The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1780-02-28 00:00:00, page 1

ASSIZE of BREAD. Flour at 31. 10s. per
Cent. Published July 7, 1779.
A White Loaf of the fineftFLOUß, to weigh
2 lb. for 14 Coppers,
By Order of the Commandant.
NOTICE is hereby given, in order to prevent
Gunpowder getting into improper hands, that
from and after this date no Gunpowder is to be fold
at Public Vendue without a License having been firft
obtained for that purpose from the Office of Police.
Licenses will only be granted for such Gunpowder
as may be fold by order of the Court of Admiralty
for the benefit of the captors.
All owners of Gunpowder, and Vendue-Mafters,
that may in future fell Gunpowder by the above li
censes, are hereby ordered not to deliver any Gun
powder to the purchaser till he shall produce a cer
tificate from the Office of Police that he has made
oath that the fame is intended for retailing to the
inhabitants, or for the use of armed vessels, or for
such other purposes as may he approved of; Mer
chants and Vendue-Mafters are desired to retain in
their hands the certificated as vouchers for their hav
ing complied with this order, and any transgression
will fubjeft them to fine and punishment.
ANEREW ELLIOT, Superinlcndcnt-General.
DAVID MATHEWS, Mayor.
PETER DUBOIS, Magistrate of Police.
famthe LONDON GAZETTE, of
'' Saturday, December \^.
Whitehall, December IS, 1779.
Extras of a Letter from Capt. Dalrymple, com
mandant of the Loyal Irifo Volunteers, to tbe Rigbt
Hon. Lord George Germaine, one of bis Majefy's
principal Secretaries of State, received yefierday
by Lieut. Cardon of the 6otb regiment.
St. Fernando de Omoa, Oa. 21, 1779.
YOUR Lord/hip would be informed, that General
Dalling had dispatched me to the Mufqueto-
Shore to colled a force, and that he had also
sent arms, artillery, and ammunition, for St.
George's Key, being the principal fcttlement
of the Baymeq.
On the 27th ®f September, the day of our arrival
at Black-River on the Mufqueto- Shore, an advice boat
came from the Bay with certain intelligence that the
Spaniards had, on the 15th of September, taken pos
session of St. George's Key, having a number of armed
pettyaguas and 600 men. On this notice, having col
le&ed 60 Indians, and inlifted some volunteers on the
Ihore, we failed in the Porcupine sloop of war, with three
trarifporte, for the relief and re-establishment of the
Baymen. On the evening of our departure from Black
River, we fell in with Commodore Luttrell, in the
Charon, accompanied by the Loweftoffe and Pomona
frigates, when we were informed that St. George's Key
had been re-taken by his Majesty's armed Schooner Race
horse, and that the remaining inhabitants, with their
slaves, had retired to Truxillo and Rattan. I intended
to have consulted the Baymen on re-fettling Honduras,
when 1 was informed, that his Majesty's ships had been
at the Gulf of Dulee, and not findingthc Register Ship's
there, had proceeded to St. Fernando de Omoa, where
they discovered them ; that they had entered the Bay,
where some shot were exchanged between them and
the fort, but not having a fufficient land force to attack
on shore, they were obliged to leave it. Judging this a
happy opportunity of adding luftre to his Majesty's arms,
I waited on Commodore Luttrell, and offered to attack
on the land fide, with the Indians and detachment of
the Loyal Irish, if he would re-inforce me with the ma
rines and mufquetry men from the ffiips. The Commodore
agreeing in opinion that the fort might be taken by at
tacking by sea and land at the fame time, it was accord
ingly determined on, and Truxillo was appointed as the
rendezvous to colled the Baymen, with their slaves,
where we met some people from the Mufquetn-Shore,
who had been on an expedition against the Register ffiips.
The Commodore immediately had the Baymen colleaed,
as I suggested it, who were dispersed about the inlands of
Rattan and Bonacco ; they were formed by me into four
companies, being invested with powers by General
Dalling for that purpose; the slaves I officered by their
proprietors. With this re-inforcement of 250 men,
added to the Loyal Irish marines, mufquetry men from
the ihips, and Indians, our force amounted to upwards
of 500 men. The Commodore having got in readiness,
at my request, scaling ladders, issued out 200 stand of
arms,exclufive of 70 stand issued by me of the regimental
arms, and 150 sent down by General Dalling, which
were intended for the Bay. We failed from the Bay of
Truxillo on the icth instant. and landed on the 16th,
about eight o'clock at night at Porto Cavallo, We were
informed by our guides that Porto Omoa was only three
leagues distant, and our intention was to have marched
direAly on in the night to furprize and efcalade the fort ;
but the diffance proving greater than was imagined, and
the roads very bad which they passed, such as I may ven
ture to affirm no European troops ever marched before in
this climate, being obliged at times to walk (on account
of impenetrable mangroves) out into the sea, which da
maged their cartouches, and at other times through la
goons, morales, and narrow foot paths, over mountains,
rendered almost impassable from the late rains, having
precipices on each fide, and forced to grope our way by
lights made from cabbage trees. We were not arrived
within two leagues of the fort at day break, having loft
our rear, some laying down through fatigue, and others
losing the line of march from the darkness of the night,
and the difficulty of keeping up in paths only patfable by
Indians. In the morning the rear line was brought up
by Capt. Cardon, of the 60th regiment, and having
refreshed the troops for two hours, we proceeded
again through passes and defiles the fame as the night
before, the Indians ikirmifhing along the paths. We
had taken two look-outs, from which some of the
soldiers had escaped, and carried intelligence that an
enemy was advancing, and as they had seen our
squadron the night before, and the Mufqueto crafts,
Monday, February 28, 1780.
N E W-Y OR K
AND
WEEKLY
Containing the mitefl anulce#
CT Printed by HUGH GAINE, at the BIBLE and CROWN, IN HANOVER-SQUARE.
imagined that Indians (only) had landed from them,
were the enemy on shore, not thinking that Euro
peans would undertake such a march ; and in order
to faV6dr this deception, the Indians were advanced
in front, and dislodged them from their look outs,
which prevented them from occupying their defiles
and passes until we arrived near the town, where
they had placed an ambufeade. The Indians, who
are extremely sharp as scouts, perceived them, they
represented that the Spaniards were drawn up in
force. A disposition of attack was immediately
framed for the Loyal Irilh and marines to force the|
pass in front in columns, and to advance rapidly
with the Grenadiers march, supported by the second
line drawn up, and the Pomona's 'mufquetry men of
the firft line were detached to gain a hill on the left,
covered with wood, which commanded the pass :
These orders being instantly executed, the defile
was forced. We received a fcatteriug ill-directed
fire from 50 or 60 Spaniards, which killed one sol
dier only of the Loyal Irifh,and wounded a marine;
and so great was their panic, that they fled on all
quarters to the fort, woods, and town, evacuting
the Governor's house built with battlements, and
terraffed on the top; a post which, if defended by
twenty British regulars, would have flopped our
whole force. The gaining this hill, and that which
the Pomona's men had afeended, gave us the entire
view of the fort, commanding it, and the town in the
bottom, the fort distant half a mile, and |the town
close under the hill. The skirmishing continued
from the town, and galled us a little, being unwil
ling to set fire to it. I desisted upwards of an hour,
but finding that I could not permit an enemy on my
flank, the town forming a creffent under the hill,
orders were given for its being consumed, which
were carried into execution, the inhabitants flying
to the fort, and the woods: The property consumed
in the town was estimated at 100,000 piaftres. The
squadron came into the Bay while the town was in
flames, and fup'pofing it a proper time to batter,the
fort, went in a-hreaft of it. A diversion was
made by the land forces in their favour from the
hill. The scaling ladders were carried by the Hon
duras fufileers; but their eagerness to engage in
skirmishing made them drop the ladders, and hasten
to get up to the head of the column ; which pre
vented the land forces from co-operating with the
squadron (by storming) so heartily that day as could
have been wished.
The Loweftoffe having got aground, and the other
flip's, as I imagined, observing the figrial was displayed
that the land forces could not co-operate, desisted firing;
the Loweftoffe was much damaged, but got off.
The day following we passed in skirmishing, in securing
the roads round the fort, and driving in cattle for the
land forces. On the 18th the squadron landed feme guns
to the westward ; two 4 pounders Were got up that night,
and a battery was immediately opened on them.
This battery incommoded them much, but could never
have made any impression on the walls of the parapet, as
they Were 18 feetthick. j
The Spaniards pointed that evening three more guns
towards the land fide, and in the morning difmeunted one
of ours. Observing there were some houses near the fort
which the Spaniards had neglected to burn, parties of ma
rines, baymen, and Indians occupied them, and kept up
so incessant a fire on the embrasures of the, fort, that the
Spaniards fire from the guns was often silenced for hours,
and we observed them throwing ever the dead. This
day fix more guns were got up by the seamen and baymen,
one of which General Dialing had sent for the baymen,
three others being unfortunately swamped coming on
shore. Captain Carden opened a battery of four 6 pound
ers from the hill which the Pomona's men had gained in
the firft fkirmiih at the defile, which also commanded
the fort.
Foreseeing that by a siege of this nature, before ap
proaches could be made in a regular way, and a breach
effe&ed, a vast train of artillery would be required, and a
length of time, after which we should be obliged to ftenm,
having also the enemy in the rear all around'; and having
maturely weighed all these circumstances, and the disad
vantages inevitably attending a siege, it was therefore de
termined to efcalade the fort, as the ditch was found to be
dry. And having consulted with the Commodore on the
mode of attack, it was resolved that the Pomona should
be towed close in, the heavier Ships co-operating. The .
Attack being determined on, the Europeans were for
med into 4 Columns in Line, 4 Men advancing with
guides at the head of each column, in each column fol
lowed eight men carrying the ladders) wh4 were followed
by a few hand-grenade-men. Two columns cbafifted of
seamen, and. two of marines, with a few loyal Irish. Ac
3 in the morning this disposition being mads, and our
force confining of 150, we moved down the hill, and
there lay waiting for the signal of the Charon, which
was to denote the had got under way, and would attack
in 20 minutes. The signal being made a little after 4
o'clock; in the morning of the 20th, we advanced under
the fire of our own batteries, and were encouraged by ob- 4
serving that the Spaniards did not perceive our march,
by the direction of their shot over us, pointed at our bat
teries on the Hill.
The Pomona and feet also attracted their notice by
the fire from the sea fide; by this fortunate co-operation,
in profound silence, arms trailed, and in order to animate
the troops, the parole was changed to Bayonetts, and the
countersign, Britonsftrike borne, we advanced undifeovered
under the Spanish centries, who were every two or three •
minutes palling the word Alerto. At the entrance into
the ditch were two guns pointed from the flank, of the
bafon to scour it. We were perceived by their centries,
and their drum beat to the alarm posts. Our columns
were Daggered, and flepped back; but instantly recover- !
ing thwfelvcs, they advenced to the wall, in height #8
Monday, 4 Min. after 4
Tuesday, 54 Min. after 4
Wednesday, 44 Min.after 5
Thursday, 33 Min. after 6
HIGH-WATER at NEW-YORK, this Week.
sJ^'W^
^S^^^
Friday, 16 Min. after 7
Saturday, 58 Min. after 7
Sunday, 40 Min. after 8
New Moon, 6th.
THE
feet, on which was a battery of five guns; they reared
one ladder, a second, and a third; the firft ladder was
broke by tbe flank guns of another bastion, killing a mid
shipman, and badly wounding five men; the other ladders
were also wounded, but not broke; two seamen got up
firft, and obeyed tbeir orders by not firing, they presented
at 6® Spaniards, drawn up, but retained the fire until
others afeended; and so great was the consternation of
the eprmy, that it seemed as if they had loft the power of
their arms, although their officers were at their head en
couraging them. / .
The seamen scrambling up the ladders, down off
the parapats they went, and, being re-inforced by
marines and seamen, the Spaniards fled to the case
ments, but they could not recover their panick,
notwithstanding every exertion of their officers:
About 100 Spaniards escaped over the walls on the
opposite fide, and out of a sally port. The Go
vernor and principal officers then came and deliver
ed up to me their swords, garrison andfregifter ships,
with the keys of the fort, and asked their lives.
Inclofed is a lift of the Spanish officers, with the
troops of the garrison, also a lift of our killed and
wounded, which is very iuconfiderable. We found
11 Spaniards wounded, some of whom are since
dead ; they will not acknowledge the number they
have loft, bu it is thought it exceeds thirty.
As to the behaviour of the officers and soldiers
under my command, the Rritifli displayed that
valour which is their known chara&eriltic. The
Baymen arid Indians were also of the utmost ser
vice in all duties of fatigue, in ikirmifhing and
dragging up the cannon.
Your Lordfllip will pardon my mentioning an in
stance of an elevated mind in a British Tar, which
amazed the Spaniards, and gave them a very high
idea of English valour : Not contented with one
cutlass, he had scrambled up the walls with two,
and meeting a Spanish officer without arms, who
had been routed out of his sleep, had the generosity
net to take any advantage; but, presenting him one
of his cutlasses, told him, " You arg now 011 a
footing with me," The orders were, not to spare
while they refilled, but to grant quarter to ail who
request it. Only two Spaniards were wounded by
the bayonet in refilling, nor was any person pillaged
or plundered.
I have the pleasure to inform your Lordship, that
the greater harmony has subsisted between the sea
and land forces during the whole of this expedition;
and that Commodore Luttrell and the Captains of
the Navy have, on every occasion, made the greatest
exertions to forward tbe service on shore ; and all
underwent the most severe fatigue, in this hot cli
mate, withuncomnion alacrity.
Of this fortification your Lordship will judge of
the importance, from the incredible expence the
crown of Spain has been at in erefbng it, as the
stone of which it is built is raised our of the sea and
brought'2o leagues.
The outworks are not finished, notwithstanding
, they have constantly employed 1000 men at work:
for twenty years. It is the key to the Bay of Hon
dtyas, and where the Register ships and treasure are
sent to from Guatimala in time of war. The morn
ing of our arrival the treasure was conveyed into
the country, so that what we have found in the mi
litary chelt, and what belonged to the public, does
not exceed 8000 piastres, but the Register Ships mult
be very valuable, if they arrive in fafety in Eng
land.
1 fend these despatches, with the colours of Omoa,
and also plans of the fortification, by Lieutenant
Carden, of the 6qth regiment, whom 1 appointed
to act as. Captain of Artillery and Engineer to this
exifedition, and humbly beg he may be permitted to
. lay them at his Majesty's feet. His merit and acti
vity in forwarding the works during, the expedition,
contributed greatly to the reduction of this import
ant fortrefs; arid I solicit your Lordship will recom
mend him to his Majesty's protections Your Lord
mip will find him intelligent relative to the Mulquito
Shore, and the date of this country. I also take
the liberty of mentioning Lieutenant Wightman of
the marines, who acted as my Aid de Camp, to be
recommended to Lord Sandwich. This gentleman
was Wounded in reconnoitring the ditch, the even
ing befoie it was Stormed.' The prisoners taken
amount in the .whole to 365, exclave of officers, as
by the inclofed list. ?
Year Lordship will chferve, that an agreement has
"been made to exchange them for rhe baymen who were
inhumanly carried away with their families to Merida,
and we 'have brought off two pri&fts and the Lieutenant-
Governor, as homages for the performance ,of this agree
ment. I have also obliged tham to exchange two Muf
quito Indians, phe of whom has been forced to dive at
Carthag^tia, for many years, with irons on his limbs, and
is Confined' in a dungeon every evening ; and we have
also relieved some unfortunate Engbflimen, who were con
fined here, and rn^de to work as Slaves.
I have also to mention to your Lordship, that Mr. Con
cannen, a young gentleman, a mid Shipman, was the third
whe mounted the ladder, and Lieut. Dundafs, who was the
fourth,agreeable to my orders, formed some men, before be
advanced on the Spaniards. I have also to take notice,
that Lieutenants Walker and Dundas, who commanded
the seamen preferyed that discipline and promptitude in
obeying orders, which would do honour to veteran troops ;
and recommend that their fervice* may be mentioned to
* Lord Sandwich, that his Majeffy may; know such officers
as have gallantly di/linguifhed thunfehes.
Wheat per Bulhel, 265. od.
Flour, 80s. od.
Brown Bread, 955. od.
Welt-India Rum, ss. 6d.
New-England do. 4s. od.l
[No. 1480]'
GAZETTE:
TH £
MERCUR Y.
t PRICE CURRENT, in NEW-YORK.
Mufcovado Sugar, §l. 10$.
Single refin'd ditto, is. gd.
Molasses, 2s. 6d.
Beef per Barrel, 81. od.
Pork, 81. ios,
fw@ ano Pomefliffi.
gdly, That all the molattos and peopl: of mixed
colour, whether men, women or children, as neil
as the artificers, (hall have liberty to return home,
provided none of them take up arms againit the
King of Great-Britain, and his fubjefts or alites,
nor be found within 30 leagues of Omoa, until
this agreement is fully accomplished.
4thiy, That the said Don Simon Defnaux and
Don John Daltiex, doth engage for the Governor
of Merida, in case the English prisoners captured
in tbe Bay of Honduras are within his diftrid, and
if not, for the Governor of whatever Spanifli dif
tri& they may be in, that be (hall return an equal
number of molattoes, or people of mixed colour,
to those that have been liberated at Omoa; and
of this number such as were taken in the Bay of
Honduras by <he Spaniards shall have the prefer
ence. And it is further underlined and agreed
between the Parties to this agreement, that all
the fubje&s of the King of Great .Britain, taken
in the Bay of Honduras, and now in the custody
of the said Governor of Merida, shall be exchang
ed by giving molattoes for molatoes, men for
men, women for women, children forchildren ;
and this exchange to be made the moment tbe
said Governor of Merida can be made acquainted
with this convention, but at all events not to ex^
ceed the (pace of three months.
sthly, The ferjeants and soldiers of the regu
lars ffiall be exchanged for an equal number of
ferjeants and soldiers of the British army ; and if
the King of Spain shall not have such in his pos
session, then to be exchanged for the principal
merchants and traders, taken at George's Key,
in the Bay of Honduras; provided a fufficient
number of white people cannot be sent from
Omoa to exchange them, and a receipt to be given
by the English Commissary for uch number of
men as may have been capture.! by the Spaniards
in the Bay of Honduras, as fball exceed the num
ber delivered from the garrison of Omoa ; such
receipt for the surplus to be giver by the Sparifh
Commissary, if the balance 'is in favour ot En
gland. The Spanish seamen to be exchanged in
like manner for English seamen, as is fpecifed by
the parties receding the ferjeants and soldiers.
6thly, The Hon. John Luttrell and William
Dalrymple, doth covenant, that the Spanifli gar
rison at Omoa, shall be embarked within the Ipace
of three days, on board of vessels properly pro
vided, and shall be conveyed without loss of
time to the Castle of St. Philip, within the Gulf
of Dulce, or to some adjacent Spanifli post, and
there delivered at the foie charge of his Britan,
nick Majeity. And the said Don Simon Defnaux,
and Don John Daftiex do covenant, that the offi
cers, soldiers, merchants, artificers, mulattces,
and people of white or mixed colour, fubje&s of
his Britannick Majesty, who, since the com
mencement of tbe prelent war witli Spain, have
been taken in the Bay of Honduras, shall be em
barked within the space of three months, from the
day the said Don Simon Defnaux and Don John
Daftiex shall be landed in rhe Gulf of Dulce amd
sent to Omoa, or the next nearest Engliffi settle
ment, at the sole expeoce of the King of Spain ;
provided the said English prisoners, ' or any of
them, are within the jurifdidion of the Governor
of Merida; but Should they have been sent to tbe
Havannab, then the said Don Simon Defnaux and
Don John Daftiex doth covenant,that theGovernor
of the Havannab shall embark them from thence,
and land them at the expence of the King of Spain
aforefaid, at Jamaica, within the space of fix
months from the date hereof. Provided always,
that if every article of this agreement is not
ftrialy performed on the part of the Court of
Spain, We, Don Simon Defnaux and Don Jolin
Daftiex were fully bound for ourselves, and [or all
ne Spanifli ffi ers of tie garrison to rifpaif with
out loss ; sum , :wdby the fherteft mode of con-
Copy of the Convention between the Hon. John
Luttrell, and William Dalrymple, Efa; on the
part of his Britannick Majesty, and Don Simon
Defnaux, and Don Juan Daftiex, on the p rt
of his Ca hclic Majesty, tor the officers and
garrilon of Porto Omoa, Orit. 24, 17, 9 .
DON SIMON DESNAUX, Lieutenant Colo
nel of infantry, Engineer in second to bis Catho
lic Majesty, and heretofore Cornmandant of'<he/
Port of Omoa, and Don John Daftiex, Engineer,
Commandant and Captain .ot Infancy, having
earnehly solicited the commanders of his 5 'dan
nick 'Majefty's forces by land and sea, .he/ Ron..
John Luttrell, and William Dah,i
treat for the exchange of the Spandh : ..a
Omoa, on tbe part of his Britannick Maje'ty,
have set forth that they are ready to treat on the
part of his Cathoiick Majesty for the fame. The
said request is complied with upon the following
terms and conditions:
ill. All the Spanish officers who bear his Catho
lic Majesty's commission, shall be prisoners of war,
and admitted oh their parole, that they shall not
serve directly nor indirectly, against the King of
Great-Britain, his fubje&s or allies during the pre
lent war, unless they are bes re exchanged.
2d, That all the laid officers shall be permitted
to choose their place of residence, provided that
they are not found beyond the distance of 60
leagues from Omoa, nor nearer to Omoa than 40
leagues, until they be exchanged in the manner
hereafter set forth.
Fine Salt, 2s. do
Coarse Salt, is. do
Indian Corn perßu. 10s. do
Coffee, is. do
Chocolate, 265. pteiDoz