The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1780-05-29 00:00:00, page 2

The c, mineral Aredf the five English Vel
fels. which attacked as now in all quarters at
onc% afong-fide, a-nead, and a item, de
prived us entirely of ail power of management,
•and prevented all our manepuvres. Without
rigging' our main fill ihot through and
through like a tieve, our Turtle and top-gal-
Unt-matt fallen, our mizen-Miall qure gone,
our main-matt injured in a variety of places,
and pierced with grape and other (hot, and our
hold full of water; having nothing but our
forefail, the mail of which had given way,
and the scuttle and top-gallant-masts, neither
of which Could carry fail ; without hope of
mending our situation, or of receiving any
relief—lnch was our condition, when at the
very lad extremity, about ten in the evening,
we tiroes tne flag, which we hal defended for
the glory of our King and country, agatnft
such a superiority of force, as mace defence
all that could pofliblv be expected, and left
no doubt as to the issue of our fate. The
enemies theinfelves will bear witness to the
truth of this delation.
In the morning, as soon as their little boat
Could carry, Mr. Macbride, Captain of the
Bier.fjifd.nt, came to fee me, and compli
mented me much.—He laid, (if 1 may use his
own expreffipn) that a defence io glorious
under such an inequality of strength was
more to be envied than their victory, and in
formed me, that when we wete in harbour,
he would communicate some circumstances to
me, which he himfelf had observed, which
refected the high.ft honour upon our con
cuft, add Which had eihaped my observation
and recollection. He did me the honour,
contrary to the general practice, to fuffer our
national lia~, and that of my command, to
remain in the Phoenix, and fuffered the whole
crew to continue on board, because the small
pox was in the Bienfaifant. —The lame day
being the 18th, the English squadron and its
convoy passed the Straits ; but as a dead calm
was set in to the leeward of Gibraltar, they
anchored to the eastward of that place. The
Phoenix entered the bay on the 19th, with the
two vessels in her company, the Bienfaifant,
and the Defence, and I received in Gibraltar
all the politeness poflible, from Admiral Duff
who commands there, from the Governor of
the place, and from Admiral Digby, the
second in the marine command in the squa
dron of' Admiral Rodney, who himfelf paid
me the fame honour.
" For the protection of my honour, and
for the fatrifidion of my conscience, I have
thought it necessary to give your Excellency
an account of the courage, of the intrepidity,
of the coolness, and of the perseverance
which all the officers difeovered during the
whole of- the action—our two marine guards,
also the three centre Enfefne of his Sicilian
Majesty, and the whole crew of the Phoenix,
gave the ftrongell testimonies of the moll un
doubted bravery and zeal ;—their wounds
could not detain them in the held ; —they
would not stay to have them dressed, but rulh
ed again to their polls upon deck, eager to
acquire and participate in new glories.—l
represent all this to yQup excellency, that you
may explain to his Majesty howmuch his fub
je&s on board the Phoenix were disposed for
his service,- and how ardently they wished to
facrifice their lives, and every thing, for the
glory and honour ofhis arms. .-
The English fleet not having yet arrived in
this port, I cannot give your Excellency an
exaft or minute account of tne conduct of the
other veffcls in my squadron, but the general
voice of the enemy pronounce their defence
to have been in the greatell degree glorious.
I have the honour to be, &c.
Don Juan de Langara.
March 18. The Dutch, in order to equip
their fleets, have come to a resolution to bor
row four millions of ducats, at 4 per cent.
The French arepreparing a powerful embark
ation in favour of America, which, 'tis said,
will amount to 10,000 men. The Oid Nassau
man of war of 60 guns, purchased by a com
pany of merchants, is to be converted into a
frigate of 30 guns, and to be commanded by
a Lieutenant of the navy. A large Spanish
ship of 42 guns, but pierced for 74, is car
ried into Gibraltar by two privateers, laden
with iron, cordage, &c. The Spaniards have
beerYobliged to deliver up several Portuguese
Ships that had been carried into Vigo. The
Monsieur, a French privateer of 40 guns, and
360 men, is carried into Portsmouth, by his
Majesty's fliips the Alexander and Courageux.
She is 130 feet on the gun deck. The Vida
mante, Capt. l'Avallon, a French Ship of 300
tons from Toulon to Cadiz, with Stores, is
carried into Gibraltar. The Bellona of 74
guns, is put into commission, and the com
fna. r d of her given to Capt. Onflow.
March 2,, It appears by the navy lift, that
thenumber of flips ofthe line at this time in
the Service are exactly 102 fail ; and as eight
more will be launched before midsummer,
they will make no fail ofthe line: about 12
fail only of which are unfix to go to sea.
Extraa of a Letter from Penzance, March 23.
"This afternoon was brought in here La
lorcalquier, Capt. La Armanian, a French
Ship of 300 tons, bound from Martinico to
Bourdeaux, laden with sugar, indigo, cotton,
and other goods. By her we learn, that the
French fleet was close blocked up in Gauda
loupe by Admiral Parker. The above Ship
was taken by the Swift privateer, which is
gone in quell of another.
Extras of a Letter from Fhlmogtb, March 20.
Arrived the La Reine des Anges, a French
sloop, laden with Salt, taker : and fentinto this
Port by the New Tartar privateer, John Gib
lon, Commander. Ihe above vessel was ta
ken in company with fix others, on the coast
of France, by the above privateer enly, four
ofwhich were, fuhte, being of small Value, on^
Stranded Since the capture, at faaltow m^ is
county, but the cargo of sailcloth, &c. likely
to be 'faved, and the other is not yet arrived."
Extras of a Letter from Dartmouth, March 21.
“ The flip brought in here on the 20th inst.
by the Dart privateer, Capt. Yeoman, as men
tioned in my last, is named I'Aged'Or, Capt.
Pience, from Martinico for Marseilles, laden
witn sugar; coffee, &c. and is valued at
15,0001. The engagement lasted three glasses,
wherein the Dart had two men killed and three
wounded; the French had three men killed
and fix wounded. ,She was taken the 4th in
fant, in lat. 3;, 6. long, io, 30, welt She
failed with four flips more from M,rtinico
without convoy."
Extrad of a Letter from Plymouth, March 21.
" Arrived the Sartine, a French brig priva
teer, taken yesterday off the Lizard, by his
Majeft)'s Ship Stag. She came from Brett,
mounts 16 guns, carries 87 men, and had just
taken the Clarendon from Jamaica, ope of the
convoy under the Leviathan and Charon, but
had parted company. The Slag also retook
the Clarendon, which likewise arrived here
this evening.
Extract of a Letter from Leitfek, March 5.
" The camps which are to take place this
year, in order to exercise the different troops,
will be exceedingly brilliant. Those of Au
stria will encamp near Pell, Luxembourgh and
Prague. The Prussian armies, near Potsdam,
Berlin, Magdebourg, Stettin, Bielefeld, and
in Prussian Silesia. And the Electoral troops
of Saxony near Groffenhagh and Leipfick.
We are assured, that the three Sovereigns will
repair in Person to their different armies.
The weather has beten very unfavourable to
the Count de Guichen since his departure from
Brest : Many ofhis Ships have greatly fuffered
from storms ; one of them, the Conquerant,
of 71 guns, has been obliged to put back into
Brest, so that he has now only sixteen fail of
the line with him.
The greatest expedition is used in fitting cut
a formidable fleet, which are to rendezvous at
Spithead in the course of next month, and are
to consist of 36 fail of the line, and other Ships
of inferior rates.
On examining the cargo of the Monsieur, a
French privateer, mounting 40 guns, taken
by the Alexander and Courageux men of war,
several calks, each of which contained some
hundred weight of dollars, were difeovered
in the hold.
Yesterday orders were sent to the several
officers appointed to the Ships which are to
form the grand fleet, to set off for Portsmouth
immediately, and to embark on board their
different Ships.
March 30. Holland is at present in a most
critical situation :• A few days before the
packet failed, the French Ambassador prefept
ed a memorial to the States General, inlifting,
in the most peremptory manner, upon an im
mediate declaration of war against England.
The late affair with Count Byland is treated
in terms of severe r;prehenfion by the French,
as if it was pre-concerted between the English
and the Dutch only with a view of keeping
up a proposed neutrality. A very Short time
was given for.the States to return an answer,
which, if not fatisfadory to France, She would,
without any further loss of time, proceed to
open hostilities against Holland.
It is the general opinion at Count Welde
ren's, that he will be recalled.
If Holland Should declare in favour ofEng
land, a general war in Europe will inevitably
take place; the Emperor is already exaspe
rated against the Dutch, on account of some
points of commerce which they have infringed,
and if he takes arms against them, their
ally, the King of Prussia, will appear in their
favour.
Extract of a letter from Peterfurgh, Feb. 25.
" The Ruffians have been hard at work all
this winter in getting ready their fleet; and
three days ago orders were given for 14 Ships
of the line and seven frigates to be equipped
for sea against the open weather. This, fleet,
we hear, is intended for the Mediterranean,
to adt against the Spaniards, with whom her
Imperial Majesty is much displeased; thev
having flopped some Ruffian Ships, fold the
cargoes, and used the people very ill."
The States General having given leave for
troops to pass through their territories to em
bark for America for the service of Great-
Britain, is a convincing proof that no politi
cal jealousies or disagreements prevail between
the two powers.
By the cartel for the exchange of prisoners
with France, we have already received 18,000
Seamen, and after delivering an equal number,
with what the French have of ours, we Shall
Bill have a surplus of 6500 of theirs.
It is reported, that an embargo will be laid
on all Dutch Ships and vessels which remain
in the river or any of the English ports, in
case the Court of Holland take no notice of
the memorial which Sir Joseph Yorke delivered
in to them.
Extras of a private letter brought by the last
mail from Holland, dated March 24.
" Count Welderen, Envoy Extraordinary
from the Republic to the Court of London,
has, it is said, in a letter to the Greffier Fagel,
dated March 9, given that gentleman notice,
that in consequence of an invitation from
Lord Stormont, he had a private conference
with that Secretary of State the preceding
evening, in which his Lord Ship desired he
would communicate to the States General his
makers, that if their High Mightinesses re
fufed to furnifh the fuccours to Great-Britain
so Solemnly Stipulated by treaty, and reclaim
ed by the English Ambassador at the Hague,
the King hit Mailer would be obliged to order
all the Dutch flrips indiscriminately, with or
without convey, that his Ships Should meet
at sea, to be vilited; and that all the mer
chandize and effects they had on board, which
were found to be for account of either the
French or Spaniards, Should be declared law
ful prizes, and confiscated; as It is by no
means just or equitable, that the Republic
Should be exempt from the observance of their
part of treaties, and England expelled fully
to keep to theirs.
The following men of war, with the trade
for the Well-Indies, are appointed to fail the
firft fair wind, viz. the Thunderer of 74, the
Ramillies of 74, the Egmont of 74, and the
Be wick of 74 ; they are likewise to be join
ed off Plymouth by the Toi bay of 74.
April 4. Three men of war are now under
failing orders, with a body ofland forces, for
tne retaining of Senegal, which garrison is
greatly reduced by sickness, &c.
Extract of a letter from Hamburgh, March 15.
" The Ruffian Resident at this place has
publicly declared here, that the Empress had
ordered a number of Ships of the line to be got
ready for sea as soon as the season of the year
would admix of; and that they were for the
affiliance of her good friend and ally the King
of Great-Britain; and further, that if he
wanted any land forces they were also at his
service."
Tb< .recruits that have been raised in Hesse,
Brunswick, &c. &c. for the German troops
now in America, amount to near 4000, and
are to embark in Holland in four divisions be
fore the end of April.
Authentic letters from Paris reprefcht the
French so totally distressed at this time for
naval Hores to refit the squadron at Brest, that
they were lately under the neceflity of pulling
a half finifhed Ship to pieces, in order to repair
the Royal Louis now in dock.
There are at this time upwards of 50 fail of
Dutch vessels lying in the several ports of this
kingdom, laden with Ship timber, cordage,
and other marine floras, which were brought
in by his Majesty's frigates crziuing off the
Texel, being intercepted in attempting to
carry the above ffores to Brest, contrary to the
different treaties subsisting between Great-
Britain and Holland.
Advices from Peterlburgh assure us, that a
Rafiian squadron of 19 fail of the line, several
frigates, &c. will rendezvous at Spithead by
the 25th inst. or as soon after as possible, to aft
in conjunction with the English fleet.
Extract of a letter from Cadiz, Feb. 28.
46 Only four Ships have been detached from
Don Michael Gallon's squadron, to cruize in
the Straits This small squadron, with that
of Don Antonio Barcelo, will be fuffiejent to
blockade Gibraltar. We expert here ten bat
talions of troops for embarkation. By the
dispatch used in victualling the transports, and
12 Ships of theline, which are to efcorte them,
we imagine they will be ready to fail on the
20th of March, agreeably to order."
April 6. It is fit, intelligence is received
of a riot at Brest, of which the following are
the particulars: As soon as the order came
for the embarkation of the soldiers destined
for America/ a general Spirit of difeontent
run through the whole body of them, and one
regiment in particular Stoutly and absolutely
refofed to set foot on board at all. The mili
tary belonging to the garrison were assembled,
and coercive measures were immediately a
dopted. A riot ensued, which proved one of
the most desperate over known on such an oc
casion. After a desperate Struggle, however,
and not till the Colonel of one of the regi
ments was killed, the Seditious corps was at
last surrounded, disarmed, and Secured. Or
ders were immediately dispatched to Paris,
when, in a few days, a messenger returned
with the following very severe mandate; that
every tenth man belonging to this unhappy
regiment Should be Shot. This order has been
carried into execution, which so far intimi
dated the rest, that they have Suffered them
selves to be embarked peaceably. It is against
this fleet that Admiral Grave:, with his nine
fail, is ordered to direct himfelf.
The Beauvais, a French frigate of 30 guns,
commanded by the Marquis La Valors, bound
from Brest, with dilpatches for Cadiz, was
101 l in a gale of wind in the Mediterranean ;
the crew were taker , up by a Dutch vell'cl, and
landed on St. Mary's lilacd.
April 8. This morning it was reported that
20 fail of French men war, and a great num
ber of transports with troops on board, were
seen off St. Maloes on I uefday last.
Extract of a letter from Plymouth Dock, April 6.
“ This evening arrived in this port a
Gurernfey privateer from a cruise to the west
ward. A day or two ago She fell in with a
French vessel from Brest road to Martinico,
commanded by a French officer of some note,
who had dispatches on board for the Govern
or of Martinico and Mons. Guichin, com
mander in chief of the Ftench fleets in the
Welt-Indies: which dispatches the Captain
of the privateer saved, and brought them in
with him to this port, and went to the Admi
ral a few hours afterwards, when they were
forwarded express to the Admiralty immedi
ately. It is said they contain a plan of all
the intended operations of the French r
the Weft-Indies and America, tiie
campaign ; and are of the greateilcr
to our Ministry to know.".
It was said advice was rece'
from Dartmouth, that one of tl
who were on board the St. An
taken by the Admiral Edwar
Paul Jones, who was going'
the rest to get the commas
having disposed of those sh :
he had the command of
which he had done so mu. ie
did not choose to ventures . ,ia
.£ the English channel left he should be tak n.
Extras if a letter from Pnmoutb, March ,1.
Another new corps (besides the Queen's
Rangers lying here) is ordered here for em
barkation : there are more troops Dipped
from Portsmouth ; the business in Dock-yard
is a'll lie rry and buttle.
BAL TJ MOKE, May 16.
A gcademan just arrived in town from Vir
ginia, hath favoured us with the following
summons of General Clinton and Admiral
Arbuthnot, with the laconic and spirited
anfiver of General Lincoln, who was main
taining his ground, with great firmnefs, on
the 21st ult.
bir Henry Clinton, K. 3. Commander in
Chief of his Majelly's forces in the Colonies
lying on the Atlantic, from Nova Scotia, &c.
&c. and Vice Admiral Arbuthnot, Comman
der in Chief of his Majesty's flrips in North-
America, regretting the effulion of blood, and
the distress which must now commence, deem
it confiftept with humanity to warn the town
and garrison of Charleftown, of the havock
and devaluation with which they are threatened
from the formidable force surrounding them
by land and by sea. An alternative is offered
at this hour to the inhabitants, of saving their
lives and properties, contained in the town,
or abiding by the fatal consequence of a storm
and cannonade. Should the place, in a fal
lacious security, or its Commanders, in a
wanton indifference to the fate of the inhabi
tants, delay a surrender, or should the public
stores or Whipping be deltroyed, the resentment
of an exasperated soldiery may intervene; but
the fame mild and compassionate offer can
never be renewed.—The refpe&ive comman
ders who hereby fammon the town, do not
apprehend so rath a step as farther refinance
will be taken, but rather that the gates will
be opened, and themselves received, with a
confidence, which will forebode farther recon
ciliation. H. CLINTON.
M. ARBUTHNOT.
Camp before Charleftown, April 10, 1780.
(Public)
To the Officers commanding Charleftown.
Head Quarters, Lines of Charleftown, April
10, 1780.
Gentlemen,
I have received your summons of this date.
Sixty days have past, since it has been
known that your intentions against this town
were hostile, in which time has been afforded
to abandon it ; but duty and inclination point
the propriety of supporting it to the last ex
tremity.
I have the honour to be,
Gentlemen, your most obedient
Humble Servant,
B. LINCOLN.
General Clinton,
Admiral Arbuthnot.
PHILADELPHIA, May io.
A most horrid murder was committed on Wednesday
last at Concord, in the county ot Chester, by John Smith
and Robert Smith, sons el William Smith, a farmer of
considerable property in that count), upon William Boyd,
an Alliftant Collector ofthe public taxes. The particu
lars which have come to hand are: That the father of
tbefe murderers, a person of notorious difaffedion, hav
ing been frequently called upon for his taxes, Which he
had evaded with abusive language. Mr. Crgg the Cel
le&or of the county employed the deceased, and a son of
Colonel Taylor, to call upon the Smiths, and insist on
payment, which they did, and finding no person at home,
but the wife of William Smith, who treated them as
ulual, they told her they must compel payment, and
would take a horse lor that purpose, but that they would
wait at the next tavern till -the evening, that the father
or sons might have an opportunity to pay the money,
which was only sixty-two pounds ten killings. They
accordingly went to the liable for the hurfc, when they
came back to the hoofs they found flic was gone to call
her hulbaoa. The Collectors then went along the road
and met William Smith the Father coming acrois the
field, to whom they fyoke and told him, if he would pay
the tax for his sons, to whom the hoife belonged, he
Should have him, which he refuted, and infilled to have
the halter, and attempted to take it off, which the Col
lectors prevented, ana proceeded to the tavern ; but flop
ping at another houie, in about an hour afterwards they
perceived the two Smiths the sons coming with guns to
wards the k-uie. Mr. 'lay lor then went to the door, and
they relied their guns on tne fence, and one of them laid
to tne other, “ Damn you, blow the brains cut <f tr.e
fi ft Collector you fee !'' Upon which the Collectors
thought It belt to get out at toe back door, which they
did, and toe Smiths followed, but in a lew minutes one of
them presented his piece, fired, upon which Boyd fell,
and expired in a lew morne .ts. The murderers fl;d im
meuiately to their father's house, where providing them
lelves with horles, they efciped for the prefert• But it
is hoped tne hind of juCict will overtake tUtc, and that
every friend to his injured and insulted Country will ex
ert himtelf on this occasion, where a bavr young man,
in the bloo n of life, in the discharge or a neyellary and
important duty, has fallen by the hands of villainous
Tories. It appears that Mr. Craig the Collector, had
frequently called for the taxes, and was threatened by
bdth bmith and his wife, in case any person attempt d
to take their p Qpefty ; and it is also very remarkable that
Mr. Taylor was sent on this service, as being a person
disposed to do the duiyin the easiest manner. If such
events do not open the eyes of she Tories, and the dege
nerate whigs, who countenance and support them, no
thing can, but feeing themselves involved in the fife
wroth mutt one day belal those parfac'desiftheir country.
Tne Frehdent and Council have iiTued a proclamation
for apprehending the.e inutderers, and offered a reware tof
Teh Th ,ufand Dol.ars for each,
CHATHA M, May 17.
We are informed, that at Newtown, Sussex
county, on the 16th inti. John M'Coy, and
Robert Maxwel, deletters from the conventi
on troops, were convitled of bulgary, com
peted in Greenheage; that the Friday en
g M'Coy was executed, and the other re
-4 till the 9th of June next. We are told
appeared extremely penitent, oxpiefled
dent hopes of salvation, and, at the place
execution, made the moll solemn protefta-
jns of their innocence of the accusation for
/which they were to fuffer. The unhappy
man died in charity, he said, with all men,
and hoped that after his death, the world
might have due tellimony of his integrity.—-
As during their iinprifonment they were often
vifued by the Rev. Mr. Ogden, who gained