The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1781-03-05 00:00:00, page 2

-—Foreign Intelligence .—
Vienna. Nov. I. The Count Durazzo, Am
bassador from the Republic of Venice at this
Court, is set out on his return to his own
country, where, it is assured, the public tran
quility is entirely re established : The' noble
Pifani, Procurator of St. Mark, has been con
demned to fuffer two years iraprifonment, and
the Advocate Cont^rini to one year's banish
ment ; after which they will be reinstated in
their polls, insomuch as they have done no
thing to infringe t,he laws of the State, bet
took some irregular steps on occasion of an
election that was to have taken place ; all the
other persons concerned in that affair have
been set at liberty.
Leghorn, Nov. I. The Marquis Phillips
Bourdon del Monte, Lieutenant Field Mare
chal, Governor of this city and port, Com
mandant of the coasts of Tuscany, died the
29th of last month, extremely regretted.
Paris, Nov. 12. We learn from Cadiz,
that since the arrival of the French fleet there,
nine more merchantmen are come in, which
makes theconVoy amount to 104 ships, thirty
of which are to pass the Streights, to go to
Marfeillesg the rest are defined for Bour
deaux, Rochelle, and Nantes.
Hague, Nov. 21. The Duke Vauguyon,
Ambassador from France, hath presented a
Memorial to their High Mightinesses concern
ing two English fliips laden with coals, which
were taken by a French privateer, and re
taken by an Englilh packet boat, which
brought them on the 24th of Odober to Hel
voetfluys.
Florence, Nov. 3. The Grand Duke wil
ling still to enrich his noble gallery, is not
only ornamenting it anew, and ranging the
'curiosities in a more methodical and brill nt
order than they iwere before, but has got a
vast number of very curious statues from Rome,
which were in the Country Hcufe de Medicis.
A new noble staircase is also finifhing, which
will be at the grand entrance of the gallery,
and is designed by the famous archited Zan
obi del Roffo, who also designed the embet
lifhments for the magnificent hall, where the
Grouge °f Niobe is placed.
Confiantinople, Odo. 17. The Grand Seig
nior returned to this place on the 17th infant,
from his country feat at Bechick Tach, and is
at the seraglio with all his train. The day
succeeding his arrival three fires broke out in
this capital; the firft reduced 400 houses and
ffiops to ashes, the second <OOO, and the third
61. It is not doubted but they happened by
means of some persons who are diffatisfied at
the late changes in the Ministry.
During the Bairarri, a dispute arose between
two Regiments of Janissaries, which might
have had bad conTequencey, but for the pru
dence of the Aga of these troops, who quieted
them at last, but not till about 150 of them
were killed and wounded.
Wafaw, Nov. H. The Diet closed this
day with the usual formalities; the project
for rot accepting the code of lavs composed
by the late C hancClcr Zamoylky, was signed
on the 20 of this month, adding however the
public thanks to that patriot for the great
trouble he had been at. In the fitting of the
7th, a regulation was signed relative to luxury
in dress, which among the rest forbids wear
ing of diamor ^, and other precious stones,
and breed cloaths for any but military men ;
upon which occasion the Nuncios who had
epaulets upon their deaths, took them off di
redly, even in the hall.
Hamburgh, Nov. 21. We have accounts
from Copenhagen, that Count Bernftoff, late
Miniflerof State, has obtained a penlion of
4000 crowns, and his eldett son is appointed
Gentleman of the King's Chamber, with a
pension of 1000 crowns; his second son a
captain in the guards, with a similar pension;
aod his third son a Gentleman of theChamber,
without a pension. Baron de Rofencrene fuc
ceedS as Minister of State, and the Privy
Counfellor Ca/ftons, is appointed Chief of the
German Chancelry. It is also said, that the
Count de Schimmelman has resigned his post
as Mir.iller to, the Circle of Lower Saxony.
Several other changes in different departments
are talk'd of, but none publicly known yet.
Puris, Nov. 20. By letters from Madrid,
dated the 7th of this month we learn, that the
French and Spanish fleets re-entered the bay of
Cadiz in the 2d. The wind b!ev so very
throng N. W. that the fleets, not being able to
double the cape, were obliged to tack about,
and very happily gained rhe bay they failed
from. Several vtlfels fuffered greatly, some
loft all their rigging, but no {hip has been loft,
all of them having returned to Cadiz. Mr.
d'Ehaing is, without doobt, the most grieved
at this accident of any person ; and great is
the dependence on his diligence for re fitting
the fliips, and on his eagerness to get to sea
again.
LONDO N,
Dec. 9. Letters from Brest mention, that
fosse dispatches had just been sent from thence
to the Governors of the French Weft India
Ifl&r.ds, containing some freffi inftru&ions con
cerning a regulation of trade between the fub
jefts of his Moll Chridian Majesty and the
States General.
It is now manifeft, that thedamages sustain
ed by Monsieur d'Ettaiog's fleet in the tem
ped, which obliged that Commander to put
back to Cadiz, were nothing like so gr^at as
have been represented, since Monfieurd'Eftaing
was able to put to sea again on the 7th of Nov.
with 36 fail of the line, and the greatest part
of the fleet which firft failed from Cadiz; he
was followed two days afterwards by two di-
Gfions of the Spanish fleet, who convoyed the
remainder of the fleet of merchantmen. It 1
being well underwood,that Monfieui d'Eßaing
is not bound for the Welt Indies, and the sea
son of the year not warranting the probability ,
of his having failed to America, there can be ;
little dbubt but his purpose is merely to con-,
voy to their refpeftive ports the fleets of French|
merchantmen lately brought to Cadiz'by Mon-1
finer Guichen from the Weft-Indies.
Admiral Hood's fleet had a quantity of wine
put on board at Portsmouth before they failed, I
as they were to proceed on their voyage to the
Well Indies without touching at any port
whatever.
We hear from Frankfort on the Main, that
a negociation is on foot between the Elector
of Mentz and the Landgrave of Hesse Caffcl,
for an exchange of some part oftheir refpedive
territories. The Elector of Mentz i, to givei
four bailliages, containing Amcenebourg,
Fit/lar, and forty villiages, for a part of the
county of Hanau„
They write from Belfaft, that more linen
drapery goods have been exported from theoc'e
this year than in any preceding one since the
establishment of the manufactories.
Admiralty Office. ;
Extras of a letter from Lieut. Noble, of the Ex-„
petition cutter, to Vice Admiral Evans, dated;
St. Helen's, Dec. 2, 1780.
" I beg leave to inform you, that, in com-;
pany with his Majesty's fbip Perfects and Race- ;
horse fchobner, on theist instant. at 7 A. M.;
Beachy^head bearing N. N. W. about three*
leagues, we saw a brig privateer. Capt. Da-{
cres of the Perseus, made the signal for a ge-|
neral chafe. At 11 the Perseus fired a gun at ;
the privateer, which she returned with two ;
broadsides. The Perseus then difeharged her!
broadside, when the privateer struck. Lieut.
Baker, Commander of the Race'horfe, hoisted
out his boat, and went on board the privateer,
and remaining on board himfelf, sent his boat
to acquaint Capt. Dacres with the situation he
found her in.
“ At a quarter past eleven the privateer fil
led and funk. We hoisted out our boat to
save as many of the people as possible that were ?
Swimming on oars, &c. There were taken up ;
by the Expedition's boat three of the French
men alive, and Lieut. Baker, who was found
drowned with two Frenchmen, floating on the
water. How many were saved by the Perseus
and Racehorse's boats, 1 cannot determine:
but I think it could not be many, it then
blowing freffi and a heavy swell.
"1 learned from the prisoners that the pri-;
vateer's name was the Count du Bois, Pierre
Sivettel, Commander, twelve fix-pounders,
and ninety men ; and that several of the Per
seus ihot had taken her between wind and wa
ter* She was a new vessel, pierced for 18
guns had been out two days from Bourdeaux,
and taken nothing."
Extras of a Letter from Portfmou+h, Dec. 0.
" On Wednesday failed the Surprize frigate
to the weftard.
" The Portland and Santa Monica are ex
pe&ed to fail this afternoon, on a cruise.
" The Eurydice, of 24 guns, building in
this dock, will be launched some time this
month.
“ The Belle Poule, and La Nymph, French
frigates, are coppered and out of dock; they
are expelled to be commissioned in a few days.
An expedition, and that not very distant, is
certainly resolved on, almost every ship in
commiflion being preparing for sea on the
shortest notice; bit to whom the command
will be given is not publicly known.
Extrafl of a Letter from an officer in Sir John
fobnfton's Corps of Neva-York Loyalists, to
bis Friend in this City, dated Montreal, July
2, 1780.
" On the 17th of May we embarked at Su
John's, the north end of Lake Champlain,
with 511 picked men, principally of our corps,
under the command of our admired leader the
Baronet; and in a 11 days we reached the
mansion house of our Commander, at Johns
town, the distance of 200 miles, halfof which
we travelled through a wilderness, and not a
man disabled or miffing. From Johnstown
we separated in two divisions, and spread a
line of about seven miles towards the river,
and burned every rebel habitation, took the
men prisoners; the women and children, with
their apparel, were fuffered to depart for
Shene&ady; We remained about 48 hours in
this country, collected about 200 loyal re
cruits, which will go towarc's completing our
second battalion, and then returned to Crown i
Point, the place of debarkation, and got fafel
to Canada in tefs than a month without the loss ]
of a man. Thus you fee a final! chosen band |
penetrated into the heart of the rebel country, §
at a greater distance from Canada than you are|
from it."
Extras of a Letter wrote by Count Weldern, the )
Dutch Envoy Extraordinary at the BritifoCourt, ,
to the Greffier Fagal, dated London, Oflober 24, ;
and which was deliberated upon by the States
of Holland an' Weft Friefland, together with (
those of Zealand, who took copies of the fame, in {
order to lay before their Constituents, and to de-,
liberate further upon it,
" Sir, some days ago Mr. James Frenchl
delivered to me a commission from their/
High Mightinesses, in which they conftitutel
him their CommiHary Generalin the kingdom /
of Ireland, and requeued me to aft the King's
approbation, as without it he would not bel
acknowledged in that capacity. I gave the
said commission to my Lord Stormont, and de
sired him toobtain the approbation of the King'
his mauler to it, on the fame footing as Mess.,
Gordon and Tjafink enjoy.. My Lord answer- ;
ed me, that he would let me know the King's
pleasure on the fubje&; and afterwards said,
that the advice of the Viceroy of Ireland had 1
been alked. Yefleiday, laving occasion to }
fpcak to Lord Stormont, I again entered upon
the above fubjed ; when he told me, that it
had been found, that hitherto there had never
been a Commissary General on the part of
their High Mightinesses in Ireland; and that
it was a novelty into which the King his master
could not at prefect enter, and consequently
could not admit Mr. French in that quality. —
After this he returned methe commission.
“ Idid all in my power to have Mr. French
acknowledged in the quality granted him by
their High Mightiness, but all my efforts
proved fruitlefs. I have the honour to be, &t."
Extract of letter afrem Amflerdam, Nov. 9.
“ We begin to be of opinion, the difeovery
of the negociations between some of the Burgo
matters and the emissaries of the Congress will
not be attended wih any difagreea'ble conse
quences to the a&6rs in that feene. Pray tell
me what conduft England willhold on this oc
casion, and if 4he is really as indifferent with
regard to all these transactions as cur leaders
would fain make us believe? Our sober dis
passionate people here, are still far from hav-
I' n 8 & ot ri' of all apprehension ; and they de-
Iclare frankly, and without reserve, that (hould
I even these gentry, (who, without the know
;ledge of the Rate, have been taking these rash,
Ifalfe measures) escape the aniniadverfion of the
I different provinces, and of their fellow citizens ;
!they will nevertheless remain obnoxious to
I public indignation, if their treasonable condud
I Should unfortunately plunge us into the hor
! rors of a war.
“ The plea of these treaty-makers is, the
!proteffion of trade. Under that cloak they try
to shelter all their clandestine manoeuvres, ma
;ny of which tend manifeftly to ruin trade. It is
the ftalking-borfe of faction, and employed by
them, as religion has often been on similar oc
casions, by those who deny even the existence
of a God. For it is worthy of observation,
that only one of the four Burgo-mafters of 1778
was in trade. {Van T—rl—nek), and that, at
the very time of the difeovery of their pretend
ed exertions to protest their trade, that one is
declared a bankrupt for about three millions
I of guilders. A bankruptcy the more scanda
lous, because upwards of one half of that
enormous sum was actually money borrowed at
successive periods for fourteen or fifteen years
past, when he knew himfelf to be worse than
nothing, and consequently with a moral cer
tainty of newer being able to repay it.
'• These are the guardians of our commerce !
I These are the fathers of their country ! God
1 grant the nation at large may not be as much
the dupes and vi&ims of all this outward seem
ing, as many, too many, individuals have been
of that one man!"
Extraa of a Letter from Leghorn,, Oaober 10.
“ Two English privateers, each of them
mounting above 20 guns, brought , into this
port two French letters of marque, one of 18
guns the other of 20; they took them up the
Levanton the homeward-bound passage; they
are said to be very valuable ships by their bills
of lading, the smallest ship having goods on
board that are worth 25,0001. and those on
board the largest near 20,000!. They were
bound to Marseilles, and fought the privateers
for upwards of an hour, when they struck to
their superior force; there were several killed
and wounded on board each of the French
ships, but the English had but one killed and
four wounded in both ships. The privateers
belong to Mahon, and were fitted out from
that Dort.''
NEW- YORK, March 1.
Yesterday arrived here the polacre Experi
ment, Capt. John Philips, in thirty four days
from St. Lucia, by whom we have the follow
ing intelligence, viz That about fix days be
fore his departure, accounts were receivedthat
Admiral Sir George Brydges Rodney's fleet
had arrived fafe at Barbadoes: That there
were seven fail of the line cruising off that 111-
and to intercept any fleet that might come
from France: That Admiral Sir Samuel Hood,
with seven line of battle ships, and a fleet of
transports, on board of which were five thou
sand troops had joined Admiral Rodney ; that
seven fail of French ships of the line - were lying
at St. Vincents difmafted, at which place the
Admiral, and General Vaughan had made a
feint, but returned with the loss of sixteen
men; that the British fleet consists of 25 fail
of the line, besides a number of frigates, sloops
of war, &c. and, that it was reported that an
expedition was forming against Grenada.
We also learn by the above vessel, that the
rebel frigates Dean and Trumble, were crui
zing off the Island of Defeada, but had taken
' no prizes.
Tuesday arrived a brigantine from Gauda
loupe, laden with sugar, molasses, &c. bound
for Cape-Ann : She was captured last Saturday
fe'nnight, by oue of his Majesty's ships. Also.
A schooner from the Havannah, bound for
Philadelphia, laden with sugar, &c. and a
quantity of dollars, prize to another of the
King's ships.
Mr. Gaine,
The trial and execution of Stephen Ball, a rebel
spy, having been grofly miJreprefented in a late
paper printed at Chatham, in New-ferfy, in
which that proud and blood-tbirfty Qiarter-
Master, the reverend fames Caldwell, the un
doubted author of the publication, has taken great
pains to inflame the people's minds, and fir them
up to further a^s of cruelty and persecution
againf his Majefy's loyal Jubjeas; you are
therefore requested to publife the following TRUE
ACCOUNT of that tranfaaion, by
A REFUGEE.
IN the month of January last, two of Captain
Hetfield's Refugees were patroling on Sta
ten-lfland, they dilcovered the said Ball lurk
ing about under pretence of felling provisions;
knowing him to be a v^ry great villain, and
one of the murdners of the late Mr. Thomas
Long, a loyal fubjed, and refugee, they appre
hended him, and brought him before Mr. Cor
nelius Hetfield for examination. There being
strong reasons to fufped him of ceding within
the British lines, with other views than that of
bringing provisions, Captain Hetfield thought
it his duty to order him to trial, that he might
be punished, if found guilty, according to bis
demerit. As a refugee prifener he was carried
over to Bird's Point, where he was indulged 1
with a fair hearing, and regular triakbefore a
court-martial, c^pfifting of eleven members
appointed for the purpose. The culprit with
out hesitation confeffed himfelf to be a spy, and
that he came out from the rebel lines under the
fan&ion of Colonel Dayton's pass, (who was ac
that time in great tribulation on account of the
mutiny of the Jersey brigade) in order to pro
cure intelligence of the movements of the Bri
tish army ; and that he was permitted by Cel.l
Dayton to bring over provisions, the better to
cover his real design.
It also appeared on his trial, that Ball had
a&ed a principal part in the , late tragedy of Mr.
Long'sfufferin, and death, and that he was the
identical person who stripped Mr. Long of his
boots and flockings, and while one of the party
with the but end of a musket damped on the
toes of this unfortunate loyalist, until his nais
were bruised off, and wounded him in ng lets
than thirteen different places with a bayonet,
one of those wounds being in the head, it was
dressed with a paper deeped in spirits, and af
terwards Jes cm fire by this inhuman monster Ball t
Not content with these ads of cruelty, this
poor vidirn was compelled to march a consider
able didance upon his wounded feet, and then
put into a hog-pen, where Indian corn was
thrown him for food, as to a dumb bead.
After undergoing these and various other tor
tures for several days, he was by the said Ball
and others, put to death under pretence of
his being a Jpy, whereas it was well known that
he was on business of a very different nature,
and could not with any propriety fall under
that denomination.
These fads appearing against Ball, as well
by ample proof as by his own confeffion, the
Court were unanimously of opinion, that he
I deserved to fuffer death, no less as a fp, than as
I a murderer; which punishment was accordingly
l indited with a decent fole.mnity, and without
I any of those marks of cruelty charged in the
I rebel publication, or for which the rebels'
| themfelves are so con'fpicuous to the world.
IThis being a true date of Ball's case, which
I was as well known in thgrebel country, as it
I is now within these lines, what mull the world
I think of this pious and referend Quarter-
IMaker's publication ? reprefetting him to have
been an innocent inoffenfive man ; at the fame
time holding up certain individuals of the re
fugees by name, at the lawless authors of Ball's
death, and as objects of revenge and retaliation.
I It may perhaps concern this famous reverend
I incendiary to know, as well as others whom
! he is desirous of exciting to bloody deeds, that
:fhnuld any British refugee be hereafter so un
fortunate as to fall into their hands and receive
a treatment different from what is due by the
Arie rules and laws of war, they will in due
I time be convinced, that the refugees^are de
termined, and have the powel of taking ample
and exemplary vengeance, and that they not
only have laws among themselves for punishing
Spies and murderers, but upon all proper occasions
have Spirit to put them in execution.
From the New Jersey Journal, F^b. 21, 1781.
By intelligence from Stated Island, we learn,
that Cornelius Hetfield, in a late rencounter
with a British officer had his right arm cut off;
and that Smith Hetfield had a bayonet run in
his thigh.
[This paragraph is without t& leaf foundation.]
Spring GOODS,
NOW opening a frefh Importation by the latest
Ships, and fold on very low Terms, for Cash
or good Bills of Exchange,
By Alexander Zuntz,
QUEEN-STREET, No. 55 . ctf.
CHOCOLATE,
WARRANTED fine and good, wholesale and
retail, at reasonable rates, by REBECCA
GOMEZ, at the chocolate manufa&ory, No. 57,
N^ffiu Street, next to Ann-ffreet ; who has also for
file bed Spermaceti Oil for lamps, common lamp
ditto, liver and train oil for curriers use. Teas,
sugars, fprces, blue, soap, and belt Poland starch at
is. per pound, vinegar at 4s. per gallon, firft quality
Durham inuftard at 4% per lb. raisins, almonds,
citron, playing cards, &c, &c. ctf.
To be LET,
Until the firft of May, and entered on immediately,
TWO rooms and a final! chamber, with the use
of a garret, in a pleasant p^rt of the town.
Enquire of the printer.
To be SOLD;
And possession given the firft of May next,
AN excellent good new house, in a convenient and
good stand for a tavern or the grocery business,
having a good cellar and a large yard. The house
is situated on the weft fide of Cruger's wharf, next
to the store of Rogers, and Co. Propefals for the
said house will be received by the fubferiber, living
upon the premises; who lias for sa le, seasoned white
pine boards, planks and spars, and a fine new ma
hogany billiard table.
ALEXANDER GRANT.
To be L ET,
And entered on the firft day of May next,
A Large commodious house, at the White-Hall,
with eleven rooms, eight fire-places, two gar
rets, a large cellar that will hold one hundred pipes
pfuine, a good gangway and paved yard, with a
pun p, cistern, and aih house. Enquire of Philip
A. Schuyler, No, 45, Hanover-Square, New-York.^