The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-03-06 00:00:00, page 2

Mr. Te^Hfrend had gi^n notice, that be in
tended to move to-day, that the thanks of the
house should be given to Sir Fletcher Norton,
but he said he had material reasons for wishing
that the noble Lord at the head of the Treasury
Should be present when the 'motion was before
the House. He would therefore put itoffat pre
lent, as his Lordflhip was abfem. If he knew
on what day his Lordship would appear in the
House, he would fix'on that day for making his
motion.
Lord George Germaine said, that the noble
Lord alluded to, expected to have been in the
House to-day, but the sudden change of the
weather had made it thought improper for him
to make this the firft day of his appearance a
broadrf but he believed thehonorable gentlemen
might expert to fee him in the Houle on Mon
day.;
The order of the day being called for, the
house resolved itfelf into a committee of ways and
means for raising the supply, Mr. Ord, being
ha the chair.
Lord West cote, moved that the land tax be
continued for another year at 4s in the pound in
England, Wales, and Berwick, upon Tweed,
and a proportion of less for Scotland, according
to the union.
Sir James Lowther said, that he had a clause
to propose, by which 22,000 1. a year, would be
gained to the revenue ; but he deferred moving
it till the bill was committed, after the second
reading in the House.
Lord WeGcote and Sir Grey Cooper, thought
that would be on Monday or Tuesday next.
The motion was agreed to.
Agreed to continue the tax on cyder, mum,
and perry.
Adjourned till to-morrow.
Nov. 16, The fubjea ofthe late dispatches from
Mew-York is of more confeauence to this coun
try than even the defeat of Gates, or any other
event of the like nature. Every advantage over
an enemy, is, no doubt, of considerable conse
quence ; but partial victories operate but llowly
against a firm and united people, whereas diflen
tions among; themselves will produce a more
certain effect. We now fee clearly, that what
we had so often heard, about murmurs and dis
contents in the rebel army was not so ill founded,
as their friends in this country would have it be
lieved ; and though the late attempt in so large
a body of them to shake off the tyranny of Con
gress, has, by some mismanagement or othefy
failed of success ; yet, the spirit of the revolt mult
still remain, and will in time as more favorable
opportunities offer exert itfelf into action.
Though every one must lament the fate of
Major Andre, it was certainly right in Sir Henry
Clinton, not to give up Mr. Arnold ; as he
could not have complied with Washington's pro
posal on that head, without a breach of faith,
which hardly any thing could juftify. At the
fame time, we cannot help thinking, fays a
Correspondent, that the British General has run
some hazard, in appointing so late a convert from
rebellion to a principal command, especially on
so important an expedition as that to the Cnefa
peake. He who has betrayed a former trust, is
always to be fufyected ; at least, he ought not to
have an extensive confidence put in him, till
length of time and repeated trials Ihew that he
deserves it.
The circumstance of General Arnold's apofta
cy, and the melancholy death of Major Andre,
has driven from our minds a matter of more im
portant tendency, the situation of our naval af
fairs in that quarter of the globe. Sir George
Brydges Rodney, with the hopes of destroying
and defeating the designs of the French on the
American coast, failed with the greater part of
his fleet on that important object, and for that
purpose our islands were left with a very weak
defence. He has failed in his object.
Not one man has come over with Gen. Ar
nold, to the British standard.
When Louis the fifteenth succeeded to the
erown of France, it was thought by many that
he would avail himfelf ofhis power to punish the
ministry of the late King for their conduct to
wards him ; but that Prince, with becoming dig
nity of mind, at once declared, that it belonged
not to a King of France to avenge the quarrels of
the Duke or Orleans.
They fay in the tower, that Lord George
Gordon, on Tuesday, expressed the highest fatif
fadion on the idea of being carried up that
morning to the bar of the King's bench, to plead
to his arraignment, which he intended to have
done himfelf, as no council whatever had been
permitted to freak to him during his toniine
inf
Tike trial of Lord George Gordon will con;e
on either on Friday or Monday fe'nnight ; ft is
thought it will be on Friday, except his Lord
fhipihould want to delay it, which is rather im
probable, as he himfelf petitioned the court for
his trial to come on.
The world is greatly divided refpe&ing the
Geps to be taken with Mr. Laurens. If deliber
ate treason, and active rebellion, are crimes a
gainit the date, his conduct certainly deserves
the fevered reprobation ; yet such is the detrac
tion of the times, that while one party sentence
him to the fcatfold, the other would vote him in
to parliament ! Not only the strength and spirit
of the contending parties, but the very justice of
the war in which we are engaged, will be even
tually decided by the fate of this captive, so that
we cannot but be anxious to fee whether govern
ment dare enforce the laws against the enemies
of the nation, or if obstinacy of opposition is Bill
powerful enough to avert their punishment, and
raise them into popularity 1
Nov. 24. General Arnold's letter to Lord G,
Germaine, which, it is said, will find way to the
public, expressly fays, that Congress would not
be able to itand their ground halt an hour, if his
Lordship would publicly, and under authority,
declare to America the terms that would be given
Commodore Leslie, our naval commander at
Gibraltar, has just written home a disagreeable
confirmation of the inimical disposition of the
Emperor of Morocco towards the British, and an
avowed predilection in favour of the Spaniih-
The English vessels are repeatedly taken under
the very guns of Tangiers, in spite of every re
monflrance on the part of our consul.
RICHMOND, February 10.
We are told that a fleet of the enemy's Grips
have entered Cape Fear river, that 8 of them had
got ovq the bar and many others of them were
laying off. They are supposed to be a reinforce
ment to Lord Cornwallis, underthe command of
Gen. Prevoft.
Since our lad we learn, that 14 merchantmen,
belonging to this State and Baltimore arrived,
and have put into the inlets on the Eastern shore.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 20.
Sunday last arrived here from France, the ship
Ariel, commanded by that celebrated sea officer
John Paul Jones.
It is a fad no less true than singular, that a
preacher among theQuakers, greatly esteemed by
that people, and remarkable for his piety and be
nevolence, not many days since prayed fervently
" for Congress, and all in authority under thorn,
and for the preservation of his Excellency Gen.
Washington from his enemies." —What do the
Tories of that fed fay to this ?
Extra& of a letter from Baltimore, dated Feb. 17.
" Capt. Murrah left Richmond on Monday
last. Col. Meriam and Major Lee had succeeded
at George-Town, had killed and taken about
300 men ; what stores could not be brought off
were destroyed. It was said Gen, Prevolt, with
2500 men had landed at Wilmington, North-Ca
rolina from England.
C II AT H AM, February 21.
On Monday last some whale-boats from Bruns
wick captured, near Staten-Illand, 3 iloops be
longing to the enemy ; one of which they Grip
ped of her fails and rigging only, but brought
the other two up to Brunswick.
A state of fa&s refpeding the deliberate and
cruel murder of Stephen Ball, on Bergen Point,
the 25th ult. This unfortunate man was deluded
by a declaration made by the commanding of
ficer on Staten Island, that all persons who would
bring provisions should have liberty to fell the
fame, and return unmolested ; in consequence of
which declaration, Ball carried over four quar
to all the colonies. Sir Henry Clinton advises
the fame thing „ and it is confidently said, that a
declaration will be issued accordingly.
The return of General Arnold to his allegiance
has elofed the mouths of many a coffee-houfe
orator. He was held out as a terror to Great-
Britain, and on every occasion brought forward
as a contrail to the ablest of our commanders.
America in him have loft her strongest martial
pillar. Gates is as imprudent as Burgoyne, and
Washington can only a& in avoiding to fight.
Every week teems now with something extra
ordinary and unlooked for !-—Surely the multi
tude of wonders will produce some event propi
tious to this island ere long !—ln North-Ame
rica, a rebel chief has revolted from his new mas
ters, and joined the royal standard ; but he has
revolted aldne, that is, come like a common de
serter, without bringing a single centinel with
him! For his desertion we have paid dear, in
the ignominious death of a brave officer of dif
tinguilhed rank and merit !
His Most Christian Majesty's Ship I'Eville, of
'64 Guns, with the Frigates I'Gentille and Sur
veillante (which failed from Newport for Virgi
nia on the 9th Instant) under the Orders of
Monsieur TILLEY, returned to that Port on Sa
turday Evening, after having captured the whole
of the Fleet, wnich lately wafted the Traitor AR
NOLD, with his Myrmidons, to the Virginiz
Shores, except a few final! Craft that ran up a
ters of bee, with a full a&rara&e of being wefl
treated, and expected to return undifeovered by*
his countrymen ; but soon after bis arrival oil
the island, he was seized by Cornelius Hetfield,
who commanded a party of fix or seven men, and
was carried before General Patterson, who refu
fed to call a court martial to try him. From
thence he was carried before General Skinner, in
order for trial, but he also. refufed, pretending t.
shudder at the thought of trying and executing 3
perfo i who came to bring them relief. Never,
thelefs the said Hetfield and his party, being loft
to every sense of humanity, after robbing their
prisoner of what property he had with him, car
ried him across to Bergen point, and, without
even the form of a trial, immediately informed
him that he had but ten minutes to live, and ac
cordingly put their horrid design into execution,
notwithstanding the prisoner Hrenuoufly urged,
that he came with provisions agreeable to the
above mentioned declaration ; and when he
found they were determined to take his life, he
begged for a few minutes longer, but was an
swered that his request could not be granted;
but if he had a desire any person should pray with
him, one of their party should officiate. When
he was near expiring, James Hetfield, one of the
banditti, put a knife in his hand, and fw@re that
he should not go into another world unarmed^
The persons who perpetrated this cruel a&, were
Cornelius Hetfield, John Smith Hetfield, Job
Hetfield, James Hetfield, fen. James Hetfield,
jun. Elias Man and Samuel Man, all late inha
bitants of Elizabeth /Town; and Job Smith, late
an inhabitant of Bergen. When Ball's father be
came acquainted with the tragical death of his
son, he folfcited a flag, which he obtained, for
the purpose of bringing over the corpse, but the
enemy, with a savage brutality, would not fuffer
them to land. Thus the citizens of America,
that find themselves tempted with the golden
promises of the BritifhGenerals, may know what
they have to depend on. They promise what they
call pardon and protection, while they keep a set
of the most abandoned villains, in order to rob
and take away the lives of those that they suppose
have once a&ed like friends to their country.
N EW-Y O R K, Feb. 17.
A detachment of the British army under the
command of Lieut. Col. Tarlton, consisting of
the legion, part of the 7th and 71st, having been
ambufeaded and attacked by a very superior
force of rebels, under Morgan, fuffered consider
ably ; the enemy have highly magnified this add
vantage, but we can assure our friends it has by
no means disconcerted or impeded Earl Corn
wallis's movements ; on the contrary, we must
expe& to hear every moment of a battle which
must decide the fate of the southern colonies.
We have reason to conje&ure his Lordship, now
joined by General Leslie, is at Hillfborough, in
North Carolina.
Extract of a letter from Charleftown, South-Ca
rolina, January 27.
" An affair hashappened between Col. Tarle
ton and Mr. Morgan, not much in our favour,
though a kind of a drawn battle, as both partia
left the field ivitbout burying their dead.
FIS H-KIL L, March r.
Last week five of our brave whig lads, wh.
had been down nearKingibridge, on a scout, and
brought up two prisoners, as they were on their
way back, in a house near Tarrytown, were ate
tacked by fix of De Lancey's armed cow thieves,
our men had only their swords, with which they
defended themselves, and obliged -the ruffians to
go off with precipitation ; they then mounted
their horses and pursued them, and though they
dispersed, three of them were taken, which, with
the other two are now lodged in a secure place.
The infamous Arnold is gone up James-River,
where he is fortifying.
We learn that there is great confufion in New-
York, and that two gentlemen had come out of
the, city, and cast themselves on the mercy of
their country.
PROVIDENCE, February 26.
With the finceroft Pleasure we take the earliest
Opportunity of communicating to the Public the
foilowing Account(being the best we can at pre
sent furnifh our Readers with) of the Success of
our generous Allies, in their late expedition to
the Southward.