The New-York gazette, and the weekly Mercury — New-York [N.Y.], 1781-10-15 00:00:00, page 2

A letter from the Hague, by the lal mail, )
has the following article: " We have great ]
r^afon to believe here, that foine plan is in 3
agitation for a negotiation to be entered into, |
in order to bring about a general peace, as ex-|
prefles are passing daily from thence to Peterf-|
burgh. Private conferences are almost daily i
held with the Ruffian, the French, andSpanifh |
Ambassadors. It is the wish of most people «
that the present ^ar may not be of much long-g
er duration, as it greatly affects the trade of>
the several provinces,"
Auguf 2. A letter from the Hague, dated |
July 27, fays, " We are informed that Baron
Thukmefyer, the ruffian Ambiff^dor, did on
Friday last present a memorial from the King
bis matter to the Status-General, which is said
to be much-in favour of the Field Marshal
Duke of Brwnfwick. If this is true, the aS
firs of that Prince will no doubt take a.turn
in his favour? 1
Auyfl 4.
E^r&t of 4 letter from Portfmoutb, Jug *2. I
" YeGerdav arrived Admiral Arbuthnot ifJ
Lis Majesty's ship Roebuck, of 44 gyns ftomM
New- York.
J^P 9- A private letter fom the Hague ;
by the monday's mail has the following article':[
"1 he States of Zetland and f>meothers c have;
expressed their-wiffies that a negociation may ;
be entered into for a peace^with England, ana
that those date's who have been the principals I
in involving the country in a war 'ought .tuGear?)
t',e expence of it.
Extratl tf'a Letter from fir. /, Touche, dated'
Egfo'a. f^ne 11,j78f, to Sir Robert Ainfe,
hi MM f^s 'Ambafcdor at Confuntinop 'e,
.arid by him trinfmired., to fbe Earlof Htllf
•.l, rough, in bit Letter dated July 16, received
.yfy'^^' - 1
" I have the pleasure to inform you, that
by letters from Madras, dated Feb, 1, itap
pears, that the French squadron, coofilting
of fix Grips of the line, and three frigates,
which I mertienedin myjatt to you, indeed
rs entering the rad of Madras, as it was'
imagined- they would, .proceeded to Pondi
cherry. It farther appears, that this squa
dron is in bad repair, arid has neither trans
ports nor croppy with it except marines, ^nd
consequently could not spare -any to Hyder
Ally, 'who- has been obliged to raise the fihge'.
of Wan.dewafh and Velore, had loft. Carafe
~)lly, andfeemrd to be collecting his whole
force, in order to try the event, of a battle
with Sir Eyre Coote It was exported that
Sir Edward Hughes would, leave Bombay with
- hiyfyad/on, in the course es the month of
March', ir.d that peace would take place'wiih
the Marrahtas.
Ex+rad of a Letter from Vice Admiral Darby, to
Mr, Sepbeni, dated at Sea, July yi, 1784,
You wi:l be pleased to acquaint my Lords
Commiltioners of the Admiralty, that the day
before yesterday we retook the Lively frigate,
sind alf> twobrigs, the Rnfemoqnt and. Ka
therine, b^und from C.^k to New-York,
which the had taken ten days before, in com
pany with the corvette L'Hirondelle, which
escaped us, mikng use of her oars, in the
flight, when there was little wind. These
brigstyd parted from the convoy-of the Eolas
and Pandora. The Lively and corvette were
on their return to France from Cayepue, and
had ' beoa out „ days when the former was
.taken. Tie carried out a convoy, and failed
bh company with M, de Graffe. The latter
had been upon that Nation above two years.---
The Rerfeveranee was rhe Grip that captured
the Lively of 26 guns and 205 men, com-1
mahded by the Chevalier da Brignon, after a
ftort action, in the night, in which the ene
my loft seven men, and as many wounded.
From the .'
London Gazette Extraordinary.
Admiralty-Office, Augufl 9. 1781.
ILieutenant Rivett,. of tils Majehy's°cutter
the Surprise, arrived herefiis afternoon, with
a letter from Vice Admiral Barker to Mr.
Stephens, of which the, following is a copy.
Sir, • For itude,at jea, Augif 6.
Yesterday morning we fell in with the Dutth
squadron, with a large convoy, on the Dogger
Baoh. I was happy to find I had the wind of
them, as the g,eat number of their large fri
gates might eiherwife have endangered my
convoy. Having separated the men of war
fr :.m the merchant Grips, and made a signal to
tbplaft to keep their wind, I bore away &ith
a general figrial to chace. The enemy form
ed their line, 'confining of eight two decked
Grips, on the Ilaiboard tack; oars, including
the Delp!in, confided of seven. Not a gun
was fired on either fide, until within the dif
tancc of half mufquet (hot. The fortitude
bring then abredil of the Dutch Admiral, the
action began, and continued, with an unceas
ing fire, for three hours and forty minutes ;
by t^s N-ne our fliips were unmanageable.
I mace ar effort to form the line,'in order to
renew the sgion, but found it impracticably.
File Bichfailant had left her main' topmall,
and the Buffalo his fore yard; the rest of the
Blips were pot less • Mattered in their masts,
r '^b' n ^ 'nd fail; the enemy appeared to be
in a bad condition. Both (quadron's lay-tod a
confideraSe rime near e^ch other,j when the
Dutch, i,oh their convoy, bore a. ay for the
7 exel: Y/e were not in a condition to follow
them.™,-
His Majefly's officers and men behaved
with great bravery, nor.diQhe enemy (hew
Jeff gallantry. The Fortitude was extremely
well lecocoed by Captain Macartney, in the
Ptnerfs Amelia; but he was unfortunately
,i^' earl in the action; Lieutenant Hill
kis^r. at merit io fo\ellSupporting the con
dud? of h:.s brave Ca tain ~°
As, there was a gre^ probability of our com
'% intention again, Captain M'Bride very
readily obliged me by taking the command of
that ship,; and 1 have appointed Mr. Wag
horne, my firft Lieutenant, to the command
of the Artois. This gentleman, altho' much
hurt in the aflion, refufed to leave my fide
while it lasted.
Captain Graeme, of the Preston, has loft ap
arm.
Inclofed I tranfarit a return of the killed and
wounded, and an account of the damages sus
tained by the Grips.
The enemy's force was, I believe, .much su
perior to what their LordihiTs.apprehended.
1 flatter myfelf they w'ill be fatisfied that we
have done all that was possible with out's.
I am, Sir;
Your most obedient and
Molt humble Servant,
L'. H. PARKER.
IP. S, Th^ f igates this morning discovered
I one of the Dutch men of war folk in tweky
!two fathom water, her top-gallant masts were
I above the.farface and her pendant still flying,
j'which Captain Patton has struck arid brought
I to me on board. I believe foe was the second
;fliip in the line, of 74 guns.
I Areturn of the hided and ^Wounded in the aflion
:of the Qb of Juguft;
;Ships names, Number of men.
killed, wounded. Total.
I Fortitude 20 64.'87
!Bienfajfant 6 21 27
\ Berwick ' 18 58 76
[ Princess Amelia 19 58 75,
I Preflon _io 40 , 50,
I Buffalo 20 64 84
I Dolphin 11 3; 44
10 4' 3.39 443
OFFICER S..
! Fortitude. Lieutenants Waghorne, Harrington,
k and Hinckley, the Boatswain and' Pilot,
I wounded.
1 Fienfaifant. Gunner wounded.
Berwick. Lieutenants Skipfey and Maxwell,
I Captain Campbell, and Lieutenant Stewart
§ of marines, and 'fix midihipmen, wounded ;,
I pilot and two midshipmen, killed.
, Princess Amelia. Captain Macartney, and gun
|_ ner killed; Lieutenants Hill, Smith, and
§' Legget, wounded,.
I Prefon. Captain Graine, and third Lieutenant
wounded.
•Buffalo. First Lieutenant, and boatswain,
f wounded.
Dolphin. Lieutenant Dalby k lled; boatswain
I 'wounded*.
I. N. B. Lieutenant Rivett relates, that the
homeward bound trade from the Baltic, con
lifting of upwards 100 fail, proceeded on th/ir
way to England, under proper convoy, before
}the action began, and may be hourly expected.
I Admiral Packer's squadron, at the time of the
f action, confuted of the under-mentioned ffiips
and Legates, viz.
$ Ships. Guns. Commanders.
j 1 Vice Admiral Parker,
8 Fortitude 74 D u r
, - ( Captain Robertson,
^Princefs Amelia 80 Macartney,
IBerwick 74 Fergufoni
I Bienfaifant 64 Brathwaite,
I Buffalo ^ 60 Trofcot,
I Preftun 50 Graeme,
Dolphin 44 Blair,
lArtois1 Artois 40 M'Bride,
§ Latona -38 Sir Hyde Parker,
(Belle Poule ' 36 Patton,
Cleopatra .32 Murray,
Surprise (cutter) 10 Lieutenant Rivett.
Auguf fl. Admiral Parker seems to have
been surprised, to fi&l the Dutch so strong as
I they were; but he'did not tight as if he had
been surprised; for inferior as he was, he
engaged as if he was equal in number to his
enemy ; and finding in the spirit of his offi
cers and mm thof, resources which he could
not derive from numbers, he nobly sustained
a bloody conflict, which ending j n the re
treat of the enemy, afforded him the greater
honour, as he was so much inferior.
,Upon a calculation it appears that the ene-
Imy had the fupe/iority of 112 guns, even
Ihad1 had our frigates been engaged, which was
not the case, the whole being detached as a
1 flying squadron, with a view of cutting off
;the enemy's convoy, and therefore never fired
; a gun, but the Dutch frigates were all in
*fhod.
;We learn that his Majesty's ship Berwick
had three line of battle flhips upon her at one
|time, which she fought with great bravery,
;until relieved by the Princess Amelia, and
| what is very attonifhing, had but very few
men killed, considering the great difpropur-
Ithan of force against her. •
Fhe gallant Capt. Macartney, who fell so
§ nobly in the service of his country, was bro
-ther to Lord Macartney, who lately went out
t'o India in quality of Goyernor of Madras. He
commanded the Princess Amelia, and received
;an eighteen pounder in his bread on the se
cond broadside, as he was landing on the
quarter-deck ; the body was mangled in a
Ihocking' m inner.
lAdmiral Darby having failed from Gibral
itar, we may fir rtly expert to hear of the re
lief of that garrison, or of a .general engage
ment Between our Admiral and the combined
fleets, it being well known, that the King of
(Spain is deermined to rifle every thing to re
duce that valuable, and important foruefs.
This afternoon an express arrived at the
x Secretary of State's office, frqin India; (over
, fland) with the agreeable intelligence, That
I an advantageous peace" had been concluded '
fr between the Eart India Company's Servants
:and the Marrattas; and that Sir Eyre Coote
~bargained a configurable advantage over
Hyder, Ally, obliging him to raise the siege
of Wandewalh, add retreat with precipitati
h fi^al miima was very lately decided on,-f
as a measure to be proposed in Parliamenti
early in the next feifran. It will be framed tol
raise 70 fa'il of the line, 'and 30,000 feilors.
Advice is fa? to be received from the. |
Hague, by the waybf Odend, which mention §
that a northern power have acquainted their
'High Mightinesses, that if their fleet of men|
of War commit hostilities in the Baltick, means|
will be ,fed to prevent their continuance
there. :'\
. A^guft 7. Thirteen Eaft-Indiamen failed
with Commodore John Gone, and seven under|
convoy of the Sultan and Magnanime, the
I Ith of last month. The OQober fleet will
consist of thirteen fail, 'making the number of
(hips taken up by the Company this year, 33
fail.
August IT. Yesterday advice was received
from Admiral Parker that he was put into
Leith, id order to repair fame of his Grips be
fore he can proceed fur England.
This day advice was received at the Admi
raltv, of the arrival of feveralof the eaft'coun- 1
try fleet, under convoy of Sir Hyde Parker,
fife)at NewcalFe, and that the remainder
were gone fortheir refpeaive'ports.
This day advice was received that 142 fail of
Grips from London, were all fafe arrived at
Peterfburgh.
August 9. Commodore Shirley, in the
Leander Man of War of 50 Guns, who is go
ing to the Coaftof Africa, is charged with the
Expeditions against the Dutch Settlements;;
The Franfports also carry opt Troops to re
enforce the English Settlements at'Dixgoree,
Succondee, Commbnda, &c.l
Yesterday Admiral Arbuthnot was it the'
Levee for the firft Time since his Return from 1
North-America, and ha^an Audience of his
Majesty.
Lord North, who has been greatly in,if-1
posed, is f> well recovered that he was Yetter-,
day at Court. , .
We are informed, that Admiral Darby,
with the Fleet under his command, is making
the belt of his Way to'Gibrlltar. The Whp^e
of his Force does not exceed twenty-five Sail'
ofthe line, yet, ? - they are the Flower of th,e
navy, 12 of them three Deckers, and all' of ,
them mod completely officered and manned,
he will give the cofubioed Fleets Battle, if they
date meet dim, although they are far superior
tohim in Number-— Morn. Pofo „
August 13. The Dutch convoy which got
fafe into the Texel during Admiral Parker's
engagement with the men of war, confided of
upwards of 130 fail of vessels bound to the
Baltick for naval ftorcs, of which they are in
great want at all the Dutch arsenals ; so that
the action is, if rightly considered, Gill more|
favourable to this country, as they will not
probably be able to procure a necessary supply
of those articles this year.,
Authentic Lift of the English and Dutch fleets
in the action on the „h of August, 1781,
on the Dogger Bank. .|
English. Dutch.
Gun's. Guns.
Fortitude 74 Prince William 74
Princess Amelia So Admiral General 74
Berwick 74 Admiral Rutter 68
Biepfaifant 64 Holland 68
; Buffalo 60 Zuid Buickland 64
Prettin 50 ^Batavia 54
Dolphin . 44 Ernit Prince 54
—— Admiral Pritten 54
446
r . 51°
.frigates.
Artois , 40 Argo. 40
Latona 38 Amphitrite 36
Belle Poule ' 36 Zephyr • 36
Cicepatra 32 -Madeubrook 36
—-— Erniternherd 36
146 -
184
Dutch Line 510 Guns.
English Line 446
64 In favour of the Dutch
Dutch Frigates 184
English 146
38 In favour of the Dutch.
Extrafl of a Letter from Gibraltar, fune 30.
" The Frequency of the flags of truce of
late has caused a suspicion of their being only
concealed spies, which come here for no other
purpbfe than to make their observations on
what is going forward in this garrison ; a ge
neral order, therefore; has ben issued by
Gen. Elliot, that in future the boats so em
ployed shall not be permitted to come beyond
certain limits, of which the several c ntinals
and ' others are ordered to be very careful, on
pain bf the fevered punishment-".
Extract of a letter from Captain Thomas Hall, of
the Tygrefs Privateer, of Apptedore, mounting
" 22 fix founders ; and 130 men, to bis owners,
dated Milford, \^tb fuly.
" Gentlemen, I am happy to inform you
of the arrival of younihip Tygrefs at this port,
with her prizes, the Twee Gebroders, and the |
Vrouw Johanna, two Grips of near 600 tons I
burthen, laden with masts, cordage, pitch, tar, j
turpentine, andother naval stores from Offend,l
bound to Cadiz. We fell in with them in lac.-j
54, 10. N 8, :6. W. they were escorted by aj
frigate of 50 guns, called the Van Trump.j
She chafed us almost out of fight of.the two
Grip's, and ffiewed English colours, when we
br >ught to, taking her for an English frigate ;
but soon found our mistake, by their summons
to strike our colours: On our refufing, they
fired a broadside,which we returned, and made
a running fight for near two hours, when, in
a final! of wiha, the enemy s m^n m?tv^
carried away, just below the hounds, hv'r^
been wounded by our foot. As soon a<.we per'
ceived their distress, we tacked and brought
to, about two points on their weather b^ ,
when, by our small arms, We prevented their
clearing the wreck, and raked her for near an
hour, whey they bare round, arid te;d before
he wind, giving us every now and t,en a gun
from their hern; well directed, which did us
much damage. The evening coming on; and
feeing it was not likely to take the frigate, £
hauled my wind, and flood for the two Grips,
to fee what they were; atday-lightnext mush
ing, I found rayfelf Within random ffiot, and
soon found them of no forcei; by four I got
possession of the Twee Gebroders, ^nd then
chafed the other, which vye took 3y noon.
With this agreeable news I am sorry to add,
I Have 101 l nine of my brave men killed, and
seventeen wounded; amongst the former is
Mr. James Anderson, my firft Lieutenant, apd
boatswain."
.O^^^^^^^^^l^^
BALT IMO RE, September 23.
A few days ago the brig Nymph, of Phila
delphia, commanded by Captains Braiman,
bound to this port from Havannah, unfortu
nately ran alhore on the Bodkin, at the en
trance of our riyer, and bilged. A consider
able sum of money, in Mexican dollars, were
lately landed, but the remainder of the cargo,
cdmifting of sugar and salt, will probably be
loft. Ihe rest t, it is said, will be got off.
B A L T I M O R E, October 2.
A late Letter from Williamsburg mentions,
§ that the Allied Army, under Command of his
Excellency General Washington, confining of
'upwards of 15, 000 efttlive Men, all in Health
and high Spirit/, had tak^n an advatageous
Position Inthe Neighbourhood of York Town
and Would immediately commence very firious
Op rari ns against that important British Post.
PHL A DE L P H I A, Oflober §.
The toriesin >Ncuth-Carclina on the i zth
uh. about .300 in number, forprized a„d m-de
piforer the Governor of that five a: d leveial
other gentlemen, they were pursued soon after
—66 were killed, agd |B> horses taken=the
surviving torie§ have since paroled nil the gen
tlemen, except the Governor,
By a gentleman who came to town jefterday
from Williamsburg, which place he left on
Wednesday the 26th ult. we have the following
interesting intelligence, viz that on the'day
he left that place, Gep. Walhibgtbn had sum
moned Lord Cornwall's to farrender, who re
plied, " he would defend the poll while he had
a man lek alive." Whereupon Gen. Wash
ington immediately gavp orders for the heavy
§ cannon to play upon his Lordship,—this be
-Igan about ten o'clock in the morning, a.:d
continued unremittedly, till near 11 at night,
by, which time the allied facts had gained 3
of the enemy's redoubts. — .
TgEN T O N, September 26.
A body of continental troops have moved to
the banks of the Delaware. Two Pennsylvania
militia camps art formed at the fame place.
The militia of New Jersey are also ordered ty
be in readiness. It is said these measures
are taken in consequence offome prej &ed im
pressions on the enemy, as the tidops under
General Heath are also moving down towards
New York
MEW-YORK, Odobcr 13.
Yesterday an account was brought to town,;
that on Sunday the 30th ult. an attack was
.made by a body of the French trobps, upon a
redoubt near Earl Cornwallis's ®orks, on the
road to WilliamG>urg, which was defended by
the Royal French Fuzileers : The British con-
Icealed theimfelves until a favourable moment
of effectual refinance, when, from the heavy
fire of the mufquetry on,one fide, and of the
guns ofghe Guadeloupe frigate on the o.hcr,
the enemy were repulsed in thirty minutes,
leaving behind them one hundred and eight,
nine dead and wounded.-—The loss of the"
British yas one Hessian killed, and two light
infantry wounded. - Col. Caffyell of the rebel
l riflemen was wounded, and died a prisoner,
I The French were pursued to a considerable
I distance fiom the redoubt, and a number
j bayoneted; one hour was granted, them to
j bury thejr dead.
I In the course of the late operations in the
Chefipeak, Lieut, Col. Tarleton fell into th^
hands of the enemy, but in ten minutes aftep
he became a prifoue^, his own meahappily
refeued him. I , ''
I he french fleet at present consists of twenty,
seven failof the line, of which two 74's and;
one 64 are at the mouth of York River. The
French fleet rec^ved very considerable damage
in the action with Admiral, Graves on the eth
nlt.
E^traa of a letter from Yorktown, Virginia,
dated Sept. 30.
" This garrison is in (he highel lfuirits,
and bids defiance to the combined fleets in th, %
universe.--- We had an attack upon one of our
Iredoubts this morning, we gave them a Britifa
answer to all their impertinence ; their loss
muff have been very confiderablc, our'^snone.
A rebel Col. was brought in here this morning
by a patrole of Col. Tarleton's.
“ N. B. Since writing the foregoing, we
I have received accounts, that the French loft
in the attack made this moyning, one hundred
and eighty nine grenadiers, besides the wound
ed."
Yesterday arrived from a cruize, the private
Giip of war Goodrich, Captain Buchannar, by
him we are informed, that on the 29th ultimo,
in lat. 3§, to diflant about' 30 leagues from
Cape Hatteras, he saw a fleet cf upwards of
70 fail, fleering E. S, & iome of them two
deckers, three of which had flags.at the fore^