, in his Majesty's Frigate
Medea, saw the French Fleet two Days after
their defeat by Admiral Arbuthnot, fleering
to the Eastward: And
Captain Gavan, of the Squirrel, who ar
rived here from Liverpool last Monday Evening
in 13 Weeks, in Lat, 39, Lon. 70, the 19th
Infant, saw several large Ships with Lights in
their Tops, zoo Miles from the Land, Iteering
N. N. W. supposed to be the French Fleet
bound either for Boston or Rhode-lfland, to
land their Sick and Wounded, and repair
their Ships.
On Monday evening Capt. Lipincot, with
his company of Associated Loyalists, returned
from an excurtion into New-Jersey, and
brought in a Sloop loaded with tar, iron, and
lumber, which he cut out of Egg Harbour, at
Chefnut Neck, twenty miles from the sea coast ;
near Toms River he fell in with a party of Re
bel militia, mounted under the command of a
^Captain Bishop, the Loyalilb gave them a
volley, which wounded Bishop, and two of
his horses : on which the Rebels fled with pre
cipitation, three of them dropping their arms.
NEW-YORK, March 30.
The following letter teas found on board a prize
captured in the Delaware, by the privateer
whale beat Trimmer, Capt. Turner, and
brought into this port.
Philadelphia, March 13, 1781.
" Kind Sir,
“ No doubt 'ere this you have heard of
Rodney's making an attack upon the vessels
at St. Euftatia, and it's.not yet certain whe
ther he tdek the Island or nut; for the last
account from that is, that he was cutting the
vessels out of the harbour, and the fort and
every veflel in the harbour, were firing in
one continual blaze and roar. This account
came by a schooner, that cut and run at the
time, and got to Portau Prince, and as we
have no account of the brigantine Comet's
arriving either at Hispaniola or the continent,
have scarcely adcubt but ffie was taken at St.
Euftatia,—however, we have ensured pretty
well on her. -The State money and Conti
nental keep pace with each other exactly,
and both are depreciating faft : 73 Continental
is as good as cne State dollar ; but it takes
130 Continental dollars to purchase a filvr
dollar; so thatl would advifegou not to place
more confidence in State m<n,y than in old
Continental. It is probable that the old
Continental may depreciate a little the saltest,
—but both are going fall "
NEW-YOR K, March „.
We are informed from Philadelphia, that
above three handled failof square rigg'd vessels
were taken, when the Island of St. Euftatius
was conquered by the British fleet.
Capt. Pindar, commander of the Triumph,
belonging to this port, boarded, and by Ad
miral Sir George Rodney's permission, carried
off thirteen fail cf vessels, his own prizes, to
the Island of St. Christopher.
Accounts received from St. Euftatius, men
tion that the article of tobacco seized by the
British Admiral, amounted to seven thousand
hogshead's.
Ah authentic account of Captain Ives's rencounter
with the Whale-Boats in the Sound;
Captain David Ives, an Associated Loyalist,
with a party of 22 men, going in an unarmed
Schooner, belonging to and commanded by
Captain Church from Cily-Ifland to Lloyd's
Neck, in company with two other vessels, arm
ed with swivels, were attacked by four whale
boats full of men from Stamford, which he en
gaged and beat off with musketry only, altho'
the Rebels took the armed vessels and turned
the swivels against Captain Ives's party.
In the midst of the firing two Rebels were
seen to fall over board, and three others ap
peared to be disabled, and two of the boats
which afterwards drifted on fliore, were be.
spattered with blood, and shot through in fe
vcral places; one of them having a dead man,
four muskets, and several coats in it.
During the contest Captain Church, who
behaved with great bravery, was obliged to
run his schooner on the Long-lfland shore,
and the Rebels landing a party, the more ef
feftually to annoy the Loyalists, were driven
off by the militia, who readily turned out on
the occasion.
The next morning another man was found
on the shore, supposed to hare been killed in
this engagement.
On Tuesday night last, Captain Beckwith;
with a patty of the 37th regiment, went to
Elizabeth-Town, where they so completely
furprized the guard, that the centry at the
door had only time to throw down his arms
and run away: Finding the Rebels dispersed
in the houses, he immediately went to their
alarm poll, where, by beating to arms, he drew
a Lieutenant and many of his soldiers to him,
whom he made prisoners.
After searching the town and taking such
people as he thought proper, he returned to
Staten-Island, having had one man killed on
the expedition.
Barrack-Office, William-street, gift Ms. 1781.
IT is requested that the Departments Officers
&c. who receive Fuel, will get their Orders
and draw the fame on the following Days.
Engineer, and Quarter Master ) .
General's Department, on , Monday.
Civil Branch of Ordnance, and ) m
Com. General's Department j\ 1 uelL ^'
Refugees . . . Wednesday.
Officers whole Regiments are 7 ri
absent, and Officers Familes j 1 hur.cay.
Baggage Guards and recruiting) „
Parties -/ . - & riday.
Detachments - - - Saturday.
Jult imported from London, in the ihip Nancy,
Captain Miller, and now for sale, by
VALENTINE NUTTER,
*Stationer, No. 22, opposite the Ceffee-Houfe,
A LIST of the ar/ny for I7SO, gentlemen's packet
4 journals, and memorandum books for 1781,
ladies do. with the head dress for 1780, and 1781,
with a variety of country dances, and receipts very
ufeful fur ladies, the polite repository,, it being a
very elegant ufeful pocket book for ladies,—-Gold
fmith, an almanack for 1781, etwee pocket books,
suitable for ladies and gentlemen.
Refleaions on the rife and progress of the Ame
rican war. Common-place arguments.
Widow and no Widow. Fatal Falsehood. The
Times. Chapter of Accidents, Zoraida, Siege
of Gibraltar. The Manager in Distress. Step
herdefs of the Alp,. Deaf Lover. Law of Lom
bardy. Lady of the Manor. Battle of Hastings.
Maid of Bath. Cozeners. Sir Thomas Overbuty.
The Fathers, or Good-natured Man, &c. &c.
Johnson's, and Fenning's Dictionaries. Entick's
Spelling Dictionaries. Guthrie's Grammar. Bo
yer's French Grammar. Rofs's do. Ward's Latin
and Greek Gran,mar. Lowth's and Aihe's do.
Mails'Book Keeping. Hill's Arithmetic, Dil
worth's School Matter's Affiant. Bailey's Ovid's
Metamorpiiofis. Boyce's Pantheon# Young Man's
Companion. Young Gentlemen and Ladies Moni
tor,
A MULATTO BOY?
WANTS to be hired by the month, to a single
gentleman, or in a family. He can have
an excellent recommendation. Enquire of H. Gaine.
-HENRY" THOMPSONS
No. 51, Waterrilreet, between Burling's-flip and the
Fly Market,
HAS FOR SALE,
CORDAGE, I Brown and white Soap,
Coarse and fine Mould candles,
Irish linens, Cheshire cheese,
Earthen ware, &c. &c. [37 40]
A Healthy NEGRO WENCH, aged abcut 17
. years, was born on Statcn-Ifland, and has
had the (mail pox, and is very handy at house work,
and fold for want vs employment. Enquire of the
Printer.
A PERSON that is sober and honed, who un
derkands accounts and book-keeping properly,
and can have a good recommendation, may hear of
a good place byapplying to the printer : None need
apply but those that can bear confinement to bufi
refg./'
Barrack-Master General's
Office,
Water-Street, Zpril 2, 1781.
SUCH Persons as are willing
to furnifh the Barrack-Mailer
General with WOOD for the Use
of his Majesty's Troops, to be de
livered either in this City, or at
the different Posts upon the Island
of New-York, or Powlis-Hook,
are requested to fend their Propo
sals in Writing to this Office—
And those who have Vessels and
will employ them in bringing
Wood to New-York, will meet
with every suitable Encourage
ment, and the Money paid them
immediately after its Delivery into
the Magazines,
To be LET,
On such terms as shall be agreed upon, and
possession given the firft of May,'
THAT valuable Dwelling-House, out
houses and farm of David Devoor, de
ceased, near the § mile stone, upon the road^
leading to King's Bridge, in the Out-Ward of
this city, very advantageous for a tavern-keep
er. For terms apply to Samuel Brownejohn.
This Da, is published, and fold by H. Gaine,
SKETCHES
FROM
NA TURE;
TAKEN, and COLOURED,
In a Journey to Margate,
Published from the Original Designs,
By GEORGE KEATE, E^