The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-06-19 00:00:00, page 2

St. ,0 TI N's, (Antigua) May 8.
Yesterday arrived here his Majeßy's packet
Antelope, Capt. Kempthorn, with the March mail.
She failed from Falmouth the 12th of March,
and will proceed to-morrow evening for Mount
ferrat, St Christopher's St. Euftatia and Jamaica,
and thence to England.
Capt. Kempthorn fell in with the English
squadron, under the command of Admiral' Sir
Samael Hood, off Martinico, soon after they had
got notice of the approach of Monsieur la Touche
Traville, and saw the whole engagement. We
are sorry to underhand from his account, that
notwithstanding the English, and more especially
the two Admirals, Hood arid Drake, acquitted
themselves with the utmost gallantry and good
conduct, yet they were obliged at length to give
way to the superior force of the enemy. Captain
Kempthorn fays, however, that the retreat was
effeftedin the best podible order, and that so far
from the enemy's having any reafdnable ground
for triumph, nothing could be more evident
'than, that if our brave Admirals had been nearly
equal in force, the affair would have terminated
glorioifo for them, and fortunately for their
country.
Persons whojudge only from events may con
fider this as the mere fanfaronnade of a news
writer ; but we have every imaginable reason to
believe, that when the particulars of the a&ion
come to be impartially investigated, that the ho
nour of the British flag has fuffcred no disgrace
upon this occasion, but that every thing which
could be done by a fleet so much inferior in real
efficient force as was that of Admiral Hood to
Monsieur la Touche Traville's, was done in the
late engagement.
It does not yet appear that any ships were taken
or destroyed on either fide ; nor do we hear that
any of our fleet have fuffered severely, except the
Russel which was obliged to bear away for St.
Euftatia; and even her damages great as they
were at the time, muff have been of such a nature
as to admit of a speedy repair, if it be true, as we
hear, that die is one of the reinforcement which
Admiralßodney had failed with from St. Euftatia,
to join Sir Samuel—We sincerely wish that the
gallant veteran may happily effea this junction,
and that he may take ample fatisfa&ion for the
late unavoidable failure on the part of his brave
colleagues. [The name of Monsieur Treville is
here inserted instead of that of the Comte de
Graile.]
BALTIMORE, May 29.
Letters from the friends of America, in Europe
earnestly recommend unanimity, firmnefs and
perseverance to the people of the American states,
as the British ministry are Draining every nerve
to enable Generals Clinton and CornwallisTo add
in the moR offenfive manner this campaign. The
latter, it is averted, is to be reinforced with 4900
effective men from England.
A letter just received from the Marquis de la
Fayette, advises, that Earl Cornwallis, arid his
troops, from Halifax, on Roanoke, had joined
the britifh forces at, or near Petersburg.
It is reported that a fleet, with troops, arrived
in Hampton Road, on Wednesday last, from N.
York.
PHILADELPHIA, June 5.
ExtraQ of a letter from Martinico, dated May 3.
" Our numerous and much desired convoyhas
at length arrived under circumstances the most
fortunate and flattering.
" To have a passage from Brest but of 37 days,
without losing a single vessel of the convoy; to
find the enemy at the port ready to oppoie the
entrance of it, to engage them, force them to fly,
and then pursue them, are events which cannot
but be glorious to the Count de Grade.
The a&ive spirit of our General impels him to
the field. Orders are given for the embarkation
of 40 large cannon, 12 mortars, and all the ap
paratus for a siege, with all kinds of ammunition.
Nine hundred of the regiment of Auxoris will
embark to-morrow, and the rest of the troops
immediately follow. The intended expedition
is against St. Lucia, where there remains but a
garrison of 1200 men ; the fleet having taken on
oard 800 to complete its compliment. The
English squadron was Rationed at that island, to
cover and protest it, but our fleet, from a happy
manoeuvre, has deprived them of this advantage.
It was expected they would have arrived by the
Dominion channel, where the English waited to
receive them, but to their great disappointment
they came the contrary way, and drove the Eng
lish from their Ration.
" Rodney is now at Statia, dividing the fpoih
" The division ofMonf. de Barras, consisting
of five ships of the line, with 14 batialions, left
the fleet in the latitude of the western islands,
destined for America, to reinforce the army on
that Ration,"
Extract of another letter from the fame place,
dated May 8.
" Count de Graffe has returned from his pur
suit of the enemy. It was not confident with
the intended operations of the fleet, to continue
the chafe, from the difficulty and delay that
would attend the beating up to the windward.
" The troops destined for the attack of St.
Lucia are all embarked, and got under way yes
terday evening ; they confiß of 4000 men ; the
fleet take their departure this morning! May
heaven insure the success of this expedition ! If
abilities, as a General, and merit as a man, can
command it, we have nothing to fear for our
brave commander.
" It is expected, that Rodney will soon make
his appearance with his whole fleet, in order to
attempt the salvation of St. Lucia."
Extract of a letter from St. Piere, Martinico,
May I.
" It is with the greatest pleasure I now ac
quaint you, that on the 26th ult. a cutterarrived
here from the French fleet! The General dis
patched her back the fame evening, with infor
mation of the enemy's force and position, being
17 fail of the line and three frigates, then lying
to leeward of Fort-Royal. Tne timely arrival
of this intelligence produced a moR happy ma
noeuvre on the part of the French.
" The British, ignorant of their real force, and
expecting they would come through the channel
of Dominico, continually paraded between Fort-
Royal and St. Piere, with all the consequential
insolence with which the success of their inglo
rious reprisals on the 'Dutch settlements could
possibly infpirc them, till, on Sunday morning,
the Count de Graffe, having left the flutes and
frigates to guard the transports, intercepted them
in the channel of St. Lucia. At 8 o'clock, A.M.
the headmoft division of the French began to
attack the rear of the British, composed of nine
of their ftropgeß ships, which went rather from
the wind, with a view of drawing the attention
of the French from their convoy, then just heav
ing in fight. By this means they avoided com
ing to a close and general engagement.
" At 3 P. M. the transports having all got fafe
into Fort-Royal Bay, and four men of war com
ing out to join the French fleet, which had form
ed the line of battle, at the dißance of about a
league from the English, the latter put before the
wind, and the French after them, with fteering
fails, and every thing they could carry. I was in
the channel during part of the action, but clouds
of smoke, which obfeured the horizon, prevented
me from distinguishing the event more particu
larly. Many of the more early fpe&ators assured
me that two of the enemy's ships were very con
siderably damaged.
" We have since the most favourable reports,
but as they want confirmation, I shall beg leave
to omit them, alluring you that I shall takeevery
opportunity of communicating such circum-
Rances as may be interesting and well authenti
cated.
" They failed from Brest the 22d March,with
153 transports, notone of which is miffing. A
remarkable pillage, and much to the honor ofthe
experienced officer, by whom it was conducted.
"The troops are now embarking from hence
to Fort-Royal, to join those arrived in the fleet,
confuting of Count Dillon's, and recruits to the
number of 4000 ; together with about 7000. The
defencelefs situation of St. Lucia, the foldiersof
whose garrison are mostly on board the fleet,
leaves not the lead reason to doubt that an expe
dition is on foot against that island. We expert
much from the enterprising and active disposition
of the General de Bouillie, especially as a good
understanding happily subsists between him and
the Admiral, Count de Graffe."
A vessel which arrived here on Sunday last
from St. Thomas's, after a passage of so days,
brings us the following account of the damage
fußaiaed by the British fleet in the late engage
of the poor Dutch and Americans, and Hood,
who commands the English fleet, is gone down
to inform him of his mifearriage, and make him
tremble for the fate of his capture. This island
is garrisoned by 1 300 men, under the command
of Gen. Vaughan, who has fortified the hill in
such a manner that it is now deemed impregna
ble. It is expected the lower town will be set on
fire.
ment cff Martinico : The Refkl arrived at St.
Euftatia two days after the a&ion, with five feet
water in her hold, and landed 130 wounded offi
cers and men. The Torbay and another ship ar
rived at St. Kitts, the firft having received seven
shot between wind and water, and thirty odd in
other parts of her hull : An officer of this ship
wrote to his friend, that the above ship had dis
charged forty broadsides, and leaves it to his
friend to judge the damage the fleet must have
sustained, when only that single ship had been so
much hurt.
This vessel also brings us an account of the land
ing 8000 French troops at St. Lucia, and that the
reduction of that island was very generally be
lieved to be not far distant.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman at St Kitts,
to his friend at , dated May 14, 1781.
" An express arrived here yesterday to Admi
ral Rodney, acquainting him of eight thousand
french tro'ops being landed at St. Lucia. Rod
ney is now to windward, or any where but where
lie ihould bp. The Torbay is at Old Road, and
, ur m °'° ?' the fleet at Montferat watering."
Lxtra& of a letter dated Neweaftle, eighteen
miles this fide of Richmond, May 28, 1781..
Yesterday was a week since Cornwallis join
ed Arnold (Phillips being dead of a fever) at
I eterfburg, the latter had 3500 men, the former
1500. Ihe I hurlday following they marched
down opposite to Westover, 25 miles belbw Rich
,° nd > where they were reinforced by 2000 men
f^w-^ork. Iheir whole force consists of
°T° men ? n °w said to have eroded to
ft°"° ver > and in motion towards Richmond.
lYkyquis de la Fayette evacuated Richmond
lait night, and retreated to Winßone's bridge,
about 8 miles above Richmond, inclining to the
north, tie has about fifteen hundred regulars
ana 4000 militia, and will be able to make a stand
as fden as the re inforcements of the back militia
come up, wno turn out in great numbers; well
armed with rifles and muskets, Col. Campbell is
at the head of a confidcrable body."
Extract of a letter from Holland, dated Feb^ 16.
Good news by the way of France from the
EaR-Indies^ Aconqueß made by the English on
the French, about the lame time when they took
Pondicher— is now retaken by ilyder Ally Kan,
an Indian King, and offered back again by him to
the French. The English beaten by the Marat
tas in the country of Arcot. Their squadron in
the EaR-Indies is now inferior to that of the
French there, under the command of M.
d'Orves."
Extract of a letter from Bilboa, March 22.
I have just seen a royal decree, by u hich the
trade is opened on the coaß of Caraccas, in
Spanifli America, not only with Old Spain, but
for the friendly colonies in America."
Sunday last arrived in this port, the privateer
Ilolker, Capt. Kean, from Martinico. This
veflel brings us the important inclligence con
tained in this paper, of the arrival, &c. of the
grand French fleet at Martinico from France.
Our readers will recoiled, that Mr. Rivington,
some time since, announced the capture of the
Holkler, by the Fox frigate; but we will simply
relate, that the Holker, after a fuccefsful cruize
in the YcR-India seas (in which fire was a terror
to the British commerce) has returned home in
good condition to hernative port.
B O ST () N, June 14.
^Wedneftlay last arrived here the Continental
frigate Alliance, Capt. Barry, from l'Orient,in
France.
She left that port the 29th of March, in com
pany with the Marquis de. la Fayette, a ship of
about 600 tons burthen, mounting twenty-fix
18 pounders and rourteen 6 pounders, having
250 men, with clothing on account ofthe Con
tinent, with whom they parted company in a
violent gale of wind, on the 25th of April, and
she has not since been heard of.—The day after
the Alliance fail'd, a conspiracy was difeovered,
which was, Ihat the crew was to rife, take the
command, and carry the ship into the firß port
belonging to his Britannic Majesty: Capt. Barry
secured three of the ringleaders, and after severe
ly whipping them, put them in irons, hands and
feet, and ordered them to be kept on bread and
water.—.On the 2d of April they fell in with two
privateers, viz. the Mars, fitted out at Guernsey,
mounting twenty 12 pounders, two 6's and 12
or 14 caronades, with 112 men; the other the
Minerva, of 10 guns and 5$ men, from the fame
port, both of which they captured and mann'd,
and ordered for Philadelphia, tlie former was
mann'd by the Alliance (and has since arrived in