The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1778-02-16 00:00:00, page 2

LONDO N, Dec l
Coty of major general Vaughan's report.
On board ^ Frfyhi, ff F@s, Friday, Oflober
17, io o'clock Morning..
Sir,
Y Hme the bonow to inform you, that on the even-
I iag of the 15th infant I arrived off Efopus ; find
ing that the rebels had thrown up works, and bad
mile every difpQtion to annoy us, and cut off our
< vmufofrr, I judged it neceffar, to attack them,
tbs wind being at that time so much again, us, that
we could make no way. I accordingly landed the
troops, attacked their batteries, drove them from their
reworks, fo iked and defroped their guns, Efopus being a
nursery for almofl every villain in the country, I
judged it necefary to proceed to that town. On our ap
proach the, were drawn up with cannon, which we
took, and drove them out of the place. On our entering
the town the, fired from their boufes, which induced
me to reduce the place to afoes, which I accordingly
did, ray leaving a boufe. We found a considerable
quantity of fores of all kinds, which,oared the,fame
jate.
The 6th at day-break the general debarkation took
place, and all the troops, except about 400, who
we^ left to secure Vere-phnk-neck, were soon land
ed at Stoney-point, upon the oppofie (here, from
whence they had about 12 miles to march through a
mountainous and rugged road to Fort Clinton and
Montgomery.
The fliips and transports then moved higher up,
and anchored opposite Pcek's-kill landing.
In the afternoon the advanced squadron and two
frigates got under fail and opened Fort Montgome
ry, with a view only to make an appearance, and
thereby to cause a diversion in favour of the attack,
which we observed had now begun. Sir James, by
the help of his oars, got near enough in with the
gallics to throw some (hot ibto the fort. The can
nonading and fire of nrufquetry continued till night,
when, by a mod spirited exertion, a general and vi
gorous alf ultwas made, and the two important forts
of Clinton and Montgomery fell by Itoim to his
majesty's arms; on which I have the honour to con
gratulate your lordfnip most sincerely. The rebels
frigates are both burnt, with a galley ; and a Hoop
of ten guns is taken.
The loss on the enemy's fide is not yet exactly
known, but they are supposed to have had about too
killed, and 250 taken prisoners. The greatest lots
on the fide ot the king's troops are about 40 killed,
among whom are some valuable officers,, namely,
lieutenant-colonel Campbell, major Still, major
Grant, and captan Stewart, and about 1 50 wounded.
A summons Signed by fir Henry Clinton and my
felf was the next day lent up to Fort Constitution by
a flag of ore, which being fired at, returned, and
determined the general immediately to correct the
infuit by an attack. An embarkation was accord
ingly mtle on the morning of the Sth, and pro
ceeded up the river for that purpose, under cover of
the Faheys.
We found upon our arrival the fort bad been
abandoned in great confuhon, their barracks burnt,
but all their artillery left. The whole number of
cannon taken in the three forts amoun s to 67, with
a large quantity of provisions ammunition, and
stores of all kinds to a very considerable amount. I
have Treked such part of the chain and boom as
cannot be laved to be destroyed ; the cordbuaion of
both give itrong proofs of labour, industry, and fk 11.
Sir James Wallace with his flying squadron is
gone itill higher up the river, and if he passes the
chevauz de frize at PrJlipus-illand, he may do tffen
tialfa vice, as there can be nothing to give him any
inter option.
When it is corifidered that this attack was made
ai r a mod fatiui^g much over precipices, ad
though roads almost impenetrable, which made it
impofiible for the tioops to avail themselves of the
ide of cannon f, unneceffaiy for such a purpose, and
the tittle affidar.ee they could therein promise ihem
felves from rhe (hips ; the access through the high
lands toi the forts, rendering the approach to them
so precarious, it redounds the more to the credit of
a: enterprize, which was formed and executed with
equal judgment, valour, and fuceefs.
The captains, officers, and men under my com
mand have been so ftrenuoully zealous in their exer
ti ms, upon this occafron, that every teffimony is due
from me in approbation of their conduct during this
service of fatigue, of which captain Pownail has had
his sh ife, and is well able to inform your lordfliip of
every particular.
I have tl e farther pleasure to acquaint your lord
ship, that general Tryon is just returned from Con
tinental Village, where he has destroyed barracks for
^ mtn, with ftoiri to a configurable amount,
Sir James Wallace has defrayed all the flipping
except an armed galley, which run up the Creek,
w^a ever, thing belonging to the vefels in fore.
Our to, is so incorfdel able that it is not at prefect
wjrtb while 10 mention. I am, &c.
(Signed) fohn Vaughan.
Admiralty office, Dec. 1.
Copy of a letter from commodore Hotham to vice
&dmital lord vifeount Howe, and by his lordship
ifanfmiited to Mr. Stephens, dated on board his
niajeiiy's ihip the Preiton, off Peek's-kill-Greek,
the gt't of October.
SIR Henry Clinton having thought it advifeab'e
tn make a diveifin up die North-river, and the
receffary arrangement, being made in eonfequence,
the flat boats and batteaux on theist inst. proceeded
1) Spikendevil-creek in three divrtions, under the
captains Pownall, Jordan, and Stanhope ; captain
rpwnail having the direction of the whole.
A body of about 1100 troops were embanked in
them that evening, and the fame night proceeded to
Tarry-town, where they landed at day-break, and
occupied the heights adjoining. A fecund divdion,
neatly of that number marched out at the feme time
irom KinUbridge, aid formed a jun&ion by land
with those who psffd by water. Tae fquadion
larder captain Ommanncy had moved up the day be
fore to receive them, the smaller part of it, namely,
toe galhrsaad aimed veff Is, (as they might be to
act leparately) £ thought it adtifeab'le on this occa
lion to make a dilbnct command, and could not
place them better than under the direction of fir
James Wallace, whose knowledge of the river, as
well vs captain Ommanney's, we fully experienced
the advantage of.
The third division of troops were embanked in
transports, and on the 4th in the morning lefi New-
Ymk, under convoy of the Preston, and in the course
of the fame tide arrived off Tarry-town.
The general embarkation was that night made,
and the wind being still favourable, the whole, pre
ceded by the Squadron undo nr James Wallace as an
advanced guard reached Vere-plahk^point at noon
the day following, and those in the flat boats landed
with appearance only of an oppof.tion. Sir James
Wallace was immediately dify^c^eci higher up the
river to cut off the enemy 's communication by Peck's
jedl-ferry.
The CREED of William Ramscallion,
Freeman of Bo,on, now firft publilhed for
the Benefit of the World, from an Origi
nal Manufeript.
J BELIEVE, that I have a Right to Life,
Liberty and Property, regardless of God's
Will and independent of the Will of what
is termed Civil Society, which was firft insti
tuted by some artful Men, under Pretence of
general Good, but really to impose their own
rigid Notions of Slavish honesty upon free
born Souls, who have a Claim to aft as they
please, without regarding the Happiness or
Interest of the rest of Mankind. For, if lam
bound by any Man's Opinions, I am certainly
under Refiraint, and consequently must be
come a Slave. Human Laws, therefore, I
abhor ; because they both check the Freedom
of the Will, and are in themselves an arbitrary,
Assumption in others to ordain Matters, to
which I have never given my Consent. For
this Reason, I abominate, as a most vile Im
position upon my Liberty, all Rules, called
by the Name of Laws and held to be in force,
which were eftablilhed before I was born, and
which of Course I had no Share in framing.
Insight as well be bound by the Judgment of
any prefect Men, as by the Determinations of
the old Dotards who edited before me. My
Will would be confined as much by the latter
as by the former; and consequently under
that Confinement, I must be equally a Slave.
I mod cordially detefl, upon this Account, all
Constitutions but those of my own making ;
for though it be not essential to my Happiness
that other Men Should ad as they please with
regard to me, it seems highly proper for my
own indulgence that I Ihould do as I like with
regard to them. In this, then consists the Es
sence of true Liberty, that I ihould have my
own Way in all Things; or, in other Words,
that I Should be bound by no Persons and by
no Laws, but what I myfelf have made. For
this good Purpose, therefore, 1 think it would
be light and wife to ena& a frefh Code of
Laws for every new Year, and abrogate all
others, to which I have never given my per
sonal-and positive Consent. In this View, I
would firft abolish what is called the Law of
the ten Commandments, which neither 1 nor my
Party ever made, and to which but few of us
have ever been such Fools as to give our As
sent. That is a-Yoke of Bondage, which we
are utterly unable to bear. 1 have a Thousand
Objections to them ; and will date, by Way
of Sample, a very few. "To honor a Man's
Father and Mother," is a Rule not fit for
Men ; though it may do well enough for Chil
dren. " To do no Murder," is Nonsense ;
for I think it right and becoming, and there
fore it is so, to knock down all Men who dif
fer in Opinion from me ; and it is besides the
surest Way of eftablifning Peace, for all the
Dead (God bless 'em) are remarkably quiet.
" Not to commit Adultery," is a Command
that may serve for Eunuchs, and for Simon
Square Toes, who is as old as Methuselah ; but,
by the living Congress, it will never do for
me. Then comes a pretty Injunction truly---
" Thou (halt not fteaj." If this Mandate were
to be obeyed, what fhouldl and several Thou
sand other honest Fellows do for Bread, after
enlisting in our continental Army ? If we did
not take what we can find, and indeed we
take no more ; the Duce of any Thing would
drop from the Clouds either to feed or clothe
us. There arc no Elijah's now a Days to be
fed by Ravens, I may make the fame Objec-
Copy of a letter from Sir James Wallace to Com
modore Hotham, dated, gallies and armed vessels
off Efopus-creek, October 17, 1777.
SIR,
WE proceeded up the river, destroying a num
ber of vettels as we failed along, without
flopping till we arrived at Efopus-creek, where we
found two batteries ; one of two guns, the other of
three guns erected, and an armed galley at the mouth
of the creek, who endeavoured to prevent our pafiing
by their cannonade. General Vaughan^ was of opi
nion such a force Should not be left behind. It was
determined to land and destroy them, and immedi
ately executed, without retarding our proceeding up
the river. The general marched for the town and
fired it. The boats from the armed vessels went up
the creek, burnt two brigs, several large Sloops and
other craft, with all their apparatus that was in store
upon the Shore. Lieutenant Clark of the Depen
dance, with two or three others, in firing the stores
werg blown up, but we flatter ourselves not dan
gercufly hurt.
The officers and men upon this occasion behaved
with the greatest spirit.
Dec. 6. Yesterday some frefh advices were
received at the Plantation-office, from Sir Guy
Carleton at Quebec, brought by the Ship
Montreal, Capt. Gibfun, arrived in the
Downs from that place, which were carried to
his Majeily at St. James's.
Yesterday the Hon. Commiflioners for vic
tualling his Majesty's navy contrasted with
Mr. Mellifh for 3000 oxen, for sea store, to be
killed at the victualling office, Tower-hill, at
30s, 6d. per cwt.
Exirafi of a letter from Chatham, Dec. 3.
" This day orders Were received at the
commiffioners-office in this dock yard, for the
Montreal of 32 guns to be fitted out with the
greatest dispatch for channel service, and this
afteinoon arrived here Capt. Stair Douglas,
when the was immediately put into commission,
and that gentleman appointed to command
her."
Extras of a letter from Portfmontb, Dec. 3.
" Last night about 30 of the American
prisoners broke out of Forton-prifon, but being
immediately pursued by a large party of sol
diers, 1906 them were taken : diligent search
is making after the rest."
The Egmont, the Hussar, the Hawke Sloop
of war, and the Alert cutter, are cruizing off
Oporto.
YORK-TOWN, Jan, 24.
We hear that the Honourable Congress
have ordered a monument to be erected in
North-Carolina, to the memory of the amia^
ble and gallant General Nash, who fell on
the 4th of Oft. at the battle of Germantown.
BURLINGTON, February 4.
Extras of a Letter from a Gentleman at Camp,
at the Valley Forge, dated January 25, 1778.
" The Honourable the Continental Congress
have passed a rtfolve, that Burgoyne and his army
shall remain prisoners of war until the Convention of
Saraghtega is ratified by the Court of Britain. The
frequent petfidy of that nation and its Generals, ren
dering this Measure prudent and necessary.
rf 6 ,4 '|"t't'l"l "tL+ 'l"'l'+'t"l'tTl'l''t'L*t'++ 'b d l "t "1 "t
At THE RETAIL SHOP, BY
ABRAHAM WILLSON,
At the sign of the golden padlock, No. 872, in Cre^t-
Dock-Street, the firft house from the corner, the pub
lic may be ferr'd with the undefmention'd medley of
goods, on such reafon,ble terms as he thinks, will
please those who chose to become purchasers.
Groceries Pewter spoons,
UIUUCIICb. Common fnuffboxes,
Muscovado sugars, a few pounds of blue vitro],
J^hy^d Hatters Trim _
C< ffee and chocolate.
Portable foop and ketchup,
Mace and cinnamon,
Cloves and nutmegs,
Alfpice and pepper,
Salad oil.
Linen Drapery.
Cambricks, lawns and rauf
lin,
7-8, and yd. wd. Irish and
German linen, from 2s.
• to Bs. per yard.
Table cloths, and Russia di
aper towelling,
Clouting diaper, britannias,
Irilh, Russia, and French
Sheetings,
Homespun And dowlafa,
Vitry and ozenburghs,
Ciocafs for bags or straw
beds,
Russia drilling and Raven's
duuk.
Callicoes,
Chintzs & Silks.
Black India and Engiilh
taffety,
Green and black India per.
fans,
Black mode and peelong,
Handkerchiefs of various
colours and qualities,
Black and colour'd Ribbons,
A good affonment ot silk
ferrets,
An assortment of sewing
silks, &c. &c„
Hosiery.
White and marble silk hose,
White and brown thread do.
White and black worsted do.
Fine patent rib'd and plain
grey do.
Small and large yarn do.
Wotfled mitts of various
colours,
Men's yarn gloves,
Manchefters,&c.
Cotton and linen checks,
Manchester stripes and fler
rets; Linceys,
Double fold cotton,
Fine white and colour'd cor
duroy,
Verona, nankeens, ging
hams,
Check and printed handker
chiefs,
Cotton romals,
The best Flanders and com
mon bedticks,
Blue, brown, changeable
green and ftrip'd camblets,
Shailocns, durants,
Tammies, callimancoes,
Moreens,
An .Abetment of threads,
Dutch lace from No. 0 to 6
OvJ and wire Shirt and veil
buttons,
Shue, coat and quality bind
ings,
Coat and vest buttons,
Garterings, &c, &c.
Here the industrious boafe
quife may be served north
fan, cotton, and candle
zuyck.
Ivory and horn combs,
Black lead pencils.
Small dressing gl if s,
Ink powder, writing paper,
and sealing wax,,
Arnold's best bottled fnuff, 1
Shoes and boots,l
A collection of Shoe, knee,
and flock buckles,
He takes in payment defaced gold, and old
silver at its value, and' pays r^ady money for
all foru of Dipping sum,
tions to the rest of this fine String of Com
mandments ; for by bearing falfe Witness a- 4
gainfl the King and all that are put in Autho
rity under him, I and my Colleagues are ar
rived to our present Station of Superiority
and Power; and by the Help of the Devil,
we will maintain it, both by seizing as well as
coveting, not only any Thing that is our Neigh
bour's, but also e^ery Thing " that is his."
This is my Creed in general, which I pub
lish for the Good of such as myfelf, that we
may knit together in one Bond and make a
Market of the rest of Mankind. I mod reli
giously pray that God would turn the World
upside down, that land my free brave Fellows
may make the meft of it. And as to all those
mean fort of Scoundrels, who love Peace and
Quietness, and wilh to live what they call
" a godly, righteous, and sober Life ;" let
them die and perish ; for what care I, since I
have my Will and Way in all Things ? This
is the Freedom for which I and many others
contend ; and which is to be given us by Our
High and Mighty Congress, whose Memo
ry Ihall yield a more abundant Fragrancey to
Posterity than---all the Bog-houses in Phila
delphia. Amen.
mings.
'Beaver, caftor and felt lin-
I i n g R ,
|A variety of buttons,
(Wove loops,
Single and double chain
looping,
I Pieces of ribbon for looping
or binding of hats,
1 [The best flat silk and mo
, hair looping,
Plain and falh, bands, hocks
and eyes,
Needles, brushes, blocking
, cord,
Fi/h Skins and verdigteafe.
Woollens.
Superfine scarlet broad cloths
Second do.
London brown and Sky blue
s do. Fine greenknaps.
Brown, blue and green Ger
man 1 <ges,
Buff caffimer,
Coatings and bearskins of
' various colours,
Ratteens, frizes, keifeys,
SwarSkins,
White and green drapery
bays; White flannel,
7 4 8-4, 9-4 rose blankets,
Common rtriped do.
Kendal cottons, &c. &c.
, Sh * !ed cloaks at 14s.
Men's and youths velvet
bound fine and coarse hats.
China.
A parcel of beautiful ena
mel'd and flue -and white
, tea cups and faucets,
- A few dozens of cream co
• loured plain and foop
>plates,
Oval and round diffies,
A large parcel of velvet
corks,
The best purple and copper
indigo.
Cutlery.
The best ivory handle and
common table knives and
forks,
Cuttoes, penknives and Shoe
knives,
Lancets,
Fleems for bleeding horses,
Sciffars, razors and razor
strops,
Cases with razors, hone, oil
bottles, strops and feiflars,
Drawing knives,
\fh, frame, tenant and
common handsaws,
Whip saws,
3 4, I and 1-2 inch black
and bright augers,
Gouges, firmers and chizels.
Ironmongery.
Steelyards that will weigh
180,
Flood gate smoothing irons,
at the trifling price of 3s.
6d per piece,
A few 3 bolt fine brass and
iron door locks of diffe
rent fizes,and really cheap,
Closet and padlocks,
Very strong 11 and 12 inch
stock locks, some of them
with screws and plates,
An aflortment of dove tail,
H and HL hinges,
Gun flints,
Nippers and plyers,
Dolphin and cod fi/h Shooks
and lines, &c. &c. &c.
OA T &
A Few bushels of oat:to be fold che p. Enquire of
Hugh Gaine.
-B^TSATAC" HE-R 0 NT"
FIVE POUNDS reward for an old WATCH fiolen,
the 13 h uitr maker's name Charlefon, London,
708 ; the cases gold, arid much bruised, steel chain, two
seals, one a Scotch pebble, with a cypher C.C. the other
of silver, crest two armsfuppprting a scalp.
TWO POUNDS reward for a miffing Watch, gilt
and ffiagreen cases, name, Hope, London, 2458;
Cfiee-Hcufe bridge, Feb. 5;
All Gentlemen Volunteers,
THAT are able and willing to serve his Majesty
KING GEORGE the Third, for two years, of
during the rebellion, in the Prince of Wales's American
Volunteers, commanded by his Excellency Brigadiers
General BROWN, now lying at King's-Bridge, let them
repair to Mr. John Burrow's, at the sign of the globe,-
near the main guard ; Mr. James Webb, at the lowef
end of Maiden-Lane ; Mr. John Davan, at the sign of
the George, the corner of the Fly-Market; at Mr. John
C. Brannon's, at the u^per end of Chapel- street, opposite
the New Brick Meeting, or to Mr. White, near the
Main-Guard : At either of these places, gentlemen vo
lunteers will be kindly entertained, and receive their fi/Z
bounty, appointed by his Majesty, (as an officer will at
tend the several houses for that purpose, to inform them
of advantages belonging to that Corps in particular.)
N. B. All persons that with well to his Majesty's ser
vice, will be kind enough, when they meet with any
person out of employ, or others that they think fit to
serve his Majesty, and will bring them to any of the above
houses, Ihall receive Two Dollars, with thanks for their
troub'e.
PTTMcir-M'D&VTTT,
HAS opened a Vendue House, three doors from the
Coffee-houfe, leading to the dock, where will be
fold, TO-MORROW, at XI o'clock,
Forty-seven pieces of yard wide IRISH LINEN in lots,
Twenty-seven pieces of CALLICOES,
A few pieces of fine LAWN,
With fix hogsheads of Weft-India RUM,
And three calks of MUSTARD.
Just imported in the ihip Lenox, Capt. Hay, and to b^
fold by
FRANCIS PANTON,
For cash only, at No. 35, in Wall-street, the second door
on the left hand from the Coffee-Houfe bridge,
S HONE's best rack'd porter in hogffieads,
North Wiltshire, Gloucester and Cheshire cheese,
Railins by the jar,
Men's neat bucklkin gloves,
Norway doe, lin'd with fur, ditto,
Wash leather with ftitch'd tops, ditto,
Ladies and Gentlemen's gloves for dancing,
Fine cambrick pocket handkerchiefs with red and blue
borders,
A frefh assortment of Ladies and Gentlemen's crooked
combs,
A large assortment of Enghffi and French pomatums.
W'A'N T E D,'
IN a genteel family in town, a poor girl of about 11 or
12 years of age, to take care of children chiefly.---
Any refugee or poor creditable family having such a girl,
and are willing to put her apprentice, may hear of the
above family by enquiring of the printer.
N. B. A boy of 14 or 15 years old is also wanted.
To be LETT from now till May,
A FRONT ROOM, bed room, and cellar -
Enquire of the Printer.
F^—GL-TS GOW,"
The Ship WALTER,
William Hastie, Master;
T)URTHEN 300 tons, a fine new
D vessel, and has the best accommo
"dations for passengers. For freight or
patTage apply to Thomas Buchanan, and
Co. who have for file as usual, at their store in Queen
ftreet, No, 212, a large assortment of dry goods, Tene
riffe and red port wine in pipes and hogsheads, Jamaica
rum, and a cargo of Liverpool salt.
THE fubferiber, living two doors to the northward
of the Ofwe go- Market, resolving to depart for
Europe, has a few GOODS on hand which he will fell
low for caffi : All persons having any demands on him,
may call for their money.
JAMES MCCULLOUGH.
JUST IMPORTED,
In the Ihip Jean, John Ritchie, mafle r , now lying at
Cruger's wharf, and to be fold by the bale, box or pack
age, by
Lauchlan M'Lean,
Speedily will be published.
Lives of the British Admirals,
OR,
MEMOIRS
OF THOSE
ILLUSTRIOUS SEAMEN
TO
Whose INTREPIDITY and CONDUCT, the
English are indebted for the Vi&ories of their
Fleets, the Increase of their Dominions, the Ex
tension of their Commerce, and their Pre-eminence
on the Ocean.
Interspersed with
The most material Citcumftarces of N AV A L
HISTORY, from the Norman Invasion to
the Conclusion of the last War.
By JOHN KENT, Esq ;
LONDO N:
Printed for J. Wallis, Yorick's Head, Ludgate-ftreet,
and fold by H. Gaine, New-York, where the firft
Volume may be seen.
This Work will be printed on a beautiful
Letter and fine Paper, and embellished with
Copper Plate Engravings of the most remar
kable Sea-Engagements, Maps, &c. &c.
from original Drawings, and executed by
the most celebrated Artists.
H E large new well finifhed
& House in Duke Street, now occupied by Colonel
Campbell, and next to Mr. Miles Sherbrook's, is to ba
LETT, Apply to C^t, Gibbs in SmEhS.reec
SUPERFINE and fecond]
scarlet broad cloths with
proper trimmings,
Superfine and second broad
cloths of various colours
with trimmings,
Wiltons, Walloons,
White and brown buckram,
Gilt and plated buttons, fa-'
fhionable,
Men's fine wax'd calf and;
strong military (hoes.
Women's callimancoe ffioes,|
Men's full welted hogfkini
and plain faddlcs,
Women's hunting faddies,
1] and other faddlery,
l Nails from 2d. to god.
Iriffi rose butter in firkins,
I Cheshire cheese in calks and
ibaskets,
Pickled and ripper salmon,
Port wine in calks of 6 and
10 dozen each,
;Irifh pork in barrels,
[Camp ovens and bird shot,
iSail cloth from No. 1 to 8,
M< uld and dipped candles in
I boxes,
?Beft Kippen'sfnuff in bot-
Ities,
[Oatmeal in barrels.