The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1782-04-02 00:00:00, page 1

From Rivington's ROYAL GAZETTE.
N E W-Y 0 R K, March 6.
Yesterday arrived the Sandwich Packet in seven weeks
from Falmouth, which has brought the following advices,
viz.
From the Plymouth Chronicle, January to, 1782.
Paris, December 22.
THE following is the state of the naval armament which
A failedfrom Brest On the loth of this month, under M.
de Guichen, viz.
La Bretagne 110 guns, la Majeftieux 110, la Couronne 80,
le Royal Louis rro, lc Triumphant 80, I'lnvinciblc lio, le
Terrible 110, le Brave 74, Le Robufte 74, le Magnifique 74,
le Bien Aime 74, le Fendant 74, le Pegafo 74, le Dauphin
Royal 70, 1' Indies 64, l'Argohault 74, I'Adtiff 74, le Lion 64,
and le Zorttaqueof 74 guns.
The frigates are, la Cleopatre of 32 guns, 1' Amphitrite of
,2,1 a Fripone of 32, le Crescent of 32, la Najade of 28, le
Ceres of 18, a Corvette 0f26, le Clairvoyant of 18, le Pan
doure of 18, le Efpaighe of 14 guns, two ships armed en
flute, le Hardi and le Alexandre. This armament began to
get underway on the tenth, at day break, with a favorable
wind at S. S. E. at threeo'clock they were entirely out of the
road, as well as most of the transports, making together 150
fail, on board of which were embarked 7974 troops, artil
lery-men included,befides igoo colonies,and the usual num
ber of troops on board each ship, which might amount to
3000 men more. There were allo shipped ico twenty-four
pounders, 120 sixteen pounders; together with a number of
mortars, and a large (lore of ammunition.
Hague (Holland) Dec. 26, The report runs, that the States
of Holland had taken into consideration their answer to the
offer which the l!mprefs of Ruflia, had made to the Repub
lic, relative to her mediation with England. It was
to the following purport: On Friday last the Assembly
of the Stapes-General met, and accepted the offer of her
Imperial Majefty,as far as die honor and dignity of theState
will admit, under the following condition.---" That the
"treaty of the armed neutrality shall be the basis, and
66 that the Court of Petersburgh shall fulfil exadly, and in
" all parts, the engagements itipulated in that treaty, &c."
This resolution has been communicated to the different al
lies to learn their opinions.
LON DO N.
Admiralty-Office, December 18, 2781.
Sir Richard Pearson, Captain of his Majesty's ship the
Aretbufa, arrived at Spitheadyefterday afternoon from Rear
Admiral Kempenfclt, with dispatches for Mr. Stephens, of
which the following is an extra&.
SIR, Vidory, at Sea, Dec. 14.
YOU will please to acquaint my Lerds Commissioners of
the Admiralty, that on the 12th iriftant, soon after daylight,
Cshant then bearing north 61 east, diffance 53 leagues, the
frigate looking out to windward made signal for feeing a
fleet in the S. E. the wind then in that quarter, upon which I
made a signal for the two decked ships and frigates to chace
and crouded fail in the Victory. Ac nine o'clock we could
perceive they were fleering large to the westward ; at half
past ten observed several ships of the linfytdonfiderable way
a-head, and upon our lee-bow, forming in order of battle,
upon which I made the signal for the line, but having a
profpe& of passing between the enemy's ships of war and a
great part of their convoy, Icontinued a pressed fail with a
view of cutting them off, and fucccedcd in part; several
struck to us, the exa& number I cannot acquaint you with
(and am apprehensive that some which fti uck were not tak
en poffi ffion of, the evening coming on, and it blowing
fresh, with thick weather.) By crouding fail to effe& this,
several of our ships were far ahern, so tharto form a line
proper for a&ion, would have been impossible to erfed it
before dark. I therefore tacked to join the flernmoft ships
at the fame time making the signal for the order of failing,
to get the squadron conceded, after which I put upon the
fame tack with the enemy. At day light the next day we
saw them to leeward, upon which I formed the line ; but
perceiving their force so much superior to my squadron, I
did not think iradvifeable to hazard an adion.
Inclosed you have a lift of their force, which all the offi
cers (prisoners) that I have fpoke'with agree in, and which
corresponds, as to number and force of the ships, with the
Vidory's and reconnoitring ship's obfcrvatioxs.
As soon asl can colled the prizes together, I shall fend
them in und^r the protection of some ship of the squadron.
When ee got among the convoy, the Triumphant of 84
guns, who had kept withthem, in bearing down to join
their squadron, palled clofc across the Edgar's fore-foot,
(the leading ship of our line) and gave her a smart raking
fire, which fortunately did not do much execution. The
Edgar'schndud upon this occasion wasmafterl, ; she avoid
ed being dire&ly raked, by judiciously bearing up as theene
my parted her, and immediately after luffed to the wind,
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER.
HARYFOR D : Printed by H UDSON and GOODWIN, near the Great Bridge.
TUESDA Y, April 2, 1782.
and brought their broad-fide at right angles with the ene
my's stern, throwing in a well directed fire, which we could
perceive was very effectual ; the next morning we perceived
the Triumphant in the French line, with her main-cop-mast
and main-yard gone.
Lift of the line of battle ships with the Frertch condor
Le Bretagne, 110 guns, Mons. Compte de Guichen.
L'tnvincible, 110.
Le Majeftieux, 110, Mons. Le Compte de Rochaurt.
Le Royal Louis, 112, Mons. de Bauffet.
Le Terrible, iro.
Lc Cpuronne, 84, Le Marquis de Vaudreul.
Le Pegaffo, 74; Le Magnifique, 74 ; L'A^iff, 74; Le
Dauphin Royal, 74 ; Le Bien Arne, 74 ; Le Zodiacque, 74 ;
Le Brave, 64 ; Le Robufte, 74; Le Fendapt, 74; Le Argo
nault, 64; Le Lion, 64 ; Le Indien, 64; Le Hardi, and
Alexandre, armed en flute.
R. KEMPENFELT.
N. B. Rear Admiral Kempenfelt's squadron coufifted of
twelve fail of the line, one ship of 50 guns, four frigates,
and one fire-ship.
Sir Richard Pearson relates that the captured ships arc
chiefly laden with artillery and ordnance ftorcs, and have on
board between 900 and 1600 troops.
St ffames's, December 29,
Extras of a letter from the Right Honorable General Elliot, Go
vernor of Gibraltar, to the Earl of Hill/borpugh, one of his Md
jeftfs principal Secretaries of State, dated Gibraltar, Novem
ber 28, 17S1 ; received December 27,
I HAVE the honor to communicate to your Lordships
that the uniform appearances of the enemy's operations
fufficiently shewing that an attempt to destroy the whole of
their advanced works, now arrived at the highest state of
perfection, after immense labour and expence, would pro
bably be attended with the desired success : it was therefore
judged expedient to carry the lame into immediate execu
tion.
The neceffiiry arrangements being made, a considerable
detachment, formed in three columns, marched from the
garrison upon the setting of the moon, at three o'clock, in
the morning of the 27th instant. The columns were seve
rally composed of an advanced corps, a body of pioneers,
artillery-men carrying cumbuftibles, a sustaining corps,
with a reserve in the rear. The pioneers of the left column
were seamen from his Majesty's ships.
The force of the enemy, in their lines and advanced
works, consisted of fifty or sixty cavalry,„and fix hundred in
fantry, composed of the Spanish and Walloon Guards, Ar
tilleries, Caffadores, and other light troops, besides the
usual body of workmen carrying their arms.
The vigorous efforts of his Majesty's troops, on ever,
part of the exterior front, were irrefiffible ; and the enemy,
after a fcattcring fire of short duration, gave way on all
sides, and abandoned their stupendous works with great
precipitation.
The pioneers and artillerifts made wonderful exertions,
and spread their fire with such amazing rapidity, that in
half an hour two mortar batteries of ten thirteen inch mor
tars, and three batteries of fix gurt each, with all the lines
of approach, communication traverses, &c. were in flames,
and are reduced to ashes. The mortars and cannon were
spiked, and their beds, carriages, and platforms destroyed.
Their magazines blew up, one after another, as the fire ap
proached them.
The enemy, feeing all opposition ineffectual, offered no
other annoyance than an ill directed fireof round and grape
shot from the forts St. Barbara and St. Phillips, and the
batteries on the lines, and remained in their camp fpeda
tors of the conflagration.
The whole detachment was in the garrison again by five
o'clock, just before the break of day. Brigadier-General
Ross had the chief command, and conduced the attack with
so much judgment, through the variety of critical incidents
attending an enterprize of this nature, as highly contributed
tothe general success. The center column was led by Lieute
nant Colonel Dachenhaufen, of Reden's regiment; the right
,by Leiutenant Colonel Hugo, of Hardenberg h's; the left
by Lieutenant-Colonel Trig, of the 12th ; and the reserve
.by Major Maxwell, of the 73d. The seamen, in two divisi
ons, were commanded by Lieutenant Cambpell of the Bril
liant, and Lieutenant Muckie of the Porcupine.
Captain Curtifs of the Brilliant, commanding the squa
dron in the bay, accompanied them as a volunteer, and
greatly distinguished himfelf, by his difeernment, assistance
and personal efforts. To rhe attention and valour of these
chief officers, and the Headiness of the troops, was owing
the good order observed throughout the whole.
Greater zeal for his Majesty's fervicc was never shewn ;
nor was thcreever an enterprize more perfe&ly executed.
Many of the enemy Were-killed upon the fyot; but ow
ing to the darkness and other circumstances, I Am not ena
bled to inform your Lordship either of the exaft number, or
their particular quality. A Sub-Lieutenant of grenadiers,
with rank of Captain, and seven of the Walloon Guards,
with an officer and three artillery men, were taken priso
ners.
, G. A. ELLI O T, Governor.
January ~ Yefterda, there was a Levee at St. James's, at
which Admiral Kempenfek was present, for the firft time
since his return with his fleet from a cruize on the French
coast. As was Admiral Sir John Lockhart Ross, ±ho took
leave of the king, on his setting off with Admiral Rodney's
fleet, for the fuccour of the Mediterranean possessions, and
the protedion of the Wcft-India islands.
The letters brought over by the Sophia Julia Frederica,
Danish Eaft-Indiaman, from Tranquebar, which is put into
Bristol in a distressed condition, confirm the account of the
taking of Surat; thedefeat of Hyder Ali by Sir Eyre Coote,
and of the preparations which were going on at Madrafs
and Bengal, for further operations against the Dutch set
tlements; there was no account of Mons. Suffrein being ar
rived at the Mauritius, to reinforce Mons. D'Orves, who
had the command of the fleet. Admiral Hughes, with five
fail of the line and two frigates, was come round the pen
insula from Bombay, in order to assist the operations of the
Company's forces.
Extras of a letter from the Hague.
" The answer to the Empress of Russia, for her offers of
mediation towards a feperate peace between England and
the Republic, is couched in the following terms :
" That Lord Van Waffenaar be inftru&ed to notify tothe
Ruffian Ministry, in answer to their offers of p^ace, that
;their High Mightinesses during the present troubles omitted
no opportunity to give her Imperial Majesty the firongeft
proofs of the great confidence she is julti, entitled to, and
are therefore pejfe&ly fatisfied of the particular concern
which her Imperial Majesty hath ever plcafed to shew for
the prosperity of the Republic.
" That their High Mightipeffes, on this ground, from,
the commencement, have shewn the utmost readiness in
accepting the offers of her Imperial Majesty, to adjust those
differences which the unjeft condu& of England hau occa
sioned between Great-Bfitain and these States by Separate
mediation.
" That her Imperial Majeßy, ever afiuated by the fame
sentiments, must have received great fatisfadion from the
acceptance of her pacific offers on the part of Great-Britain,
and on her repeated declaration of being fully inclined to
terminate the present troubles on such terms as may be con
fiften^with her honor and dignity ; that the intefpofition
of the good officers of her Imperial Majesty of all the
Ruffias to this salutary end, are highly pleaflrig to their
High Mightinesses, who colffcqueitly again accept the
offered mediation, under this convidion, however, thattha
principles of the armed neutrality, by which they ard other
powers have the honor to be allied to her Imperial Majesty,
: will be attended to.
" That their High Mightineflfes further declare their rea
diness to co-operate, through the into portion of her Impe
rial Majesty's Ministry with^he Court of London, in order to
adopt such measures as must and will be necefTary, prior to
to the formal opening of the treaty of peace.
“ That to the fame end they will as speedily as poffiblc
take into confederation the fixing a proper place where the
pacific negotiation is .to be held, and will endeavour to an
swer to the proposed objc& of her Imperial Majesty, as far
as the form of government and constitution qf these pro
vinces, and also the great diftnnCe, which may occasion
difficulties in the course of the negotiation, will any wife
admit qf.
“ That they mean also to take into confederation the ap
pointment of Plenipotentiaries to assist at the said negoefy
ation, and the preliminary articles on which they are in
clined to reftorc peace with his Britannic Majesty.
" That in the interim they can affiire h^r Imperial Ma
jesty, inphis refpe&, of the ease and facility with which
they intend to condu& themselves in stipulating the preli
minary articles; and they will without the lead receive
make the faireft overtures to her Imperial Majesty, the mo
ment they are by her affined (on whose magnanimity,
known equity, and good wishes to these fLtes, their High
Mightinesses have the fulleft confidence) of the sincere in
tention of the Court of London to be reconciled to the Re
public on such terms as may be compatible with her honor
and interest, and which cor.fequently may be thought ad
missible.
" That exclusive of the foregoing resolution, a tran
script of the fame shall be delivered to Prince Gallic
zan, Ambassador Extraordinary to her Imperial Majes
ty, requeuing at the fame time, that the claims of their
High Mighrineffes be fuppor^d with his friendly affiftance.':
(No. Bc, )