The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1781-08-06 00:00:00, page 2

fix to be demolifh^ and refinquilhed, Having
for the better accommodation of the army, re
moved to Orangebur,, eighty miles distant
"from Charleftown..
A few days since died after a lingering
nefs, Captain WERNER, of the Hessian Ar
tillery, and Major of Brigade to Gen. Knyp
haufen, a Gentleman of eminence in his pro
feffion, and universally beloved by a very ex
tensive acquaintance. ~ ,
On the 12th of June last died at Cbarles-
Town, South-Carolina, Capt. EDDERGING,
of the Hessian Regiment of Ditfourth, greatly
regretted as a good officer, and much lamented
by those who were acquainted with his private
character. v
On Sunday evening departed this life, in the
coth year of his age, PETER Duaors, Eq;
Magistrate of the Police of his City, a Gent e
man defeended from an ancient family, equally
known and refpe&ed: .
He possessed a firmnefs of spirit which
enabled him to encounter the misadventures of
human life with a fortitude rarely to be met
with:, .. ~
The delicacy of his sentiments mace him lul
ceptible of all the tender feelings of huma
nity, at the fame time that it preserved him
from every idea of meanness or cuplicity.
Inflexible in loyalty to his King, and love
o f his country, he sustained witn uncommon
patience and magnanimity, a series of oppref
fions and indignities as unmerited as they were
'"senfible of the approach of his dissolution,
he met it with manly dignity, and chriltian
reflation ; and in full hope of the future
peace purchased by the Lord of Love, he de
parted with a heart filled with benignity to
wards all mankind:
His funeral was attended by many of the
most refpeftable charaders among his fellow
citizens, who were sensible of his worth.
An amiable and faithful wife is left to la
ment her present feffration from the man she
loved; and with Ift's the tears of those who
knew him belt atamingled.
^ Infead of orfe tboufand boats, said in our
lafto be building at Albany for tb^ Rebel army,
the reader is dfoed to fabfatute one hundred and
fifty
od^^fo d^^^ y^^^^^f^ 0
By the Ship Alexander, Cap ain M"Lean,
^bo arrived here last Friday Evening, in faeti
Weeks from Gt ^GOW ; and by the Halifax
Packet, Capt. Bolderson, who arrived the
next Day, in 7 Weeks from Falmouth, ^^
the June Mail,we have the following Advices,
v.z.
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.
P A R I S, May 15.
"ft /TOnfieur Nrckar, upon his quiting the
pulick Office he held, retired to his
Country House at St. Ouen, where, during
three Days, he received Visits from his Friends.
M de Fleury has excepted of the Portfi uille,
and has begun Bufiref, without its being well
underwood under what Title; he has however
given Notice upon 'Change, by the proper A
gent, that all M. Necker's Engagements will
he refpe&cd. M. Meeker has left about 156
Millions in the Royal Treasury, a sum {effici
ent for about eight Months Expences. M.
de la Motte Piquet isfaled with five large ships
fbearhed with Copper; it is said he is gone to
-meet the Spaniards.
Paris, May 18. They write from Brest,
that the nth inst. M. de a Motte Piquet came
into that read with the prizes taken from the
Erglifh, consisting ofzi merchant ships, and
a corsair, they having funk one merchant ffiip
and a corsair. The fame day the Franklin
cutter carried into L'Orient, two others of the
fame fleet which had been chafed by M. de la
Motte Piquet, one of 500 tons, and the other
of 350.
LONDO N,
May 8. Notwithstanding the great num.
ber of ships which are employed in foreign ser
vice, a^d the very formidable fleet under Ad
miral Darby, 20 fail of the line are preparing
for channel service, which will be ready in a
snort time.
^ A private letter from a gentleman of the firft
rark in Paris, though not a Frenchman, fays,
" 1 have received the most authentic informa
tion that a treaty between the courts of Lon
don, Vienna, Peterfburgh, and Berlin, is en
tered upon in the most private manner, and
nearly concluded."
May 2. From Versailles we have an ac
count, that the Dutch minifler has acquainted
the court in form, that their High Mighti.
neffes the States General do not propose to
join their fleet with that ofFrance and Spain,
having barely fufficient to proted their coasts
and grant convoys.
Extract of a letter from Bruffls, May 8.
" Last Saturday arrived an express from
Vienna, with orders to augment the regiments
of the Low Countries one fourth their number
with all possible expedition. The Emperor
has certainly feme grand stroke in contempla
tion, and the Kirg of Pruflia, whose decline is
manifeft, will not, it is thought be able to op
pose him with his former ability."
May 16. The Aurora frigate has sent into
St. Ives a cutter of 28 nine pounders, and two
eighteen do.
The Ocean, Mitchel ; and Advice, Cook ;
from Hamburgh, arrived in the river, left
the Wefer the nth inst. with his Majesty's
ihip3 Amphion, Ostrich, and Fortune, Bri
tannia and MoPv armed (hips, and 24 armed
transports with Hessian and Brunswick troops
and parted with them the 12th inst. 60 leagues
W. by S, of '1 inmouth Castle. The fleet are
gone N. about. The two ffiips afterwards
joined the Camel man of war, and a cutter.
May 2b. On Wednesday advice wae re
ceived from Guernsey, that a French frigate,
in chafing a privateer in there, the wind
blowing strong at N.N. E. was driven upon a
sand bank, and entirely loft, and that it was
supposed all the crew were drowned, as the
flhip went to pieces.
Lord Mansfield is the oldest cabinet minister
since the days of Cardinal Fleury, who was
82 when he died in his office; burthe French
minister's abilities for many years before his
death were greatly impaired, while the En
gliih minister at the age of 77, retains his
faculties in their full life and vigour.
Near 5000 troops are embarked on board
30 transports at Bermeleke, under convoy of
one frigate and two sloops of war, and are
hourly expected to arrive at some port on the
north coak.
Extract of a letter from Kinfale, May 3.
“ This morning arrived here his Majesty's
ships Galatea, Capt. Reid, and Camilla, Capt
Collins, from Charleftown, wi'h 28 transports,
ten army victuallers bound to Corke, ten oat
vessels, a navy victualler, and 13 private tra
ders; several parted company at sea. They
left Charleftown on the lit ult."
Admiralty. Office, May 22, 1781.
THE following are extracts of letters re
ceived by Mr. Stephens from Vice-Ad
miral Darby, Commander in chief of a fqua
dron of his Majesty's ships employed to the
Westward ; and of a letter from the Right
Hon. Lord ShuLham, Commander in Chief of
his Majesty's ships at Plymouth
Britannia, off Scilly, May 16, 1781.
I Have only just time to acquaint their Lord
ships, that the Nonfuch, which parted from
us the evening of the 13th, has joined us since
dark,having fallen in that night with a French
man of war of 80 guns, supposed to be the
Languedoc; she had 27 men killed, and 50
or 60 wounded, and is much shattered.
Britannia, to Westward of the Start, May 19.
I Mentioned in my letter of the 16th inflant,
the Nonfuch's having fallen in alone with
a French man of war of at least 80 guns. I now
enclofc a copy of Sir James Wallace's narrative
to me of that great and spirited action.
Copy of Sir James Wallace's letter to Ad
miral Darby :
franfaaions on board the Nonsuch, in an engage
ment between the l^tb and iyb of May, 1,81,
received in Pice Admiral Darby's letter of the
igtb:
ON the 14th, being the look out ffiip from
the van squadron, at BA. M few 3 fail
in the N.E.made the signal, chafed ; soon after
we saw a fail in the E. S E. which we took 10
be a French line of battle flip; chafed,
gained upon ber. Atabout half past ten at
night came alongside of her ; she gave us her
broadfiae, wereturned it; she dropped astern,
we wore and raked her; we continued the
action for near an hour, during some part of
which we were on board one another; she
carried away our fprit fail yard, and our an
chors hooking their quarter carried away the
flukes of them. All this time she had so much
the worst ®f the action, that she took the op
portunity of our heads being different ways to
make all the fail she could to get away ; we
woe and chafed her again ; our mizen-maft
being entirely disabled prevented our getting
up with her before five A. M. It being day
light, we could diflißguifh one another plain
ly ; she appeared to be a French 80 gun ffiip,
in good order for battle.
Some people on board us, who pretend to
know, fay she is the Languedoc. At five we
began the adion again, and continued till
half past fix, when finding our ship much dis
abled, the fore yard coming down, all the
masts, yards, fails and rigging much hurt,
guns dismounted ; —the wreck of these, and
dead and wounded men filling the deck, I
thought it proper to haul our wind, in order
to clear it. The enemy kept on her course
for Brest./
Our loss is 26 men killed, and 64 wound
ed.*
(Signed) JA. WALLACE.
* Among the former are no officers; but
among the latter are, viz.
Mr. Spry, - - ift)
Falconer - - 3d > Lieutenants.
Market - - 4th )
Williams - Ading Lieutenant.
Stone - - Maffer.
Hotham - Boatswain.
Cambridge, in Amoze, Ma, 19, 1781. 11 A. M.
SI R,
I HAVE the pleasure to acquaint you, for
their Lordships information, that Vice
Admiral Darby, with his Majesty's squadron,
under his command, is now off the Eddy
ftone, proceeding to the Eastward with a mo
derate breeze at N W and that five fail of
the line are now ftandirg in the Sound.
I am, &c.
SHULDHAM.
May 24. The French have evidently had
in view from the beginning of the cam
paign, the design which they have so easily
accomplished. Their object was to employ
our whole channel fleet in the relief of Gib
raltar, in order to secure to their own an un
molested passage to the Weft-Indies. Thus
the French seem to treat their Spanish and
American allies in the fame manner, and only
take care of themselves.
Government are in possession of the most
complete and authentic information relative
to the dispute which at present subsists be
tween the Courts of Versailles and Madrid.—
The principal cause of this dissension consists
in the neglect which the latter imputes to the
former, in not having furnifhed them with a
fleet to refill Admiral Darby, and prevent the
relief of Gibraltar. They have remenftrated 3
on this fubjed in the feverelf terms ; and the
French have returned by way of excuse, that^
they supposed the Spaniards were Efficiently ;
powerful to contend againf tAdmiral Darby,l
they having ten ships of the line more than;
the British at the time of their entering Gib
raltar. This palliative has not produced a ¥
very cordial effect, and the two powers are ati
this time upon the shyest terms.
The latest accounts from Mr. Fitzherbert,
our minister at Brussels, fay, that the French ,
have no ships in Brest harbour ready for fea,|
being so much in want of men and ilores that |
it was with the utmost difficulty they could 1
fend out the squadrons under the command ofl
De Graffe and Piquet. # |
It is given out as the opinion of a late Bri
tish Ambassador on the continent, that he
Dutch Government will undergo a very ma
terial alteration in less than half a dozen of
years, the present Stadtholder having an eye
on the sovereignty of the States of Holland, in
which it is said he will be affixed by Great-
Britain and another power.
Two thousand soldiers are to be sent out in
the next fleet to America.
We learn that the Portugueze East India
man lately arrived from India, has brought
advice of the loss of the Van Leyden, Dutch
man of war of 68 guns, nea r Goa, on the Ma
labar coast; the crew, Bores, guns, &c. were
saved.
ExtraA of a letter from Portfmoutb, May 16
" The following ships are now at Spithead:
The Victory of 100 guns, Captain Howarth ;
Princess Amelia of 84, Macartney ; Sultan of
74, Walt; Dibgente of 76, Hunt; Magnani
me of 64, Wolfeley ; Hannibal of 50, Parry ;
Leander of 50; Shirley ; Portland of 50, Lut
trell; Fortune of 40, Christian ; Venus of 30,
Douglas; Dedalusof 30, Pringle; Raleigh of
32, Gambier; Brune of 32, Hartwell; Suf
prife of 32, Reeves ; Maidflone of 28, Parker ;
Ranger of 32, Wyborn ; Hornet, Edwards ;
Lynx, Nofman; Alert, Vafhon; and Fairy,
Yeo."
Two of the men of wnr prerented by the
East India Company to g vernment, are in
such forwardnefs that they will be ready to
launch the latter end of July at farther.
The Galatea and Camilla men of war have
brought into Kinfale the Phoenix, from Cadiz
for Boston, laden with bale goods, &c.
The new frigates ordered to be built this
year are upon a larger conftrudi' n than any
yet launched. They are to be as long and as
wide as the 60 gun ships, and will carry all
their guns on one deck.
7 here are now building at private dock yards
in the river the following ships of the line :
Ships. Guns. Ships. Guns.
Bombay Castle 74 Sceptre, 64
Carnatic 74 Scipio, 64
Ganges 74 Veteran 64
Crown 64
Four men of war, with eight merchant ships,
being part of the Euftatia convoy, were fafe
arrived in Ireland.
General Goddard took the important fort
of Bafan, near Bombay, in the East Indies,
garrisoned by 2000 men, with 180 pieces of
artillery, &c. 'Tis a valuable acquisition, and
we left only one officer, Sir John James Gor
don, killed, and 12 privates killed and wound
ed.
Admiral Da'by arrived at the Admiralty on
the 22d of May, leaving Admiral Digby with
io fail of the line to cruize in the Channel.
Lately was married by special licence at Mrs.
Robertson's house in Wimble Arret, London,
John Hinderfon, Esq; member of Parliament,
son to Sir Robert Hinderfon, Bart, to Miss
Robertson, only daughter of Lieutenant Gene
ral Robertson, Governor of New York, a most
amiable and accomplished young lady.
The Sandwich privateer, Captain Robinson,
has taken and carried into Kinfale a large Spa
nish galleon, called the N. S. la Moche de
Todos Los Santos, of 700 tons, from La Vera
Cruz, and Havana, for Cadiz, worth 300.0001.
the richest prize taken during the war; she
fought three glasses.
An authentic and accurate account of the
British navy at this time in commission, build
ing, or repairing :
In commission, three Blips of ICO guns, 12 of
go ; 88 from 64 to 80 ; 6 of 60, 15 of ^0;
ioB frigates ; >2 ihips as 20 guns; 75 sloops;
26 aimed ships ; 25 cutters ; 6 bombs ; and
12 sire-ships.
Repairing, two of 90 guns ; 5 of 70 ; and
4°f 3 0#
Building, one of 100 guns; §of go; 13 of
74 ; 12 of 64 ; 6 of 50 ; 18 frigates; and 8
sloops.
Recapitulation, in commission, 109 ships of
the line; 15 of 50 guns; 108 frigates; 12 of
20 guns ; 7§ sloops ; 26 armed ships ; 25 cut
ters ; 6 bombs ; and 12 fire ships. Total 388
vessels now absolutely in service.
The Magnifique, of 74 guns, at Brest lately
caught fire through the fame negled las the
Couronne did, and is damaged so much that
she mull be rebuilt.
May 28.Yefterday an express was sent down
to Portimouth for the ships lately arrived at
Spithead, belonging to the Grand Fleet, to
take on board, a frefh supply of provisions, as
they will be ordered to sea again as soon as
possible.
Admiral Darby is again to take the com
mand of the Grand Fleet in a few days.
From the London Cazette, May 19.
St. James, Ma, 18.
The following intelligence was this day re.
ceived from Bombay, dated January 11, 1781.
T:at it having been resolved to lay siege to
Bafan,on the coati of Malabar, Gen. Goddard,
With the forces under histommand, with great
difficulty completea his ma;ch fiom Surat, fa
as to arrive before the place on the 13th of
November, where he was joined by reinforce
ments and Bores from Bombay. The General
finding it very strong, and defended by a nu
merous garrison, under the command of Vi b
fagee Punt, determined to carry on his opera
tions with regularity and precaution. On the
28th in the morning, he had completed a bet^
tery of 6 guns and 6 mortars, within 900 yards
of the place, and under cover of the fire, car
ried on his approaches to the spot where he
erected the grand battery of nine 24 pounders,
which was opened on the 9th of December in.
the morning, within 500 yards of the wall;
besides which, a battery of 20 mortars, of dif
ferent fixes, was opened upon one of the flanks
of the parapet. These were served with such
effedl, that on the loth in the morning, a prac
ticable breach being nearly completed, a mes
sage was sent from the fert, offering to surren
der; and, after some demur on the part of the
enemy, which obliged the General to renew
the fire from the batteries, the p'ace surrender
ed the next day at difcierion. The garrison
marched out, and laid down their aims in the
front of the fort, being allowed only to carry
away tieir own private efEds. It adds greatly
to the fatisfadion which this important acqui
sition gives, that the loss we sustained was very
small, one officer only, Lieutenant Sir John
James Gordon, who, having been wounded, is
since dead, and about twelve men killed and
wounded, of whom four only were Europeans.
A considerable quantity of ammunition was
found in the fort, two hundred and twenty
pieces of brass cannon, and ten brass mortars,
of which nineteen pieces of cannon, several of
a very large calibre, one hundred and twenty
eight pieces of the iron ordnance, and all the
mortars have been reported to be serviceable.
May 3:. Our letters fiom France advise;
that on the 4th inst. they received at Paris the
news of Lord Cornwallis's victory over the
American array in North-Carolina; and that
the report was, that Dr. Franklin began to
speak in pretty severe terms of the disappoint
ment which the French court had repeatedly
given the Congrefi, in negleding to fend them
the Bipulated Applies of sea and land forces:
it was, however hid, that a great part of the
force, that went from Bred with M. de Graffe,
was for America.
On Saturday evening arrived at his house
in Portland Place, from Madrid, Richard
Cumberland, Efa; he travelled through
France, having obtained a passport from the
French ambassador at the Spar/fh court.
When he arrived at Paris, he was detained 9
days ; in that time a council was convened;
but, at length, he was fuffered to depart.
This morning some dispatches were re
ceived from Admiral Digby dated off Brest,
where be Bill remained cruising with the ships
under his command.
The boaßed Germanic Congress to bring a
bout a peace is now reported, will never as
semble ; so many jarring Bipulations being
demanded by the different powers at war, pre
vious to such meeting, as few of them will
acquiesce in. This Congress was planned by
the Emperor, and acceded to by aimoft the
whole northern powers, but he basis of the
treaty of peace proposed by the House of
Bourbon being American independence, to
which Great- Britain will never consent ; has
been the foie cause of preventing such congress
assembling. The Emperor, the Cazirina,
and Frederick, voluntarily proposed to the
abitraters; but all the belligerent Bates
thinking such a power was of too great conse
quence to be left to the decision of neutrals ;
they are determined to abide the issue of the
sword. This has been known some weeks at
St. James's ; and the most vigorous plans for
prosecuting the war have in consequence been
adopted.
Copy of a letter from Capt, Barber, of the Royal
IriJh Regiment of artillery, dated Cove bar^
racks, May 2§.
“ The Canada man of war is just arrived
and has brought in with her a beautiful fine
Spanish frigate, her prize. The frigate
fought well ; her captain loft an arm; the
firft lieutenant badly wounded. My boat is
just returned : the following are the particu
lars I have been able to pick up. Yours, &c,
LUCIUS BARBER.
June $, Arrived the Prosperity, Castles,
from New-York. She failed from that City
on theist of May, but we know not as yet
what Intelligence she brings.
Arrived at St. Helen's, four Ruffian Men
of War from the Westward.
A merchant in the citv has received the most
interesting intelligence from Cadiz ; that upon
a survey of the Spanish fleet, no less that :6
fail of the line are unfit for any immediate fe%-
vice; amongll which is the S. Trinidada,
pierced for 120 guns.
June 7. Yesterday Capt. Broderick, who
arrived with Dispatches from General Lord
Cornwallis on Monday, had a long Conference
with the King at St.James's, being introduced
by Lord George Germaine.
Captain Broderich came over in the Came
lion sloop of war, Capt. Inglifb, who spoke
with a sloop on her passage, that had three
days before parted company with the Roebuck
man of war, who had just taken two French
Frigates, and four transports, laden with mili
tary stores, and bound for America.
Col. Fanfhaw is appointed Lieut. Governor
of the Island of Jersey, in the Room of Major
Corbet.
The Delight Sloop of War is arrived fro^
America.