The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-05-15 00:00:00, page 1

IT is said there is a treaty on foot between our
court and the court of Vienna, by which we
are to assist the Emperor in the recovery of Sile
sia from the King ofPruffia; and of Lorain from
hit brother the Grand Monarque. The Emperor
is to fend an army to aft in conjunction with the
Hanoverians, agatnft the treacherous Hollanders,
while our fleets are to burn their ports and con
quer their caftern islands.
When M. de la Touche Treyille took leave of
the King, there were none present but M. de
Calftrues Nulas, and Maurepas. Hisinftruftions
were sealed up, and he received the King's or
der under the Royal Sign Manual, not to
open them until his arrival in a certain lati
tude, and then only before the Captains of his
squadron. - & ,
The Royal Manifefto was not merely founded
bn the difcoveri& made by the capture of Mr.
Laurens's papers, nor on the intrigues of Van
Berehel and nig American associates. Govern
ment had found that the States refufed joining
the armed neutrality, in hopes of drawing Russia
and Sweden to guarntee their possessions, both
foreign and domestic; which those powers at
firft hesitated to comply with, but had not given
an absolute refufal; in this critical juncture a
declaration on the part of England became neces
sary, by which means our court avoided drawing
the powers of Russia and Sweden on them, for
commenting hostilities against their intended
allies; and the States have also loft the oppor
tunity of joining the armed neutrality, which is
hi itielf become almost inoffenfive, Denmark
having in the fame interval entered into a treaty
with England.
The American spy, mentioned a few days since,
is taken at Harwich, and will be examined before
the Privy-Council. Many papers were found up
on his perlon, touching a treasonable correfpon
denee.
This day His Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales was declared of age, and appeared atcourt
rahis new character. The left wing of the Queen's
palace will be aligned him as his own residence;
namely the apartments lately occupied by him
and his brother the Prince Bilhop.
His Royal Highness will have a public day once
a week, and a public table in the fame manner
his royal father had when Prince of Wales, and
when he resided at Saville House, Leicester
Square, and gave a weekly dinner. The day
fixed forhis Royal Highness to receive company,
wfonia town, if sv§;.iy U^rfday.
Jan. 2. Saturday morning about half past ten
o'clock, the Bishop of Ofnaourgh left Bucking
ham house, accompanied by Col. Grenville and
Gen. Malitier, a German officer, on his way to
the continent Nothing could be more affecting
than the parting of this amiable young prince,
and the rest of the royal family. I heir majesties
both wept Severally ; and the Prince of Wales in
particular, was so much affeCted with the misfor
tune of being deprived for so long a period of the
sole companion ofhis youth, that he flood in a
state of entire insensibility, totally unable to
speak, or to express the concernhe felt so strong-
Iy.—The suite set off in a poft-chnife and four
for Margate ; and is the wind is fair, he is ex
peaed to arrive at Offend in the course of this
evening, or to-morrow morning at fartheft.
His Royal Highness is to stay three years in
Germany; after which it is the Intention that he
shall reside with the Prince of Wales at Carleton
House.
6^fi^
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER.
HA R<FO R D : Printed by H UDSO N and GOODWIN, near the Great Bridge.
LONDON, December 26.
TUESDA Y, May 15, 1781.
Last Sunday two mails arrived from England ;
they were sent out in one of the King's ships,
but falling in with another crufing off this cgaft,
delivered the difpatche9 to him, and proceeded to
fulfil the infiruaionshercommander had received.
The ship Quebec from London arrived here the
fame day. They both failed from Torbay on the
19th of February.
Extras of a letter from Plymouth, January 10.
" An account arrived here the night before last
that the French had landed upon the island of
Jerf% surprised St. Helerais, took the Lieu
tenant-Governor in his bed, and made the 95th
regiment, Rationed there, prisoners ; they disem
barked 500 in boats, five miles from St. Helerais.
Fortunately for us, instead of marching forward
briskly to secure the troops in the barracks, a little
way from the town, and to possess the height,
they wafted their time in forcing the Governor
to tign a capitulation, till the troops aflembled
on the heights ; when Captain Mulcafter, who
•commanded in the castle, and Major Pierson of
the 95th regiment (the only field officer) deter
mined to pay no regard to a forced capitulation by
a Governor prisoner, but to attack them imme
diately, which wes done with success, about one
o'clock in the afternoon, after a very heavy fire
oftwenty minutes. The enemy loft a Count,
their commander, and 160 men, the remainder
were made prisoners, 300 have been brought in
here ; those left in the boats cfcaped. O,ur loss
'was Major Pierson killed, and 80 killed and
wounded.
“ By this gallant atchievemrnt the French have
been disappointed for the second time this war,
in making a conquest of the Bland of Jersey."
Extraß of a letter from a gentleman of difmßio^,
in London, January 3.
“ The Dutch war has given this nation more
joy than I can possibly describe. The whole trade
of the perfidious Mynheers will be in our ports,
before they can be prepared to save it. The
number of their ships already taken is incredible.
Yesterday and the day before ,0 were entered or
Lloyd's lift. In short, this event « ; 11 be the
means of uniting tlm fpints ©^ the nation agaißU
all its enemies/'‘
One half-penny per borfe, in proportion for
carriages for use or pleasure, beyond the bills of
mortality, at each turnpikegate in Great-Britain.
And an additional half-crown dutyupon porter
andftrongbecr per barrel. This last. it is believed,
will produce near halfa million Sterling per anum.
The sum to be borrowed and funded will be
fifteen millions, andthe operation of finance will
be made in the four per cents, computed at 72,
with a short annuity and a confiderablc douceur.
There will be at leafl three millions of navy
bills difeharged, and other taxes will,be laid on
to make good the deficiencies of the taxes im
posed in the years '1777, 1778, and 1779+
NEW-YORK, April 24.
The following are said to be some of the taxes
meant to be proposed by Lord North for the
service of the year 1781:
Five per cent, upon the annual receipt of all
securities by bonds; mortgages, or elegit.
One million from the East-India Company,
and an annual tax for fourteen years, the intended
term of the new charter, at the rate of four Shill
ings in the pound, upon the produce of the terri
torial revenues, after deduction made for thecol
le&ion, &c.
A tax of three pence perticket, upon all admis
sions to places of entertainment within the king
dom of Great-Britain.
" Gentlemen of the Jury,
" You-have done perfedlly right in the verdi&
you have given. I am not toe person I was
charged to be. I declare to God that lam as.
innocent as any of you, and never defined any
thing of treason againit my King, and Country.
Gentlemen, it has Deen a wicked prosecution
His Lordship was interrupted by the Jury, who
cried out " have done my Lord, it was a nio,
point."
Lord George then continued :...
" Gentlemen, I beg your pardon; excuse my
warmth, I heartily thank you, and God bleG
y cu '"
His Lordship at near fix o'clock in the morris
ing went from the Hall, attended by his brothers
the Duke of Gordon and Lord William Gordon.
Last Thursday was conduced into our har
bour, the Confederacy, a frigate ceriying 28
French twelves, and 8 ex pounders ; ft is said
the keel was originally laid out for a ship of sixty
four carillon ; flic was taken on Saturday last Off
the Capes of Virginia, by one of his majesty's
fllips of war; her commander, Seth Harding of
Connecticut, had made every difpofitidn for a
close engagement when perceiving her antago
nist (on hoisting English' colours) run out a lower
tier of guns, ana another frigate in fight, he, very
prudently struck the rebel colours, and lObnitted
without ary resistance. Among near 300 men
on board her, were found a number of British
learned, who had been forced into the enemy's
service, through the harshest treatment in their
goals, these, with great alacrity, entered into that
of their native country. We are informed her
invoice amounts to 50,0001. the cargo corififts in
sugar, cotton, indigo, and a large quantity ol
eloathing for Mr. Wallington's army. She was
bound from Cape Francois to Philadelphia, ,with
a convoy, of which several vessels have been late
ly brought into this port. She is tbe largest ship
ever employed by Congrefe, whose .navy (ac
cording to Mr. Richard Langdon's letter, dated
October 5, and produced to us by the firft of
three intercepted mails) is no^ r reduced to threo
frigates, viz. The Alliance, Trumbull and Dean,
There was a French Col. of Engineers in the re
bel service, and several other persons of that na
tion on board the prize. Captain Harding was
some time ago taken and brought to this city, in
the Oliver Cromwell, privateer. He was one of
the captors of the Jason's fleet from New-York
for Carolina ; and it is juftiy due to him, that we
inform the public, he treated the gentlemen, who
on that disastrous event became his prisoners,
with great humanity and kindness.
A small rebel schooner Privateer, of four swi
vel guns, and thirteen men, was sent in here last
Saturday by the privateer schooner Gen. Arnold,
Capt. Neilfon, of this port, she left Rhode-Ifland
the 16th, and was taken the 20th instant,•
A brig from Philadelphia, of fix guns, loaded
with flour, bread, &c. bound for Port au Prince,
or Hispaniola, was sent in here last Sunday by
one of his Majefly's flups.
Sunday a fleet of victuallers, and some private
veffeis arived here from South-Carolina, under
Genvay of several of bib Majesty's ship.
On the sth of February Lord George Gordon's
trial, on an indi&ment for high-treason. came
on before the Earl of Mansfield, the Julticgs
Willes,' Athurft and Buller, when the Jury, af<
ter an absence of three quarters of an hour, pro
nounced his Lordship rot guilty ; after which
Lord George addressed the Jury in the following
words f. -
(No. 851.)