The Pennsylvania ledger, or, The Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey weekly advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1776-02-03 00:00:00, page 5

W A TERT 0 W N, January 20.
LaR Monday a large ship from and owned in
London laden with coal, cheese and porter, bound
for the Ministerial assassins in Boston, was taken by
on of our Privateers, and carried into Newbury
Port
1 he fame day a brig from Ireland, bound also
for Bolton, laden with beef, butter, cheese and po
tatoes, was likewise taken and carried into the fame
port.
Y efterday Captain Manly sent another prize into
Newbury; where from, or what laden with, we
have not heard.
PROVIDENCE, January 13 .
On Monday last the bomb brig, a Ship (supposed
to be the Swan) and four tenders, left the harbour
of Newport, and came up the bay. They fired a
number of shot at a house on the N^rraganlet fide,
after which the brig and tenders came up as far as
Warwick neck, where it is supposed they intended
to land some men, for the purpose of collecting live
flock, &c. Advice being received of this movement
about eleven o'clock at night, the artillery company
immediately marched off with some field pieces, and
arrived at Warwick early the next morning, where
they were joined by a number of the inhabitants,
and a company from East Greenwich, with two
field pieces. Several shot were tired at the brig
and tenders, and a few were returned on the part of
the enemy, who finding they could not accomplish
their purpose, returned to Newport on Wednesday,
having in this expedition loft two of their boats,
which were driven ashore near Warren. In coming
up the bay they took a small Roop, with some pal
fengers on board.
PROVIDENCE, January 20.
Thefollowing is sent us as a particular account of
the movements of the fleet in the river since yester
day fe'nnight, and of the actions which happened
in consequence thereof. On Friday, the 12th inR.
Capt. Wallace, with all the vessels under his com
,m.md, confining of 12 fail, came up the river from
Newport, and at four o'clock in the afternoon land
ed about 250 men on the island of Prudence, where
about 40 or 50 of our men were Rationed under
the command of Capt. Pearce. They were soon
fired on by the enemy, which was returned with
much spirit; but Captain Pearce finding the enemy
greatly fupepor in number retreated, and with his
men went off the island, he had one man wounded
and taken prisoner, and it is said several of the ene
my were killed and wounded. The enemy about
sun-set burnt seven houses on the island, which be
ing discovered here, his honour the deputy Govern,
or, Gen. Weft, Cols. Richmond, Martin and Cook,
Capts. Allen and Wells immediately set out to fend
forces upon the island, by way of Warren and
Bristol, from the former of which places Gen Weft,
ordered 50 men, directing them to join such as should
be cohered at Warwick Neck, and proceed to the
island. His Honour, with the General, then went
to Bristol and sent off Major Talman, with 80 men
in whale-boats, who landed about the dawn of day.
Capt. Barton, with a few men, had landed from
Head Quarters, but these at Warwick-neck were
not able to join them, for want of boats. About
9 o'clock in the morning the enemy landed about
250 men, and attacked Lieutenant Car, who was
stationed with a guard of 40 men to observe their
motions; the remainder of our men, about 50 in
number, soon coming up a smart engagement en
sued. which lasted three hours. The enemy several
times sent out flanking parties, which were as often
drove back to their main body. They were at length
drove to their vessels, leaving our people in poflcßion
of the island, having the night before got on board
about 100 sheep, but no cattle are miffing. Two
of their men were found dead after the action, and
one wounded in the thigh; they likewise carried
off a number of killed and wounded, particularly
an officer, that appeared to be badly wounded, and
who, it is luppofed, had the command. We had
SUPPLEMENT to the Pennsylvania Ledger. No. 54.
only three men Rightly wounded. Our officers and
men behaved with the greatest bravery, and had
there been boats at Warwick to carry over the re
inforcements from thence, it is thought the enemy's
whole party would have been killed or taken. Sun
day evening the enemy burnt two buildings on
Patience-island, on Monday they cut a quantity of
wood at Hope-island, and yesterday, it is said, re
turned to Newport.
Yesterday fe'night, while the bomb brig lay off
Prudence, the gunner and five seamen made their
escape in a boat, and arrived fafe at Bristol.
N E WPOR T, January 8.
Extras of a letter from London, October 20.
'' The minifry seem determined to pufo matters to
the greatest extremities, and are making every prepa
ration they can to carry on the war with vigor, though
I can aforeyou their operations go on but very Jowly;
the Ruffians of which they expelled 20,000, have re
fufed to go to America, and the Minifry are now in
treaty tor 10,000 Hefians; they are likewise railing
some Hannoverian regiments, which are to be called
Royal Americans. 1 dont think they will be much
fronger next summer, at leaf not till the close 0, it,
than they a?e at present, unless by water, where you
know they are always powerful. The Parliament met
in Ireland the loth inf. it was defgned by the mi
nifry it Jbould befo, in order to feel their pulse; there
were ver, warm debates about addressing his Majefy,
which was carried by the miniferial party; but they
are very fearing in offering their lives and fortunes,
farther than to support him in his lawful and just
rights, and it is confidentially reported, that the,
have face proved so refractory, that the Viceroy has
been obliged to prorogue them.
“ Teferda, Stephen Sa,re, Esq; late Sheriff and
Banker in Oxford-freet, was taken into custody b, a
warrant from Lord Rochford, on the information of
one Ricbardfon, an adjutant of the guards, as having
exprefed to him an intention of seizing the King's
person, as his Majef, went to the Pariiament-boufe,
aljo an intention of taking possession of the Tower, and
overturning the present government. After examina
tion he was committed a close prisoner to the Tower,
and this da, the Lord Ma,or, and Mr. Lee his late
colleague, and some other of his friends, went to visit
him there, but were refufed admittance; the Habeas
Corpus all is to be exerted to-morrow in bis behalf.
This Richardson, the informer, was some time ago in
the Marfoalfea; Sa,re and Lee were then foeriffs,
and as said Ricbardfon was an American, tbe, tpok
him out, procured him a ferjeantc, in the guards, and
b, their interef he is at present what be is, an adju
tant and informer. Tbe London Afociation have en
tered mos cordially into the bufnefs of Mr. Sayre's
commitment, and are determined to intereJi themselves
in behalf of every friend of liberty,who may be mark
ed out as a vi£lim to miniferial vengeance. Thus a
fie begins to kindle, which will require more Jkill to
quench, at this alarming crisis, than they are at pre
sent aware of"
Monday night the Try (not Tory) house and
barracks on Goat-island were set on fire, and destroyed;
but whether by the people belonging to the ships of
war in this harbour, or by the Continental troops
Rationed on this island, we are not absolutely sure;
but it is certain that one or two tenders were lying
close in with Goat-island early on Tuesday morning.
N E W-P O R T, January ir.
One day last week Capt. Wallace sent on shore,
by a gentleman who went on board the Rose by
permißion, a lift of ships, which are to cruise on
the American coast next Spring, viz. 5 of 50 guns,
one of 44, 2 of 40, 10 of 32, 12 of 28, 4 of 20;
I of 14, 3 bomb ketches, and one hospital ship of
60 guns, in all 39 fail; so that there will be only
5 or 6 fail more than the number already on the
coast. But though these ships may destroy a few
small towns along shore, the laws of nature forbid
their peneti ating the country; and we presume it is
impossible for Great-Britain to lend over half land
forces enough to do it.