The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1777-11-17 00:00:00, page 2

L O NDO # N, % 30.,
Exi^fl of aletter from P^mc^t?, Aug. 22.
“ Two extraordinary wagers have been de
termined here within this, week, which vteie
as follow; one of $0 guineas between two
gentlemen, to ride one horse from here to Ex
cier and back to this town (in the whole 88
mi'es, a ftonty road, and hilly) in 16 hours,
which was donein 14 hours and an half. The
second w^ger was by two Gentlemen to per
form the fame in 14 hours, which was done in
12 hours and an half."
Extras of a letter from Folkftone, Aug.'2l.
" On Sunday last, about Four o'clock in
the Morning, Captain Stoney of the aimed
Smuggling \effel, lately taken by the Are
thufa Frigate, with gin, tea, Ac. came in
/a PoR-Chaife and Four to this Place, where
he was fccreted till the evening following,
when he privately took a Boat, and went on
board a cutter lying in the Road, and imme
diately set fail for Dunkirk. It is reported
that he made his Escape from the man of war,
in the following'manner. A boat was pro
yided in the ni r .ht time to lie at a little Dii
tance from the Ship, and the Captain getting
into the water, and leaving his cloaths be
hind him„ swam to the boat, which took him
up, and brought him to the Shore, where
clothes were brought him, and' a PoT Chaise
ready to carry him off.
“ Before his Escape it was reported that the
Merchants at Dunkirk had said they would
give a thousand pounds to get him away. One
or more of these merchants were in England
at the time Stoney made his escape."
Extra! of a letter from Bath, Aug. 19.
“ Yellerday died in this city, Mr. George
Allen, Portrait Painter; a Man well known
to the Public who had frequented the Grove
Coffee-Houle, for by their _ Liberality and
Humanity, the poor man has subsisted up
wards of thirty years, without knowing that
his Support did not arise from the singular
merits of his pencil alone. His method was
to bring down every two months a couple of
small paintings on canvas, which he called
Landfeapes, and he soon got a Subscription
of sixteen persons at half a guinea each to
raffle for them, and never knew that those
who loft the prizes were inoft fortunate. Mr.
Hoore, with great Humanity, supplied him
with colours and canvas; Mr. G h, only
with contempt, and the poor man, under the
pleasing delation of being the companion of
gentiem 'a, and the friend of a brother artist,
was kept up to the g<eat age of eighty-eight
Years. For the last half year of his life he
was enabled to come to the coffee-houfe, and
as no Person had been admitted for the last
twenty years into his lodgings, heQuid have
died there for want, had not some Addr. fs
been made use of to supply him with money,
for he would have died rather than receive
charity. Upon his Viewing one of the Sub
scribers two Pictures then upon Subscription,
he observed with concern, that there was a
round hole in one of them. A hole, Sir!
replied Allen, why that's the moon, a mistake
which had nearly struck the Subscribers name
from the lift, and deprived him of even a
cnance of gaining the Green Cheese. He
left behind him a Treatise on the Art of
parting, fit only to be read by the Man in
his moon. Buthere let me observe, that it is
in England alone where a man who was void
of fettle and genius, and even destitute of good
manners (for he would not resign his feat, or
his Newspaper, to the firft Peer in Britain)
could have been thus long fapported as he has
be„, merely because he was deemed a man
of integrity, which confirms an old Adage,
r.nd it is hoped it will be attended to, that
'• Honesty is the best Policy."
Notwithfianding the Vigilance and Activity
< f PreE-Gangs, the gublic Streets were never
so much infelled with Pickpockets; as at pre
fect there is scarce a night in which outrages
are not committed by these Wretches, who are.
impudent enough to appear in different Parts
cf the town between the hours of eight and
ten, before the watch is set, in bodies con
liking of ten or twelve sturdy fellows, and
this in the most public Streets. Their prac
rce is for one of the gang to commit a gross
affront upon some passenger ; whicn drawing
a remonitrance from the injured party, draws
together a mob, and among the rest the other
part of the gang, some of which appear to
take the part of the gentleman, and a sham
fight ensuing, the fpedators soon find they
have loft their Handkerchiefs, Snuff Boxes
and Watches. Different gangs of these da
ring Banditti have carried on these practices
in Chancery-Lane, Holborn, the Strand, and
Oxford Road, on different Nights for some
time pad, without any opposition from the
numerous Passengers, who took no other
notice than by going on the opposite fide of
the way. As these gangs and their haunts
mull be well known to the Police, a corres
pondent expresses his Surprise that the Civil.
Power does not exert itfelf to prevent these
disorders, if the Pr-fs Gangs think pick-poc
kets unfit company for honed Jack Tars.
Extract of a letter from Falmouth, August 23.
" A brig from Ireland, bound up the Chan
nel, was spoke with by one of our pilot-boats
or fifhermen, on Wednesday lad, from the
master of which they had the following ac
count, viz. That in crossing the Bay he was
brought too by two vessels, ship rigged, bound
from Nantz to Carolina, each of which
riounted tyn guns ; that being ordered on
b>ard, they questioned him as to the men of
war on the Irish coast, and the news from Ire
land ; after answering the several questions
spat to him, they fimthim back with 6 hands.
which were to flay cn board the brig, and to
bring back four of the crew, which they ac
cordingly did, and then made fail after the
American vessels, leaving in the brig only the
matter, two seamen, and a boy. On the se
cond day after they were taken, the Ameri
cans agreed among themfelyes to bring the
vessel back to England, having heard in
France of the rewards given those seamen who
had rose and retaken (hips, and accordingly,
in the night, altered their course."
General Burgoyne has not made use of an
improper or uncommon phrase in describing a
disposition made of the German dragoons on
his flank : en potence is equally applicable to
infantry as cavalry, and has been used by the
present Lord Townfhend in his public letter to
Mr. Secretary Pitt, in the year 1759, upon
taking Quebec, these were his words : " Ge
neral Montcalm having collected the whole of
his force from Beaufort fide, and advanced,
ihewed his intention to flank our left, where I
was immediately ordered with Gen. Amherst's
battalion, which 1 formed en potence.
Yesterday a hearing came on before Mr. Al
derman Hart, at Guildhall, the issue ofwhich
is of no small consequence to the Gentlemen
of the Livery.—Oneof those gentry, who so
frequently exhibit a specimen of high life
below Hairs, was complained against by his
master for gross behaviour: The youth had
been persuaded by some of his brethren, that
insolence was a species of milbeh^viour of
which the law had taken no cognizance, and
that he mignt bedow a very considerable por
tion upon his inafter with the utmoit security
from punishment: Buoyed up with this idea,
he appeared a. the bar with the most confident
resolution, until he found his mistake, when
he was willing to save himfelf from the hor
rors of imprisonment by an abje& fubmiflion,
but that came too late to be accepted. The
matter desired the law might take its course,
as the only effectual memento to the prisoner,
who, by a train of connexions might, unless
checked in time, be brought to a more serious
account. He was committed to Bridewell for
a week.
On Monday last there was a great bruising
match in an inn-yard at Colnbrook, for con
siderable fams of money ; the principal com
petitors were, Selway against Woods: the
former, after a smart contest of twenty-five
minutes, beat his antagonist. The second bat
tle was contended between Allen and Death ;
when the former, in a little more than ten
minutes, made his adveriary yield to his su
perior abilities in the Broughtonian skill.
There were three other bye-battles fought,
which gave the ipeXators, who were numerous,
more fatisfaftion than those which were con
tended by the four former noted champions.
Letter from Brussels give an account of the
following tragical story, which was attended
with some very singular circumstances. —The
Marquis de P***, a French gentleman of for
tune wit, figure, and gallantry, was under the
necessity of quitting his country for an affair of ,
honour ; the Marquis, it seems, fell desperately
in love with a young damsel of rank much in
ferior to his ; —his mistress entertained a pas
sion equally violent for him. Such an affection
was difficult to conceal, and therefore it soon
came to the knowledge of the young lady's
brother, who imagining that the Marquis's
friends would not consent to an honourable
union, told him very frankly that he must de
sist from yifiting his sister. A duel was the
consequence of this interference, and the young
lady, upon hearing that her brother and lover
were gone out to fight, fell into a fit; the lat
ter of whom having (lain his antagonist, ran
to his mistress, who expired in his arms. The
Marquis, obliged 'to fly instantly, reached
Bruffel% where he pined away his hours in
grief and despair. His only consolation was
in looking upon, and kissing the handkerchief
which he took from the neck of his deceased
mistress, when he was forced from the body ;
and, to heighten his misfortunes, the only
friend he met with here drained him of all
his money, and then ungratefully deferred him
He soon after received his pardon, and might
have returned to France, but that part of the
world he disclaimed on account of the fatal
accident: his family, desirous of compelling
him to return, refu fed him every kind of flip
port; —this very harsh treatment only fixed
him the more strongly in his resolution. His
debtor soon returned to Brussels, whom the
Marquis caused to be put in prison for the sum
he owed him ; and finding himfelf on the eve
of extreme indigence, and having constantly
before his eyes the image of his adored mis
tress, whose .death he had rashly occasioned,
he resolved to put an end to his own existence.
The day which he set apart for his mortal de
liverance, he was remarkably gay. After
having dined, he wrote many letters, went
and put them in the post-house himfelf, and
afterwards retired about half a league from
the city, down the river, to a feeret recefs,---
where he duck his cane in the ground, and,
placing his great coat upon it, plunged into
the stream, and thus elofed the feene of all
his miseries and misfortunes.—The body was
taken yp in a few hours afterwards, round the
neck of which it seems was tied the handker
. chief of his beloved mistress.
Extras of a letter from Venice, fune 23.
“ We have the following account from Pa
dua: A midwife of that place, who was very
far gone with child, was sent for to deliver a
lady; when she came to the house she was her
felf at the fame time suddenly seized with the
pains of child-birth; the maid of the lady
delivered them both as well as she could, and
put the two children to one cradle, without
remarking which each belonged to ; they were
boys, and one dying some minutes after it was
The Brussels Gazette of Monday last gives
an extraordinary account of a young man,
about thirteen or fourteen, (now in the hospi
tal de la Charite at Paris) who was leized in a
very furprizing manner. Going to fee the
Execution of Des Ryes, he was taken ill on
feeing him mount the Scaffold ; but when the
moment approached for breaking the criminal
on the wheel, on the firft llroke being given,
the poor lad loft his senses, and thinks ever
since that his own limbs are broke, and ap
pears to be in great agony. The surgeons,
however, are certain that he has not any frac
ture ; but his body is full of black and yellow
spots, like those proceeding from bruises. It
is thought he will not recover.
Edinburgh, July 25. Mr. Stephens fays, in
his letter to the Lord Provost, " Their Lord
fllips have a just sense of the zeal shewn by
the Magistrates of Glasgow for his Majesty's
service, and of the importance of that port,
and will take everv effedual care in their
power for its protection, by stationing cruizers
on that coast ; but as every port of this king
dom has a claim to be protested, it will be
impo/lible for their Lordships to station a ship
for. the protection of each port ; more espe
cially while so great a part of the fleet of
Britain is Rationed in America and the Weft-
Indies."
Neiucafle, July 26. A letter from the Ad
miralty, dated the 22d inst. to the Right
Worfhipful the Mayor of this town, is re
ceived, importing that their Lordships have
ordered several frigates and floods to be Ra
tioned in the North sea for the protection of
the trade.
Dublin, Aug. 19. A few nights ago two
gentlemen who were confined in a fpunging
houfe in Angel-alley, High-street, for debt,
amounting, as is said, .to 80001. effected their
escape in the following manner ; they got a
friend to hire an uninhabited house which is
next adjoining their late apartments, where
Rands a large settee, under cover of which,
and by the industry of their friend and pre
tended neighbouring tenant, they found a
way through a hole made in the partition wall,
big enough for their admittance, and, it is
said, they are now fafe in the South of France.
— _—
From the London Magazine, May 1777.
The Method for preferring the Health of the Creiv
of his Majesty's Ship the Resolution, during
her Voyage round the World. By Captain
James Cook, F. R. S.
Addressed to Sir John Pringle, Bart. P. R. S.
AS many gentlemen have expressed some
surprise at the uncommon good Rate of
health, which the Resolution, under my com
mand, experienced during her late voyage,
I take the liberty to communicate to you the
methods that were taken to obtain that end.
Much was owing to the extraordinary attenti
on of the admiralty, in causing such articles
to be put on board, as either by experience or
conjecture were judged to tend most to preserve
the health of seamen. I shall not trespass
upon your time in mentioning all those articles,
but confine inyfelf to such as were found most
ufeful.
We had on board a large quantity of malt,
of which was made fweetwort, and given (not
only to those men who had manifeft symptoms
of the feurvy; but to such also as were from
circumstances judged to have that disorder)
from one to two or three pints in the day to
each man, or in such proportion as the sur
geon thought necessary; which sometimes
amounted to three quarts in the twenty four
hours.
This is, without doubt, one of the bed
antifcorbutic sea medicines yet found out;
and, if given in time, will, with proper
attention to other things, I am persuaded,
prevent feurvy from making any great pro
gress for a considerable time: but I am not
altogether of opinion, that it will cure it in
an advanced hate at sea.
Sour krout, of which we had also a large
provision, is not only a wholesome vegetable
food, but in my judgement, highly antifcor
butic, and spoils not by keeping. A pound
of it was fervid to each man, when at sea,
twice a-week, or oftener, when it was thought
necessary.
Portable soup, or broth, was another essen
tial article, of which we had likewise a libe
ral supply. An ounce of this to each man,
or such other proportion as was thought ne
cessary, was boiled with their peafe three days
in a week ; and when we were in places
where frefh vegetables could be procured, it
was boiled with them, and with wheat or
oatmeal every morning for breakfaft, and
also with dried peafe and frefh vegetables for
dinner. It enabled us to make several nou
rishing and wholesome mefles_ and was the
means of making the people eat a greater
quantity of vegetables than they would have
done otherwise.
Further, we were provided with rob of
lemons and oranges, which the surgeon found
ufeful in several cases.
Amongst other articles of victualling, we
were furnifhed with sugar in the room of oil,
and with wheat instead of much oatmeal, and
were certainly gainers by the exchange. Su
gar, I imagine, is a very .good antifcorbutic;
whereas oil, such a: lead as is usually given
to the navy, I apprehend, has the contrary
effect. But the introduction of the most sa
lutary articles, either as provision or medi
cines, will generally prove unfuccefsful, un
supported by certain rules of living.
On this principle, many years experience,
together with some hints I had from Sir Hugh
born, both the mothers claim the Surviving
infant.
Paihfer, the Captains Campbell, Wallis, and
outer intelligent officers, enabled me to lay
.down a pnn whereby all was to be conducted.
The crew were at three watches, except upon
some extraordinary occasions. By this means,
they were not so much exposed to the weather,
as if they had been at watch and watch ; and
they had generally dry cloaths to fhift them
selves, when they happened to get wet. Care
was taken to expose them as little as possible.
Proper methods were employed to keep their
persons, hammocks, bedding, clothes, &c.
constantly dry. Equal pains were taken to keep
the ship clean and dry between decks. Once
or twice a week she was aired with fires ; and
when this could not be done, she was fmoaked
with gunpowder, moistened with vinegar or
water. I had also frequently a fire made in an(
iron pot at the bottom on the well, which
greatly purified the air in the lower parts of
the ship. To this and cleanlineL, as well in
the ship as amongst the people, too great at
tention cannot be paid ; the lead negleft oc
casions a putrid, offenfive smell below, which
nothing but fires will remove; and, if these
be not used in time, those finells will be at
tended with bad confluences.' Proper care
was taken of the fhip's coppers, io that they
were kept constantly clean. That fat which
boiled out of the fak beef and pork, I never
Buffered to be given to the people, as is custo
mary, being of opinion that it promotes the
feurvy. I never failed to take in water,
wherever it could be procured, even when we
did not seem to want it; because 1 look upon
frefh water from the shore to be much more
wholesome, than that which has been kept
some time on board.' OF this essential article
we were never at an allowance, but had al
ways abundance for every necessary purpose.
I am convinced that with plenty of frefh
water, and a close attention to cleanliness,
a fhip's company will seldom be much affected
with the feurvy, though they should notibe
provided with any of the antifcorbutics before
mentioned. We came to few places, where
either the art of man or nature did not afford
some fort of refrefliment or other, either of
the animal or vegetable kind. It was my firft
care to procure what could be met with of
either by every means in my power, and to
oblige our people to make use thereof, both
by my example and authority ; but the bene
fits arising from such refrefhments soon be
came so obvious, that I had little occasion to
employ either th'e one or the other.
These, Sir, were the methods, under the
care of Providence, by which the Resolution.
performed a voyage of three years and
eighteen days, through all the climates from
52 deg. N. 10 71 deg. S. with the loss of
one man only by disease, and who died of a
complicated and lingering illness, without:
any mixture of feurvy. Two others were un
fortunately drowned, and one killed by a fall ;
so that of the whole number with which I set
out from England, I loft only four.
I entirely agree with you, that the dearnef!
of the rob of lemons and of oranges, will hin
der them from being furnifhed in large quan
tities, but I do not think this so necessary ;
for though they may assist other things, I have
no great opinion of them alone. Nor have I
a higher opinion of vinegar; my people had
it very fparjngly during the late voyage ; and,
towards the latter part, none at all; and yet
we experienced no ill effects from the want of
it. The custom of walking the inside of the
ship with vinegar, I seldom observed, think
ing, that fire and smoke answered the purpose
much better.
(^^^^^^^9o^©009009)
Remarkably cheap for -Cafb,
The following GOODS (which arc just opened) will be
fold, viz.
Broad cloths,
Red, blue and brown
coating,
Green, brown and mixed
frizes,
Creen, blue, white and red
penittons,
Scarlet, blue, brown, and
mixed Bath coating,
Hunters cloth,
Blue and green duffles,
German serges,
Beaver serges,
7 8 and yard wide Irish li
nens,
3 4, f-8, yard, and yard
and 3-8 cotton checks, Shalloons, Twist.
Also, Florence oil, currants, pickled walnuts, cut to
bacco, &c. &c. Enquire at the store of Edward and Wil
liam Laight, No. 190,'Qneen-ftreet, near Burling's-flip.
N. B. The above articles are to be fold by the bale,
box, or left quantity.
FIVE FOUNDS Reward.
RUN-AWAY on the 14th ult. a negro wench named
BET : She is about 23 years old, between a negro
and mulatto colour, of a fmtling disposition, has a mark
in her neck nearly resembling the letter C. middle size,
and lusty. She foim.rly b<l meed to one Mr. Vander
veer, of Flatbulh, on Long Illand. When she went
away she had on a homespun pettycoat, callicoe short
g,wn, red handkerchief, and without either hat or bon
net. Whoever will secure the said wench, or give infor
mation of any person harbouring her, shall receive the
above reward by me
PHILIP LENZI, Confectioner,
No. 517, Hanover. Square.
NEW RICE,
JUST landed, to be fold reasonable (for family use) in
quantities not less than fifty-fix pounds, at the house
of URIAH KENDRICKS, opposite the sign of the
Golden Key, in Hanover-Square ; also by the tierce to
shopkeepers, &c.
N. B. There is fifty-fix tierces for file.
TUTeT
TWO rooms on one floor, up one pair of flairs, with
a fire-place in each room. Enquire of the printer.
A NEGRO WENCH who is an excellent cook--,
understands pastry, and every other branch of
cookery, perfectly well.-—Enquire of the printer.
Dowlas,
Ravens duck,
Cambricks and lawns,
Hedricks,
Morea gowns,
Fearnoughts,
Striped duffles,
Ratteens,
Men's duffie watch coats,
Coats and vest coats,
Buckram,
Glazed linen,
Pocketing,
Buttons,
Bindings,
Thread and stay tape,