The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1777-06-23 00:00:00, page 2

hilling Somewhere; Upon which orders were
immediately ifl'ued out to put the port of Ma
laga in a 'good flare cf defence, to prevent
^ny attempts of the Moors, who might easily
make a descent on that coast, as it is almott
defenceless.”
On the 20^1 ult. died at Darmftadt, Frede
rica Charlotte, Qowager Princess of Prince
Maximilian of Ikhe? aged 78 years, 6 months,
and 13 days.
By the last ^fetches from Admiral Mann,
which arrived in the WcVccfter ft^ of war,
it appears that the Algerines were making
great preparations for a descent upon the Spa
nidi coast, and that the court of Madrid had
ordered the troops to file o£ from the frontiers
of Portugal, in order to protect Alicant, Car
ihagena, and Barcelona, in case the Moors
Should effect a landing.
Richard Gibbens, Esq; killed his Majefly's
Land at St. James's on being appointed folli
citor general of Nova-Scotia, for which place
Be will embark in a few days.
Extras of a letters received by a Gentleman mho
bears an honorary Gfce in the Cig, from
Amdordarn.
" the States General have received letters
from their refpc6tive Consuls at Algiers, Tunis,
and Tripoli, which inform them, that the
Regencies of these places shew but little dis
position to maintain peace with their High'
Mightirreffes: That lately they have heavily
opprehed the Captains and Crews of Dutch
flips which have put into those ports: That
complaints that have been made of these pro
ceedings to the several Regencies of the above
places, have made no impreflion ; and that
there is great reason to fear, that steps so drf
ngreeable to the Rep Alie will be followed by
such as will be kill more so. Their High
Mightineffes's Cobful at Algiers takes notice
particularly, that having demanded an audi
ence of the Dey, upon this fi:bje&, and then
complaining of a conduct so little conforma
ble 'to the treaties which fulfill between the
Regency of Algiers and the Republic of the
United Provinces, the Dey arfwered him very
frankly, in the following terms: ' All that
you h-ve said in this affair, would be very
good, if the conhitutiou of cur State was
other than it is. You know perfectly well,
that we could not fuppbrt ourselves, were it
not for the prizes which we take from the
Christian nations. It is ;ow more than two
years since we made any captures of conse
quence; we must therefore make curfelves
amends by aiding in another manner. In
Abort, we have been at peace with you io long,
that all our privateers are weary of it ; and
well they may, because we are likewise at
peace with Great-Britain, France, and other
maritime states; too many at one time ; we
muff break with some of you.' The Consul
exclailned greatly against such a procedure;
and said, that the States General by no means
deserved to be treated in this fort, since 1b
great presents were made by them to the Al
gerines. To which the Dey replied, ' Fray
don't upbraid us with your presents, which
are not half so valuable as those made by
\c:her nations, with whom we are at peace.
But since you talk of presents, pray where are
the pieces of fcatlC and blue cloth you pro
mised me, and where are the malls that your
headers were to fend me ?' The Consul re
plied, that he did not doubt but the particu
lars mentioned by the Dey, were intended to
le sent; and that it was certainly owing to
forgetfulnefs that he had not received them
before. ' Anri Tor my part (said the Dey)
I likewise forgot that there A any such thing
as a treaty subsisting between us.' The rela
tion cf this whimsical conference gives much
uneasiness to the Dutch merchants and their
Hi^h Mightinesses, who are in deliberation,
whether ft will be molt prudent to shew their
teeth to the Barbarians, by fending a fqua.
dron into the Mediterranean, or to fatisfy their
avidity, by fending presents to the Regency.”
They write from Compeigne (in France)
that 60 inhabitants cf three neighbouring
villages, parting the river Qile together in a'
boat, at four o'clock in the morning, on the
joth of this month, at a pldce called Bac de
Jaux, the boat overfet when they were about
the middle of the river, and 42 perlons were
drowned, among whom were one woman with
child, and fix girls. The i 8 others efeaped
by fwimnQng.
Extract of a letter from Portfmoutb, April 1.
,“ The Captain of his Mjellyh ship the
Squirrel, was tried yesterday by ? Court Mar
tial (which had been called at the inßance cf
the Well India Merchants) held on board the
Frincek Amelia in our harbour. The charge
again/ him was for not accompanying the last
Jamaica fleet to England, of which he had
the convoy, by which means several of the
vclDls were taken by American privateers,
" The trial began at nine o'clock in the
morning, and laded till four in the afternoon,
when he was acquitted, and the Court Mar
tial declared it to be their opinion that the
reparation of the fleet was owing to stormy
weather, and the Captains of the vqffekneg
le&ing to obey the signals of the Squirrel.”
A Letter from Windsor, dated April 1,
Tavs, " Yesterday notwithstanding the severity
of the weather, a flag w^s turned out near
Farnham, which, according to annual custom,
has been darted every Ealler Monday, from
the field opposite the Castle at Salt-hill, but
the person who owns.that land havipg declared
he would shoot the deer if turned out in his
held, it was thought prudent to change the
place to firrt above-mentioned. Many
people, whose curiosity had led them from
Windsor, Eaton, and the adjacent villages, to
fee the Rag let off, and the dogs and horse
men in full cry, were greatly disappointed,
hftcr having flood in the cold wind for up
wards of three hours. Several gentlemen
from London, who had brought their horses
down on the Sunday evening to the Castle and
the Windmill-inns, and who were not in the
secret, had the mortification of being flung
out at the\firft onset, though they had plenty
of riding before the chace was over, as it held
upwards of three hours, during which time
she cioffed the river, and was at last killed in
the sorest. The Duke of Cumberland turned
out a Rag the fame morning, which afforded
much diversion, and was at last caught, and
laved for the diversion of a better day.”
Letters from Constantinople, dared the 18th
ult. inform us, that the' misunderstanding be
tween the Porte and Russia is in such a Rate as
not to leave the least doußt of harmony being
eftabliffied between those two Powers.
Other letters from Constantinople add, that
a Ruffian Blip was just arrived there from Leg
- horn, with a cargo confiding of English mer
chandize.
They Write from Florida, that the culture of
tobacco is going to be made one of the princi
pal objects in promoting the interests and trade
of that 'Province.
The Right Rev. Dr. Terrick, Lord Bishop
of London, who died yesterday, of an inflaina
tory disorder in his bowels, which brought on
a mortification, was Dean of his Majesty's
Chapelßoyal, a Governor of theCharter-houfe,
and one of the Lords of his Majesty's Most
Hon. Privy Council. His Lordship was con
secrated a Bishop in the year 1757, upon the
translation of the present Bishop of Winchester,
from the Sea of Peterborough to that of Salis
bury, and was advanced to that of London in
the year 1764, on the ejeath ofDr. Ofbaldedon.
His Lordship has left a widow, and two daugh
ters; the one married to th^Right Hon. Lord
Harrowbay, and the other to the Rev. Dr.
Anthbriy Hamilton, Archdeacon ofColchefter.
On Saturday as Mr. Hayman, who was up
wards .of 100 years of age, and formerly an
Officer under Ring William, was walking on
Blackheath, near which Place he had redded
many years, he was seized with a fit of apo
plexy, and inftantiy expired.
By a Captain of a ship arrived in the River
from Dominica, an account is received, that
three large French Merchant ships, bound
from Bourdeaux to Martinico, with valuable
cargoes had foundered in a hard gale of wind,
within a few leagues of that Bland, and all the
crews supposed to have perished.
April 7; By authentic letters received from
Port L'Orient, we learn, that an American
privateer cf 14 guns, 'who had taken two
Eaglifh vessels, and brought them into that
port, was ordered to depart immediately by
the Marine Commissary, as orders had been
received from Paris not to admit there any
American ship with English prizes.
April 8. Dr. Lowth, Bishop of Oxford, is
promoted to the fee of London.
On Friday last his Majesty's ffiip Apollo,
with Gen, Burgoyne, and several other officers
on board, failed from Plymouth for Quebec.
Yesterday afternoon Lord North arrived in
town from Buffiy Park, perfectly recovered
from his late indisposition.
A gentleman arrived last Wednesday at the
-Admiralty, from executing a private conimif
fion of importance at Rochfort and Bred,
which he performed with the greatest success.--
From his intelligence it appears, that the
French naval preparations are neither so for
ward, nor backward, as have been reported ;
they have five ships of the line and four fri
gates ready for the sea at Rochfort ; and four
of the line and fix frigates at Brest ; they are
working upon five of the line at the firft port,
and fix at the other ; but these cannot be ready
for some time. They are in no want of men,
but the ©economical plans of government had
been extended so much to the docks; that
the stores and magazines of all kinds were
wanting, nor are they yet supplied, though
great exertions have been made to do it. The
whole French navy cunfifts at present of 57
fail of the line.
Saturday morning kt the Guildhall, Weft
minder, came on the trial of David Browne
Dignam, for defrauding Mr. Clark of ycol.
under pretence of having procured him the
place of clerk of the minutes in the custom
house at Dublin, when he was found guilty,
and sentenced to work on the Thames for five
years. The trial lifted till three o'clock.
Yesterday die#, at his house in Soho-square,
Sir Stephen Theodore Janffen, Bart, many
years an eminent merchant of this city ; a gen
tleman who had dedicated much of his time to
the service of the public, and who, with the
lateSampfon Gideon, Esq; were the firft pro
moters of a scheme in the year 1745, for flop
ping a run that was then (in the time of the
rebellion) made on the Bank of England, by
an association of merchants and traders of this
citv to take Bank Notes in payment for bills
and book debts, which had the desired effect;
for which, and many ether public adds, the
Livery of London in 1747 elected him one.of
their Representatives in Parliament, as also in
Jan. 1765, on the death of Sir Thomas Harri
son, they elected him Chamberlain of this city,
which he refigped in February, 1776, on ac
count of his ill state of health.—it would be
vain to attempt an eulogium on this great man.
His character is above all praise.
Extract of a letter from. Chatham, April 7.
" The following ships are just put into
commission dt this port, viz. Cornwall, of 74
guns, Sterling Castle (a new ship) of 64,
Trident of 64, and Captain, also of 64, now
called the Buffalo Forelhip.
. “ Tuesday and Wednesday last the artificers
and workmen of this dock-yard, with the of
ficers of ships and seamen in ordinary here,
were paid one quarter's wages, viz, Christmas
quarter, 1776,
. " The Victory of 100 guns is fill in dock,
and has been sheathed; ffie is esteemed the
finelf as well as larged ship in the royal navy;
her head represents the four quarters of the
world. Admiral Keppel is to hoist his flag on
board he; at Spithead, when she is to join the
fleet of observation ; she will be put out of
dock jn a few days; the Admiral is expected
here feme time this week.'.'
April 10 she budget will be opened on
Friday fe'nnight, and not before.
The Taxes for the service of the present
year are fixed, and said to consist of.fhe fol
lowing articles ;
1. An excise of ss. a thousand on bricks, to be
levied on die maker at the kiln on putting in.
2. A duty of 20s. ayear on all livery servants.
3. And in oider that the duty may not be
evaded, 40s. a year on those out of livery,
4. One pound a year additional on four
wheeled carriages.'
These duties Lord North brings in under
the conviction, that they will do for all the
money neceffafy to be railed for three years to
come; —he thinks it more beneficial to pro
vide fecuritl^ for a much larger sum than is
wanted, rather than be forced to come every
year with new taxes, for but moderate loans.
The excise upon bricks is calculated to
bring in 300,0001. a year. The idea was
Lord North's, and his Majesty complimented
him upon it. The manufacture upon bricks,
like that of beer, is so unwieldy, that it will
be impossible to evadf the duty.
An American privateer, of 14 guns, is
carried into Lilbon. She was taken about 20
leagues from the Rock of Liibon, and had
made no captures.
The late ingenious, feeptical Mr. Hume has
left behind him two literary pieces unpublish
ed; the one entitled, '' a Treatise on the
Exigence of a Deity,” the other, " a Treatise
on Suicide ;” which his Majelty hearing of,
has purchased of his executors at a very con
siderable expence, to prevent their publica
tion. An interference cf this kind is truly
royal, and demands the grateful refpeCt and
veneration of every man in this country', who
has the least regard for the morals of the public.
The Gazette contains, the ceremonial of
the Knighthood and invefture of Major-Ge
neral Henry Clinton, Knight of the Bath.
The sum to be borrowed this year will be
three millions.
The disclosure of the budget is the only re
maining business of consequence, that requires
the attention of parliament the present felfions,
so that both Houses are expected to be up by
the middle of May at farthell.
This day an exprtfs was sent to Portsmouth
for the Quebec fleet to fail immediately, with
out waiting any longer for the ships from the
River..
The present Charter of the East-India Com
pany expires in 1780.
Tuefdhy David Brown Dignam, and John
Webber, who were convicted at the Westmin
ster sessions, the former of fraud and the latter
of felony, were taken from Tothill-fields Bride
well under a proper guard, and put on board
a ballast-lighter at Woolwich.
Dignam's information to Lord Suffolk, cf a
pretended conspiracy against the King's life,
was, that his Majesty was to have been killed
with' a wind-gup, on his return from Kew to
Buckingham-house.
DIED.] At Saundbridge in Hertfordshire,
Mr. Hotham, a wealthy farmer. Tie has left
17,0001. to an only son, whom he, would
never do'any thing for while he lived, and is a
soldier now in America.
April 12. Colonel Harcourt is jo have the
firft vacant regiment that falls in Great-Bri
tain or Ireland.
On Thursday night his Serene Highness
Prince George of Mecklenburgh Strelitz, se
cond brother to the Queen, arrived at a house
prepared for his reception in the Stable
yard, St. James's, from Hanover, but last
from the Hague; and yesterday morning he
visited their Majesties at the Queen's Palace
and was afterwards at court.
Yesterday Council was called to the Bar of
the House ofPecrs to be further heard in the
appeal o&lrvine and Aberdeen ; and after hear
ing Council on both Sides, the final confeder
ation was put off till Wednesday next.
The tax on bricks is generally considered as
one of the molt adequate imposts, and less
injurious, if not beneficial, to the community,
of any perhaps ever thought off; a tax so far
from being grievous, that it may appear capa
ble of being extended, especially since the ma
nufa&ure of that article is far greater than can
be well conceived, as'it is well known that one
good moulder, and his gang, can with ease
make 26,000, and sometimes 27,000, bricks
per week, and often more.
Mr. Thurlow is talked offor chief justice of
the common Pleas, in the room of Sir William
De Grey, who is to retire on a pension with a
promise of a peerage. Lord Camden to suc
ceed the present Chancellor. Mr. Wedder
burne to be appointed Attorney General, and
Mr Dunning to succeed Mr. Wedderburne
as Solicitor. This arragement, it is said,
will take Place with the approbation of all
parties.
Portsmouth, April 11. The General Mont
gomery privateer, of 18 guns, and 86 men,
is taken by. the Levant frigate, and carried
into Gibraltar.
SCOTLAN D.
Edinburgh, March 29. This morning the
70th regiment arrived in town from Dumfries ;
all the companies have now joined the main
body in the Castle. The regiment is soon to
he reviewed ; after which they are to embark
for America. They are to be succeeded by
the Queens or fe^ond foot.
, Some foorl time since the public 4c%c amifA ^hh.
the pretended dfo-very oj a sot agaty a Great
Perfemage, in <wbicb e: ^as afeted ifn, Gentle
men oj condition lu.;ere fyfuckal The folb<wirtf
Anecdote mill probably explain mbat ga^c rife is
such a rumour.
77 /ffR. David Brown Dignam, who was corT&ed
90 Saturday of fraudulent practices, carried
on a much worse traffic than that for which he was
arraigned.
Some little time before his detection, he called at
the house of Lord Suffolk, re^uefting an interview
on business of an important nature. Lerd Suffolk
admitted him to a private audience, when Mr. Dig-^
nam disclosed his purpose to the following effc&:
He said, that he had unhappily engaged in a con
spiracy with some gentlemen ®f rank and fortune to
flioot the King. He named the following persons as
coufpirators engaged in the fame attrocious defyn;
Ihe Duke of Richmond ; Lord Shelburne ; Mr.
Alderman Sawbridge; Mr. Alderman Lee; several
other Members of the House of Commons, and
some private gentlemen of affluent condition.
He had even the audacity to mention the time and
place observed by the conspirators, in their confulttf
tions for carrying their supposed diabolical purpefe
into execution. He pretended, that the flings of
confidence had occasioned a remorse in his mind, and
that he had made so ample a confeflion as the only
atonement in his power, for having engaged in fe
villainous a cenfpiracy. Lord Suffolk heard the story
with a mixture of horror and furprize. His ember
raffment was extreme. On the one hand, the duty
cf his station called on him to aft with vigour.
Should the information be well grounded, the delay
of a moment might hazard the life of the Sovereign,
' and thus ; he who fhottld preserve, might be acceffa
ry to the deftruflion of the Prince. On the other
hand, the informant was a stranger , the parties in
formed against were mem of fashion, figure, refpe&-
ability, and ,lendid fortune. In such a case doubts
might be prudent, as convi&ion was not entire. Mr.
Dignam related his fiery with an air of truth ; at
least there was a plausibility in his manner. Lord
Suffolk prefled him to make oath of the particulars.
Dignam declined that propofol by faying, “ that rhe
scheme wa§ not yet ripe for execution ; no inconve
nience could therefore ensue from the delay. The con
fpnators, he laid, were to meet that evening, and the
next morning he weuld wait on his Lor^fliip to give
him information of every particular which parted at
th* meeting."
Lord Suffolk had been told of the place where this
Nefarious assembly was supposed to meet. Spies
were planted in the neighbourhood, and the several
gentlemen vho had been accused by the villain, as
the principal aftors in the business, were narrowly
watched. Each of them were found to be employed
about very different occupations. The place was
unfrequented by them : even Digram, who was to
attend their meetings, was true d to a brothel, and
difeovered to be revelling with strumpets in the plun
der cf the innocent. Before these discoveries were
made his Majesty was apprised of the whole of the
/tranfacbon. The necessary mode of proceeding was
debated in privy council. Some were for immedi
ately sizing the perlons of the conspirators. Hap
pily, however, the business was conduaed with greater'
temperance, and with more wisdom. The impro
priety of seizing gentlemen, who had net been
charged on oath, was considered as a ireafure of the
most unjuftifiable nature. It was concluded, that at
the succeeding interview with Dignam, Lord Suffolk
Ihould inlift on his swearing to his information. l
At the day and hour appointed, Dignam waited
on Lord Suffolk ; the matter was proofed home. Dig
nam desired only a procrastination of that day, assu
ring his Lordihip, that on the next he would sweat
to every particular he had related. The spies, whom
Lord Suffolk had employed, continued to watch the
motions of Dignam as before. He was traced, as
usual, to the Itews of debauchery. The supposed
conspirators, also, were attended by a groupe of ob
servers. Fi.m the condu& es the accuser, and from
that of the accused, L rd Suffolk wa§ convinced of
the imposition of the one, and of the entire inno
cence of the other. When, therefore, Dignam
waned for the last time on his Lordship, the Secre
tary was present. The informant was charged in the
plainest terms with his bafepefs. His face turned
pale; his vo ce faultered ; in ffiort, he was convift
ed and Confounded.
The celebrated David Brown Dignam has attemp
ted to make away with hrmfclf twice since his con
finement in Tetbill-fields bridewell ; onde by poison
previous to his trial, the other' by endeavouring to
fh@ot himfelf en Saturday evening last.
-=^&m<^Mttm^&^^^*^^
Office of Commissary-General, New-York, June ri,
1777.
WHEREAS his Excellency Sir WILLIAM
HOWE, General and Commander in Chief
of His Majesty's Forces, hath thought fit to order
and diie& Magazines of Forrage to be edablifhed,
for the better fu,plying of the troops under his
Excellency's command : Notice is hereby given (0
the several Land-holders, Farmers, and others, upon
York-Island, Long-Island, and Staten-Island, who
may be able to suppl, the said Magazines with Hay,
Straw, Oats, and Indian Corn, that the following
rates will be paid for the fame, viz.
Good Frefli Hay, at the rate of Five Shillings pec
Hundred Weight. ,
Straw, at Two Shillings per Hundred Weight.
Oats and Indian Corn, according to its quality.
And for the better encouragement of such peifont
to supply the said Magazines, an allowance of One
Shilling per Mile, far every Ten Hundred weight,
will be paid, over and above the price stipulated
aforefeid, for the carriage of the said Forrage to the
refpe&ive Magazines hereafter mentioned, viz.
YORK ISLAND.
King's-Bridge, Marlton's Wharf, City of New#
York.
LONG-ISLAND.
Brooklyn Ferry, Hempftead-Haiteeur, Oyster-Bay,
Great-Neck.
STATEN-ISLAND.
Cole's-Fcrry, Decker's-Ferry.
At which said several places proper persons will be
appointed to receive the fame, to ascertain the weight
Thereof, and to certify the delivery : and upon cer
tificates, ascertaining such weight and delivery, being
produced at this Office, the said Forrage will be paid
for immediately.
His Majesty's service requiring these Magazines to
be established as soon as the season will permit, it is
expelled and requited that all persons who raise for
rage, do furnifh a certain quantity, proportionable
to the produce of each person refpe&ively.
Daniel Wi^r,
Qmmifary Gq^yaf