The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-10-09 00:00:00, page 2

pieventing this growing country from being an
objeff of everlasting jealousies, rivalries and wars
among the nations. ,If this idea is just, it follows,
that it is the interest of every State in Europe to
acknowledge American Independency immedi
ately.. If such bevevolent policy ffiould be adop
ted, the new World will be a proportional bles
sing to every part of the old.
Tbe'Subferiber has the further honour of in
forming your High-Mightinefles, that the Uni
ted State's of America, in Congress aflembled,
imprefled With an high sense of the wisdom and
magnanimity of your High-Mightinesses, and of
your inviolable attachment to the rightsand liber
ties of mankind, and being detirous of cultivating
the friendship of a nation, eminent for its wis
dom, justice and moderation, have appointed the
Subscriber to be theirMinifter Plenipotentiary to
reticle year you, that he may give you more par
ticular assurances of the great refpe& they enter
tain for your High Mightinesses, ' beseeching
your High Mightinesses to give entire credit to
every thing which theff said Minister (hall deli
ver on theirpart, especially when he (hall assure
rou of the sincerity of their friendship and regard.
I'he original letter of credence, under the seal
of Congress, the Subferiber is ready to deliver to
your High Mightinefles, or to such persons as
you {hall direct to receive it^ He has also a fimi
hr letter of credence to his most Serene High
ness the Prince Stadtholder^
Alhwhich is refpe&fully submitted to the con
sideration of your High Mightinefles, together
with the propriety of appointing fonte person, or
persons, to treat on the fubje& of his mission,
by"
J. ADAM S.
Leyden, April 19, 1781.
Nor is there more solidity in another fupp'ofi
tion, prorogated by the English to prevent other
nations from pursuing their true interests, that
the Colonies of other nations will follow the ex
ample of the United States: Those powers who
have as large pofTeHions as any beyond fezs, have
already declared against England, in attempting
to change the whole system of government of
Colonies, and reducing them by oppreffioii to the
neceftity of governing them'felves; and without
such manifest injustice and cruelty on the part of
the Metropolis, there is no danger of Colonies
attempting innovations Established govern
ments are founded deep in the hearts, the passi
ons, the imagination and understandings of the
people ; and without some violent change from
without, to alter the temper and character of the
whole people, it is not in human nature to ex
change fafety for danger, and certain happiness
for very precarious benefits.
It is submitted to the consideration of your
High-Mightinefles, whether the system of the
United States, which was minutely considered
and difeuffed, and unanimously agreed on in
Congress in the year 1776, in planning the treaty
they proposed to France, to form equitable com
mercial treaties with all the maritime powers of
Europe, without being governed or monopolized
by any : a system which was afterwards approved
by the King, and made the foundation of the
treaties with his Majesty : A system to which the
United States have hitherto constantly adhered,
and from which they never will depart, unless
compelled by some powers declaringagainft them
which is not expected, is not the only means of
^nupported by the Engtifn before the revoluti
on with difficulty, and not without large Parlia
mentary bounties. Of hemp, cordage and fail
chrth there will not probably be a fufliciency rai
led in America for her own confchiption in ma
ny centuries, for the plained: of all reasons, be-
Waufe these, articles may be imported from Am
ftcrdam, pt even from Peterfburgand Archangel,
cheaper than can be railed at home. America
will therefore be for ages a market for these arti
clesof the Baltic trade. , #
ANNAPOLI S, September 20.
We have it from the belt authority, that the
Count de Grade is returned to his former Rati
on at Cape Henry, having driven the British fleet
from the coast, formed a junction with the squa
dron of the Count de Barras, and captured two
British frigates.
About four thousand French troops, with a
train of artillery,mq^ched into this city on Tues
day lad from the northward, and will embark
this evening or to morrow morning for Virgi
nia ; they are,to be convoyed by the Romulus,
Gmtille, and some other frigates of our illuftri
pus ally, now at anchor off thi^ harbour!
B A LTIMO R E, September I^.
Sunday morning the ship Sharp, bound from
Charleftown to York-River, Virginia, lately
commanded by Capt. Alexander Boggs, laden
with rice, coffee, geneva, &c. arrived at Fell's
Point, havingbeen captured by one of theFrench
fleet, near the mouth of Chesapeake.
A Brig from Charleftown for Virginia, was
taken in company with the (hip above-mention
ed, and is now on her way to this port.
A few days ago the 4th Maryland Regiment,
confiding of 600 rank and file, marched from
Annapolis, to join the Marquis de la Fayette, at
Williamfburgh.
The British fleet, under the command of Ad
mirals Graves, Hood and Drake, on the 7th inst.
made a feeble effort to enter the Chesapeake ;
but were attacked and driven to sea by the Count
de Graffe, who after purfufng them several
leagues, with 26 ihips of his fleet, returned fife
to the bay, with 23 Grips, the other three hairing
been left in chafe of a single British man of war,
supposed to be the Royal Oak.
.While the Count de Grafle, was chafing the
British fleet, the Count de Berras, with 8 French
line of battle ships, besides Frigates, transports,
and victuallers, arrived in the bay, and brought
in two pritiih provision flrips, bound from St.
Lucia to New-York. % ,- ...
On Tuesday last the British frigates Iris and
Richmond, the former commanded by Capt.
Dawson, and the latter by Capt. Hudson, were
captured near Cape Henry by Count de Graffe's
fleet, as they were returning into the Chefapeak.
These frigates (one of which fought with great
bravery and perseverance against afupefior force)
were coming into the bay, under the idea, it is
supposed, that the Count de Barras's Squadron
was British. . ,
The French fleet, in and near the Chesapeake
now consists of about $0 fail of men of war, trans
ports, victuallers, &c. 35 of which are of the
line.
Eighty pieces of battering cannon, many large
mortars, and an immense quantity offhells, shot,
and other warlike Bores, have been brought in
by the Count de Barras's fleet, for the use of the
allied army.
The Romulus of 44 guns and La Gentile, of
32, with eight transport Hoops 'and one brig, are
arrived at Annapolis, for the purpose of trans
porting the troops, which left this place on Sun
day last, with their baggage, &c. to Virginia.
The embarkation will commence this day. It is
said they are to disembark at Burwell's Ferry, in
James river, four miles from Williamiburgh.
The allied army which will, in a few days,
commence very ferions operations in Virginia,
under the immediate command of his Excellency
General Washington, will consist of between
fifteen and twenty thousand effective men.
Last evening a brigade of New-York Rate
troops, under the command of Brigadier Gen.
James Clinton, embarked at, and failed from
Fell's Point for Virginia.
PHILADELPHI A, Sept. 26.
Extract of a letter from Camden, in South-Ca
rolina, dated August 29.
" Every officer in the line of the foutbern ar
my, that was present, has addressed General
Greene on the late execution of Col. Hayne,
praying that the Lex Talionis may follow. In
confequerice of which the General has issued his
proclamation to that purpose, and by a flag sent
to the commandant of Charleftown, has forward
ed him copies of the address and proclamation,
which lets forth " That retaliation shall immedi
ately take place, not on the tory militia officers,
but it shall fall on the heads of regular British of
ficers. This will now open a new feene of
bloodshed, &c. which in the end the British will
have veafon sorely to repent. We have three
British officers with us, prisoners, who are quak
ing with fear on the result of this proclamation ;
but they are not of fufficient rank to become ob
jects, they tell us that Col. Balfour was very
averie to the measures taken against Col. Hayne
and threw all the blame on Lord Rawdon and
Col. Gould: However, this gains little credit
here, as the character of the commandant, for
his cruelty, perfection, hypocrisy, &c. is s o
well eftabtifhed, that we are certain he would
not have forgone the great pleasure of
giving his fiat to the execution of an American,
for thd universe, as this cruel piece of baseness
will the more endear him to his sovereign.
" General Greene with the army, left this
place two days ago, on his march towards the
enemy at Coftgarces, and ft imagine he crossed
at Friday's ferry yesterday. A report has just
reached us, that the enemy the night before last,
on receiving intelligence of General Greene's
movements, precipitately left their encampments
and marched off, firft setting their huts and some
boufes on fire."
Extract of<lletter from 'Annapolis, dated Se[t. I'6.
" Permit me to congratulate you onthc return
of the French fleet. It appears there has been 2
running engagement between them and the ene
my, though nothing decisive. The Count de
Barras, lying within the Capes, hoisted the ene
my's flag; this two of the British frigates ob
serving, determined to force their way through
the formidable fleet ofCountde Graffe, of course
you must suppose they fell an cafy conquest."
On the 6th of-Auguft last, the noted horfc
thief, and British Colonel M'Girfh, eroded th@
'Savannah river, opposite Turkey-Hill, in South-
Carolina, with 370 men, all mounted, withan in
tent to furprize a Capt. Vince, who had witli
him only 22 men, 17 of whom were armed, with
which 17 the gallant Vince made a charge on
the noted Colonel and his banditti, whowereim
mediately put to the route, with the loss of all
their baggage, most of their horses, and some
prisoners taken. The Colonel made his escape
by swimming Savannah river, whew several of
his party were drowned. The foregoing intelli
gence may be depended on, as the gentleman
who gives it was near the feene of action, and is
now in this city. : ~,
jWe are well informed that not less than three
thousand effe&ive militia, including the regi
ment of artillery, appeared last Monday com
pleatly armed and equipped upon their refpe&ive
parades, all belonging to this city and, diftfias,
determined to charge Sir Harry for his temerity
should he attempt ~an excursion into this State.
And we rejoice tohear, that the spirit. of the year
CT'S prevails in eyery part of the Continent.—
The Whigs of all ranksfeem to vie witheachother
in exerting themselves, at one capital blow to put
a glorious period to this cruel,fafrage and depre-
ciatory war/ , ~^
That' enemy to the human fp&ries, Cornwallis,
is now in the toils,-and must inevitably in a Ihort
time undergo the fate of Burgoyne.—Thank
God, theftate of our finances ate now in a fitua-t
tion to give energy to our exertions.
We are allured from gdod authority, that the
ffiip Saratoga, belonging to this State, thought
to have been loft at ^a, was taken by a Britifli
frigate and sent to England.' A letter is said to be
received from Capt. Young, dated St, Thomas's.
.By accounts received last Tuesday from Gen.
Greene's army, as late as the 26th of August, we
learn, that the British had evacuated their post at
Orangeburgh, and removed their sick and stores
to Charleftown. They had lately sent about 400
men, with a number of schooners, underthecon
voy of several gallies, to collea provisions in the
southern part of the State, and Gen. Mariani
was detached to prevent their succeeding. Gen.
Green had moved from the high hills of Santee,
eroded near Cambden, and was on his march to
wards the British post at Thomson's, which itwas
expected they would evacuate on his approach.
Since our last advices, the corps of horse, un
der Lieuts. Colonel Washington and Lee,have,
at different times, taken between thirty and forty
prisoners, and killed and wounded a number
more; the greatest part of the whole were caval
ry. Belides these, Gen. Marian has taken seve
ral officers, some privates, a quantity of baggage,
and two hundred guineas.
By accounts we learn, that since Admiral
"Hood's arrival on the American Ration, our pri
soners in the hands of the enemy at New-York,
have experienced an alteration in their treatment;
—for the better.
Various have been the reports circulating thro'
this city the week past, relative to the move
ments of the enemy : All that can be depended
on are, that a body of about 5000 men, with
light artillery, waggons, &c. were embarked on
board about 80 transports at New-York, and were
laying last Sunday week in the Narrows, ready
for failing, delayed a^ was supposed merely to
know the issue of Admiral Graves's attempt on
the fleet of our royal ally in the Chesapeake.---
This was announced to them on Wednesday last,
by the return of the English fleet, with the loss
of the Ruby man of war, of 64 guns, and the
Roebuck of 44, taken by Count de Graffe, and
the Terrible, 0'74 guns, which, after the en
gagement, funk at sea, they being able only to
save her Bores and men ; four other ships arc
also greatly difabhst, •^