The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1783-01-14 00:00:00, page 2

L 0 N I)0 N,„ October, 22.
Yetlerday advice was received from Plymouth
ofthe arrival of the Charlotte, from Hudson's
Bay ; (he brings intelligence of a French man
ofwar, of 74 guns and afrigate, having destroyed
the factories and forts of that settlement, and
plundered the inhabitants of much property ; —
but we do not learn that they intended keeping
pofleffion of it, as it is generally believed their
chief object was to plunder and destroy. The
King George ; Sea Horse, Richards; Prince
Rupert, Christopher; were the chartered tra
ders to this settlement, and it is very probable
that they have fallen into the enemy's hands.
The principal settlements belonging to our
Hudson's Bay Company were, Forts Churchill,
Nelson, New-Severn, and Albany, on the weft
fide of the Bay ; and Forts Charles and Rupert,
on the bottom of the Bay. This company, which
does not consist of above nine or ten meachants,
obtained their firft charter from Charles lid. in
the year 1669, by which the sole property of all
the lands, trade, royal filhery, and mines, within
Hudson's Streights, not actually possessed by
any Christian Prince, was vested in them. The
imports are deer ikins, furs, caftorum, or beaver
stones, feathers, whale-bone, and blubber.
The Master-General of the Ordinance has di
re£ted the officers and soldiers of the Royal-Ar
tillery to make the f oilowing alteration in their
uniforms, viz. the lining of the coats to be
white inltead of red (as heretofore) and their
buttons to be impressed with the Ordnance arms.
Copy of a note from the Right Honorable Lord
George Gordon, to theEarl of Shelburne.
" Lord George Gordon presents his compli
ments to the Earl of Shelburne, and begs his
Lordship will do him the favour to inform him,
whether his Majesty's present Cabinet approve of
the declaration made in the late letter, said
to be written by Sir Guy Carleton and Admiral
Digby, to General Washington. " That his
Majesty, in order to remove all obstacles to that
peace which he so ardently wishes to restore, has
commanded his Ministers to direct Mr. Grenvile
that the Indepedency of the Thirteen Provinces
Should be proposed by him in the firft instance,
instead of making it a condition of a general
treaty,"
" Lord George would not have asked this
question to fatisfy any private curiosity ; but he
thinks it his duty to the King to acquaint Lord
Shelburne, as Prime Minister, that great bodies
,efxhc people in the united kingdom of Scot
land are daily prefling Lord George, in the
strongest terms, and in the most affectionate ex
pressions, to write his sentiments to them on the
present date of public affairs in the united king
doms; and Lord George finds, among other
serious matters, that the late letter, said to be
written by his Majesty's Commissioners at New-
York, not being publicly authenticated in the
London Gazette, alarms the suspicions of those
who ardently wish for peace with their brethren,
that that letter is a fogery ; and that peace with
America is not intended: And on the other
hand, not being contradicted by the King's pre
sent servants, it causes the greate ft anguiSh and
difguß to those who have conscientiously approv
ed and supported the American war.
" The people of Scotland are much difaffec
ed and disturbed with this apparent mifunder
-IBanding in the cabinet of the united kingdoms,
thinking the honor .of the united kingdoms is
trifled with ; and they are anxious in the highest
degree to receive information that they may de
pend upon, info affecting a concern as the inde
pendency of America is to their own national,
particular and immediate interests : Lord George
therefore hopes, Lord Shelburne will conde
scend to inform him, whether the proposal of
independency, in the letter said to be written by
the King's Commissioners, is, or is not a mea
sure to be adhered to by his Majesty's present
Administration ?
" Lord George has the honor to assure Lord
Shelburne, that he wishes he could understand
and approve of the measures of the King's Coun
cellors, that he, and those who aft with him,
might have an opportunity of demonstrating the
uprightness and loyalty of their proceedings
and intentions, and of exerting themselves, ac
cording to their vocations, to the utmost of their
power, in support of good government, the true
interest of the people, the honor and happiness
of the King's Majesty and his posterity, and the
true public liberty, fafety and peace of the three
kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland.
Walbeck-Street, O&. 15, 1782."
Advice was yesterday received from Liverpool
of the arrival of the Nancy, Captain Davis, of
that place, from Jamaica; and the John, Hen
derson. belonging to the fame fleet ; off Hoy
lake, the latter parted with the AOiftance, Capt.
Stevenson, about a fortnight Since. We further
learn, that the Britannia, Capt. Howe, for
London, of the fame fleet, is taken, and sent
for France. The following is the number of
ships yet miffing, bound to the different ports,
belonging to this unfortunate fleet, viz.
For London, 24 fail.
Bristol, 4 ditto.
Liverpool, 3 ditto.
Glasgow, 3 ditto.
Clyde, 3 ditto.
Lancaster, 1 ditto.
38
It is now confirmed by letters from France,
that it was not Paul Jones's squadron that did
the mifehief in Hudson's Bay, but a detachment
from Vaudrieul's fleet, confiding of a 50 gun
ship, and two frigates, dispatched very secretly.
They took possession of the forts of York and
Nelson, on the banks of Hudson's river, where
there were several magazines of rich furs, which
fell into their hands, and are valued at five mil
lions fix hundred thousand livres.
Extrd& of a letter from Naples, Sept. 24.
" The audience which our Sovereign, seated
on his throne, and surrounded by all his nobles,
gave, a few days ago to his Ambassador from
Morocca, was truly brilliant and august. His
Moorish Excellency delivered his credentials, ofc
which the following is a literal translation.
" Let us return thanks to the only God, —No-
thing can come to pass in this world without the
will of God, who is exalted above all things.
" The servant of God—Mahomet, son of
Abila, a servant of the Lord, and who will be
so forever': To his Nepolitan Majesty, Sovereign
of the two Sicilies, and all the domains there
unto belonging, Ferdinand IV. fendeth greet
ing; as he is united with us in the service of the
Lord.
" We have sent unto you, as our Minister,
learned, good, faithful and noble Mahomet, son
of Ottoman, for the purpose of cementing peace
and good understanding with your Majesty, as
they both already subsisted with the father of
your Majesty, Charles 111. our friend. What
ever you may agree to with the above Miniiter,
I shall confirm and ratify, as what he {hall do
will be according to our will and pleasure, since
we have, for that purpose, invefled him with
plenary and absolute power.
" Our friendship towards your Majesty, and
your father, will fufficiently manifeft itfelf in
this; my desire is, that our empire and yours
be so firmly united, that our fubje&s may re
sort to your kingdom, with the fame facility as
yours may to ours, whereas the latter are treated
amongst you, so shall the former be by us ; and
all such things as your Majesty may wish for
from our dominions, you need but point it out
to our Ambassador, who will grant you all with
God's grace, in peace,"
General Dalling, late Governor of Jamaica,
is going out irameeiately to the Weft-Indies, to
take upon him th e command of the troops their.
Letters from Dundee fay that the North Seas
are covered with French and Dutch privateers:
a Captain of a Danish vessel, lately arrived there,
reports that he was boarded by upwards of twen
ty of those vessels.
Letters from Marseilles mention that the grand
Duke of Tuscany has caused an ordnance to be
published at Leghorn, forbidding all English
trading houses in his territories to fit out priva
teers.
The following is a lift of ships newly built or
building at Brest and Toulon,viz. le Memeraire,
le Superbe, le Monarque, le Thefee, le Hereux,
le Centaure, la Ville de Faris, la Generalite de
Paris, la Ville de Lyon, le Commerce de Bour
deaux, le Commerce de Marseilles, les Etats de
Bourgoyne, le Deux Freres.
An elegant monument is now erecting in
Westminster Abbey in honor of the brave Ma
jor Andre, who was some time ago murdered by
the rebels.
The Scots having found that the firm and de
termined measures of the IriSh are likely to be
'crowned with success, are pursuing the fame
plans, and it is beyond a doubt, that they will
form an association as formidable as that which
has so greatly changed the face of affairs in Ire
land.
R IC H M ONB, December 2,.
A question has lately been Started, whether it
will be just, neceflary, or politic, for the Legif.
lature to order the payment of such debts' as
have been heretofore contracted by individuals
in this Bate, with persons redding in Britain or
her dependencies, and being the acknowledged
fubjefts ofthat crown.—lndeed reason seems to
revolt against the idea, especially when the con
duct of our common enemy is brought into view
unless upon peace taking place they would agree
to make compleat restitution, for all their rava
ges, conflagrations and devastations; which, eve
ry thing considered, it is impracticable for them
to do; and therefore ifany of their fubje&s fuf
ferby what they maycall "American bad debts,"
the British nation will doubtless be candid enough
to own, that by their wanton deftru&ion of life
and property they previously incapacitated the
injured American from fatisfying his British cre
ditor in the manner he would otherwise have
done.
PHILADELpITI A, Jan. 1.
We hear the Judges appointed to determine
the reritorial controversy between this state and
Connecticut, have unanimously decided in favor
of Pennsylvania.
Accounts from Virginia received here yester
day mention, that Charleftown is evacuated by
the British, and that General Greene is in full
possession of that place.
Extract of aletter from a gentlemanat the Hague,
September 29.
“ We have at length adjulted and agreed up
on every article in the treaty of commerce, witli
the consent of all the cities and provinces; and
clerks are employed in making out faircopies for
the signature which will de done this week."
The legislature of Virginia, at theirlaft session,
palled an aCt, allowing all the inhabitants ofthat
Bate the liberty to manumit their Slaves.
N E W-Y OR K "Dumber 21 .
Extract of a letter from London, dated Octo
ber §, 1782.
“ You know I am Steady as old mother time:
I am not elated or deprefled, and the only rea
son I had to give credit to the idle reports circu
lated in this city is, England has always aCted
erroneously in this accursed war with America;
but now N is gone to the south, and the
geese have flown away with the Fox, and
with the M. of R. Lord S Stands at the
helm. I expeCted and do still expert deliver
ance from the power of Congress and its allies.
“ I may be decieved, but if I am, I have the
authority of a member of Parliament who wrote
to me the other day, " that my fears were
groundless, and that America would not obtain a
vote in the House of Commons for her indepen
dence:" he is a patriotic member, and was ever
set against Lord North's administration, and is
a confederate ot Lord S--—--'s.
" The merchants who have great demands
upon the Americans and has a large landed pro
perty there, have been clamouring for indepen
dence for America till they saw it at their doors,
but now cry out, we are undone if Congress has
its independence; the populace fay the fame
thing in this factious city. I therefore anger that
petitions will go up to the King to carry on the
war with vigor, because the minister is apparent
ly for peace, and of course this city will be for
war. I'd venture to fay, thatthe profpeC tfor
reducing Washington and the Congress was ne
ver so great as at this time. Ido not fay this on
account of letter to ----- to prove the loyal
ty of—— but because I am assured from a good,
quarter, that at the meeting of Parliament the
minister will carry every thing in favour of the
loyalists and vote America totally independent
of the British Houfeof Lords and Commons, fub
je& to the King, with a constitution Similar to that
of Ireland; this kind of independence will ever
be voted on this fide the water. The persons
appointed (being friends to those in opposition)
to negociate a treaty of peace upon terms impos
sible to be obtained, are very proper ones for
this business, if they report as they infallibly
must, that France and Congress will not make a
peace without the terms of France are complied
with as well as those of Congress, all opposition
here will die, and exertion against the combined
foes will be the cry of this nation.
" We are already charged with thedeath of R.
and the retreat of Fox, who evidently is loft in
the estimation of the people. Whatever orders
were sent to ——, were revoked thirteen days