The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-02-06 00:00:00, page 1

BALTIMORE, January 9.
Extras of a letter from St. Euftatius, Dec. 3.
“ T Am informed by a gentleman just arrived
L from London, and who saw Mr. President
Laurens, a few days before he came away, that
that gentleman was confined very close, to an a
partment 12 feet square, in which there was a
centinel and a yeoman of the guard. His black
servant was allowed to attend him. None others
had been permitted to speak with him, except his
son, and Mr. Manning, in company with an of
ficer, for half an hour.
" The Portugefe and Englifl. re not on the
Left footing, the former having r< Cufed Commo
dore Johnftone leave to fit out some vessels at Lis
bon.
" The enemy's success at Camden had reached
London. If we may judge from the late news
papers from thence, the idea of subduing Ameri
ca hardly exists ; though, it appears, more troops
are going out ; and, it is said, Sir Hugh Pallifef
is to command the fleet at New-York.,,
" We have letters from Holland as late as th^
firft of November: Some people there think
there is great probability of a war, that is, if the
confederacy of the Northern powers is firmlf
agreed to.
" The Experiment, of go/and the Sybil, of 36
guns, (French men of war) lately arrived here
from the French islands, with a ' fleet, and took
back another of 40 odd fail."
A few days ago the sloop Porpoise, of 10 guns,
and an armed barge, under the command of Col.
John Stewart, who (hath signalized himfelf for
his intrepidity on various occasions) went down*
the Bay, in quest of the enemy's piccaroons; which
have long, with impunity, infefted Chesapeake?
We have not yet obtained the particulars of the
Colonel's operations; but we are assured that a
small privateer, belonging to New-York, of four
carriage and fix swivel guns, hath been captured, 1
after a sharp conflict, by Capt. Revelly, and com
pany, whom the Col. detached in the barge to at-,
tack her, as she lay in shore, out of the reach of
the Porpoise's guns.
A letter from Fredericksburg, Virginia, re-'
ceived by Saturday's post, advises, that a fleet of
about 50 fail of vessels, supposed to be from New-
York, arrived in Chefepeake-Bay on Saturday
evening the 30th ult.
The fleet mentioned in the preceding para
graph, appears, by intelligence just received, to
e the armament which left Sandy-Hook on the
28th ult.—Brigadier-Gen. Arnold, who com
mands the land forces on this expedition, orjfoecw
lation, is said, hath ventured to march with them
into Williamsburg, there being no American
troops in that neighbourhood.
This morning, just as this paper was going to
press, the schooner Two Sifters, Cart. Foster, ar
rived here in fourteen days from st. Euftatius.
Captain Foster saw five Ihips of the Britilh fleet,
lying in Hampton-road—The rest had gone up
James river, with Gen. Arnold, and the troops
under his command.
Extras from an Antigua Gazette, brought by
Capt. Foster.
St. JOHN's, (Antigua) December 20.
Extract of a letter from St. Euftatius, Dec. 16.
" We hear that Sir George B. Rodney, with
1; fail of the line, and a large body of troops, had
failed from Barbados on an expedition, some
think Grenada the object, as a large fleet under
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER.
HARTFORD :
TUESDAY, February 6, 1781.
Printed by H UDS 0 N and G OODW 1 N, near the Great Bridge.
Dutch colours were met by a vessel in the neigh
bourhood of that island. It is reported that five
fail of French line of battle fhrps are at St. Vin
cent's, if sos perhaps he may show them the way
to English Harbour.", .
PHILADELPHIA, January 17/
Extract of a letter from Paris, dated October 4.
“ I am glad to fee the American spirit roused
again, and am much pleased with the fubfeription
6f the ladies and merchants.' They have con
futed the afferttonofthat Scotch writer, who fays.
That women have not the amor patri^; and
that the merchants are attached to no country."_
By a prifonef lately arrived here from New-
York, and letters from fome,of ouf captains' in
that City,we learn that the American 'prifoners
never were treated with more severity and inhu
manity than they are at present by the enemy.
This is done "frith 2$ evident design to engage
them to enter into rite British service, for which
they have large premiums, and particular pro
mises of the kindest treatment. By these means,
we are told, several hundreds of our seamen have
Seen compelled to enter on board their ships, as a
refuge from their distress, who writfid have de
fyifed the reward and the fervice,had the circum
gances of their captivity been only tolerable?
Should things go on in this way, the greatest part
of our seamen may be translated to the vessels of
the enemy. This is confidefed here as a point of
no small importance, and deferring the particu
lar and unremitted attention of Congress. if the
facts above Bated are found, upon due enquiry
to be true, ought not trie law of retaliation to be
immediately put in force, aS the moB likely, and,
perhaps, the only means to procure proper treat
ment for our prifonefs and prevent, for the fu
ture, such outrages upon humanity, -and such dis
couragements to out cause?
The Glasgow paper, of July 20/ mentions the
arrival at Grenock of the schooner Lively, from
Newbury, laden with lumber, having been taken
by the Hawke British privateer.
Friday last arrived here the brig Fanny,Capt,
Tanner, -and schooner , Captain Vicary,
from the Havanna.
Monday came intd port a prize brig, taken by
the Fair American, Capt. Jack ways,- on her in
tended voyage from New-York, to Charloftown,
She has on board a valuable cargo, consisting of
salt, wine^dry goodsy&c.
The British forces which; lately embarked at
New-York, have landed in Virginia. We hear
that Major-General Philips (of Burgoyne's Con
vention troops, but lately exchanged) commands
on this expedition, although it is laid that Arnold
acts as a principal officer : This is confirmed by
the following extras of a letter from Fredericks
burgh, received on Monday per post :
“ Arnold, with about 1500 men and a few light
horse, landed fifteen miles below Richmond, and
marched into that town on Friday, about 12 o'-
clock. They have destroyed Weftham, and all
the public works, great quantities of rum and su
gar, but do not understand they destroyed any to
bacco. They retreated on the Saturdays about
12 o'clock, the fame way they came, General
Nelson is collecting the militia, as faft as poffibley
and following them in order to harrafs their rear.;
We hourly expert the particulars."
In CONGRESS, Jan. 13, 1781^
Congress taking into consideration the eminent'
services rendered to the United States by Briga-
Extra& from the minutes, ,
, CHARLES THOMSON, ^Secretary/
In CONGRES S, Jan. 5, 1781.
THE Committee to whom were referred the
letter of Abraham Skinner, Commiflary-Gene
ral of Prisoners, and other papers relative to the
treatment of prisoners in the hands of the enemy,
delivered in a report ; as follows;
THAT, : notwithstanding everyfffort of Con
gress to obtain for our people, prisoners in the
nands of the enemy, that treatment which hu
manity alone Should have dictated, the British
commander, unmindful of the tenderness exerci
sed towards their men, prisoners in our hands;
and regardless of the practice of civilized nations,:
have perrifted in treating our people, prisoners to
them, with every fpeefes of insult, outrage and
cruelty; Officers and, men ^e indiferiminately
thrown into the holds of prison-ships and into,
loathsome dungeons, and there deprived,of fuel
and the common neceflaries of life, by which
means many of the citizens of these States have
been compelled to enter into their service, to a
void those distresses which a conduct so contrary
to the law of nations had brought upon them.
Our seamen taken upon the American coast have
been fentto Great-Britain, or other parts beyond
seas, to prevent their being exchanged, or to force
them to take arms against their country ; That
in the opinion of the Committee,'ah exercise of
the law of retaliation has become necessary, as a
justice due to those citizens of America, whom
the fortune of war has thrown irdo the power of
our erymy :" Whereupon, : ,
Resolved, That copies of the letter of Mr. A.'
Skinner, and the other papers referred, be trans
mitted to the Commanderin Chief, and that he
be directed to enquire into the manner in which
our people, who are prisoners, are treated by the
enemy, and that he give immediate orders to the
commanding officers at the different posts to t kc
particular Case that the British prisoners receive
tire fame allowance and treatment, in every re
foe&, as our people, who are prisoners, receive
from the enemy.
Resolved, That it be recommended to the re
spective Executives, to take effectual mcafures for
dier General Sumpter, of South-Carolina, at th e
head of a. number of volunteer militia from that
and the neighbouring States, ' particularly in the
victory obtained over the enemy at the Hanging-
Ro^k, on the 6th of Auguft—ln the defeat of
Major Wemyfs, and the corps of British infantry
and dragoons under his command, at Broad-Ri
ver, on the 9th day of November, in which the
said Major Wemyfs was made prisoner: And in
the repulse of Lieut. ' Col. Tarleton, and the Bri-.
tifh cavalry and infantry under his command, at
BlackrStorkes, on Tyger-River, on the go ofNo
vember last ;---in each of which affions, the gal
lantly and military conduct of General.Sumpter,
and the courage snd perfeverarice of his troops,
were highly conspicuous,:
Resolved, therefore, That the thanks of Con
gress be presented to Brigadier General Sumpter,
and the militia aforefaid, for such reiterated
proofs of their patriotism, bravery and military
conduit, which entitle them to the highest es
teem and confidence of their country ; and that
the commanding officer of the southern depart
ment do forthwith cause the fame to be issued in
General Orders,' and transmitted to General
Sumpter..
(No. 837,