The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-05-15 00:00:00, page 2

£xtra& of a letter from Port-Royal, dated
. , April 7, 1781.
Five ofthe enemy's ships have run up Po
towmack, and anchored opposite Hoc's Ferry.
They landed some men in Maryland, who did
conquerable damage to the inhabitants. Last
evening they landed a party at Hoe's houses, and
burnt them down. The militia of those coun
ties, and a number of gentlemen volunteers, are
collecting, in order to oppose the progress of the
enemy."
Extract of a letter from Boyd's Hole, Potow
mack River, dated April 10.
" The enemy's fleet often fail, two of twenty
four guns, two of 18 guns, and fix transports and
tenders, are gone up to Alexandria, they burnt
and destroyed numbers of houses and much pro
perty on both sides of the river, particularly on
the Maryland shore."
Extract of of a letter from Belvidera, dated the
17th, instant.
" The ships under Greaves got up to Alex
andria last Tuesday, but did not attack the bat
tery opposite, nor did the people on shore choose
to commence hostilities, knowing that they were
too weak to withstand the force of the enemy.
They landed two or three times on the Mary
land fide, and met with a spirited opposition.
The fleet have fallen down, and are now as low
as Potowmack Point, almost opposite Boyd's
Extract of a letter from TVilliamfburgh, dated
April 19, fix o'clock.
" I amjuft informed by an officer from Bur
well's Ferry, that there are opposite that place,
9 flat-bottomed boats fully manned, two armed
ships, a brig, a schooner, and more in fight."
• BALTIMORE, April 24.
Paragraph from a correspondent.
" When the continental detachment under
the command of the Major General the Marquis
de la Fayette, went from Annapolis to the Head
of Elk, the rear was brought up at a considera
ble distance from the main body, by two armed
vessels. This circumstance induced two men on
shore to mistake the armed fliips for British ; in
consequence of which they came on board that
one where the Marquis was, and informed him
that they belonged to the company who furhifhed
the Kings troops with provisions ; adding, that
a sloop was just ready with supplies, in Gunpow
der Creek, and that they would serve as pilots to
destroy rebel property, and take off some leaders.
Upon this, Major M'Pherfon was dispatched in
a barge, who, after a tedious passage, and nar
rowly escaping with his life, arrived on shore,
where he undeceived his guides, and took up a
number of the gang, whose names he had ob
tained from their confederates. One of these
fellows, we learn, has been hanged as a spy, the
other (hot in attempting to make his escape, and
a number of names given up to the civil autho
rity, from whom it is hoped some capital infor
mation may be obtained."
The hon. Major General Baron de Stuben,
commanding the troops in the State of Virginia,
hath required all officers belonging to the Virgi
nia continental line, within that State, without
regard to regiment or detachment, whether of
cavalry, artillery, or infantry, to repair forthwith
to Chefterfield Court-House, as their services are
immediately and indispensably necessary in the
field ; such officers alone excepted, as have been
especially appointed to the different places of
rendezvous, or are now in that State by the im
mediate direction of Gen. Green himfclf.
.The latest accounts from North-Carolina men
tion, that Lord Cornwallis, and his army had
reached Wilmington, on Cape-Fear River, about
thirty miles from the sea, and that General
Greene and his forces were on their way toward
Camden, and other British posts, in South-
Carolina.
Two thousand British, Irish, and American
seamen, were taken by Admiral Rodney, at St.
Euftatius, the most of whom were compelled
to serve on oard the fleet under his com
mand.
RICHMOND, April 21.
By an officer from the southward we are in
formed, that the garrison at Ninety-fix, which
consisted of ninety regulars, and about 'three
hundred tories, had surrendered to General
oumptef. The fame gentleman also fays, that
Lord Rawdon with about four hundred regular
troops were Rationed at Cambden, and, that
Gen. Greene was on his march against that place,
which it was expected would shortly fall into his
hands.
PHILADELPHIA, May 2 .
Extract of a letter from a gentleman of infor
mation, in Europe, dated February 22, 1781,
to his correspondent in this city.
" I have for some time deferred writing, in
hopes of having it in my power to give you more
drftin& information, of the actual situation of af
fairs in Europe, at this important cribs, when its
attention is turned to the conduct ofthe Empress
qf Russia and the aimed neutrality. It would
leein, that if the Empress doth not openly declare
against England, she will at all events protest the
Dutch commerce, and this may fpeqdily termi
nate in open hostilities. The republican party
in Holland are ix good spirits. Zealand hath
dropped the opposition it made to hostile mea
lures.; so that at present there is unanimity in
the States on that interesting point. The troops
from England for America and the East-Indies,
were embarked and embarking the last of the past
month. They consist of 3or 4000 men, recruits
included, and of Fullerton's and another ragged
regiment, to use the words of my informant.
The greater part of these, it is supposed, are des
tined to the East-Indies, and Commodore John
ftone is named by the public to command an ex
pedition, which is to attack the Cape of Good-
Hope on its passage. The Protestant Associa
tions begin to flir a little. Lord George Gordon
is acquitted. Stocks have fallen considerably
since the Dutch war, not less than two and a
half and three per cent. The fubferiptions for
the loans of the present year, it is generally be
lieved, will be paid in llowly. The Spanish
Iquadron of 30 fail of the line is at sea; that of
the English it is supposed, will fail about this pe
riod of time."
Extract of a letter from a gentleman of credit in
Holland, to his correspondent in this city, da
ted January 23, 1781.
" On the 31st of December last, the Dutch
Plenipotentiaries and Mr. Swart, the Dutch Re
sident at Peterfburgh, finished their conferrences
with the RuffianPlcnipotentiaries, and the whole
matter having been laid before the Empress and
approved by her, the acceflion of the United
Provinces to the treaties of Russia, Sweeden and
Denmark, for the mutual protection ofthe trade
and navigation of their fubjefts, was signed on
the 4th instant, and the a&s arrived on the 21st.
During the whole management of this business,
the Englilh left no artifice untried, in order that
the Republic should be excluded from this alli
ance ; but the Empress and her ministry, unsha
ken, rejected their memorials with firmnefs and
even with indignation. The money which this
Republic has now occasion to take up from the
fubje&s thereof, will greatly encreafe the diffi
culty to the English to obtain, and fink their
stocks still more. You may be assured, that when
Sir James Harris, the Engliffi Minister at Peterf
burgh gave the Empress to understand, that her
reception of this Republic into the alliance,
might possibly bring on a war between her Ma
jesty and his King ; she answered, " This reason
should not hinder her from doing what was pro
per to be done."
Extract of a letter from Amiens, to a gentleman
in this city, dated February 6, 1781.
" When you left France, you knew tne arrival
of M. de Guichen at Cadiz, having under his
convoy about too fail, and that Count D'Eftaing
was to take the command of the combined fleet,
which is composed of seventy-one ships of the
lineghirty-eightFrench and thirty-three Spanish,
which failed with Count D'Eftaing as far as the
Capes, and then returned to Cadiz. Our fleet
meeting with contrary winds, it was with diffi
culty the Count got fafe into port'the rich fleet
under his convoy, two months after he failed.
" Twenty-two English ships of the line com
manded by Admiral Darby, saw our fleet and
fled before them. The English had failed to
meet their rich East-India fleet, which has not
yet appeared. A piece of news that is now con
firmed, will prevent (hat rich fleet from arriving
fafe; which is, that M. De Tronjolly, who com
mands our fleet atthe isle of Bourbon, has taken
twelve vessels from that fleet, which are valued
at forty millions of livres, besides a seventy-sour
gun jhip; many newspapers confirm this account
but it has not yet been published' in the French
Gazette. The siege of Gibraltar is constantly
going on, and some of the Spanish works are
within twenty feet of the portcullus ofthe place.
Don Barcelo intercepts all the provisions; the be
sieged are reduced to half a ration, and the Go
vernor is asking fuccour and provjfions with im
patience. It is laid England is determined to fend
him some, escorted by twenty-two ships of the
line, but Cadiz contains forty ships of the line
ready to fail, and Count D'Ettaing may also fail,
at the firff signal, with twenty-four fail of the
line.
" Nothing more has happened worth notice,
except that there have been several engagements
of frigates with frigates, and privateers with prD
vateers ; among which the La Dame De Gren
ville has made seven or eight prizes, valued at
about seven hundred thousand livres. When I
said that nothing more had happened-worth no,,
tice, I meant naval affairs, for I have to add th^
following, which has taken place, viz. The ac
cession of Holland to the armed neutrality, and
the declaration of war by England against that
power ; that the fame armed neutrality is signed
by the States General, and the three northern
maritime powers ; the immense prizes made up
on the merchants of that republic, whose vessels
were failing peaceably under the guarrantee of
treaty, and under the greatest apparent security.
The sudden departure ofthe Ruffian Ambassador
from the Court of London, and that the English
Ambassador at Petersburg has received orders to
.a& in the fame manner. These events, especial
ly the last, have furprized all Europe, and very
likely will also furprize America. The Dutch
have many seamen, are working vigorously at
their marine. Enthusiasm reigns, and one may
fee, at Amsterdam, a private man putting a fum<
of two hundred thousand florins into an arma
ment of twenty frigates of thirty guns each.
'' 111 the beginning of this year, M. le Baron
deßuliinfurt,Colonel of theregitnent ofSouboife,
composed of deserters, undertook to take the Isle
of Jersey. He succeeded in landing about eight
hundred men at night, marched to the town of
St. Helier, took it, and made the Commander
prisoner, with four companies, obliged him to
sign articles of capitulation, and then entrenched
in the place, waiting for farther fuccours, but the
bad poftion he had taken, and the different posts
of the English troops, scattered in the iftand,
having aflembled with the militia, making a body
of 8000 men, the Baron was attacked, he
defended himfelf for some time; but at last was
unfortunately killed, and the troops taken. This
being a private affair, in which government had
no hand, there is nothing more said about it."
PROVIDENCE, May 5.
At the annual General Election, held at New
port on Wednesday last, his Excellency William
Greene, Esq; was chosen Governor, and the
Hon. Jabez Bowen, Esq; Deputy Governor for
the year ensuing.
BOST O N, May 10.
Last Sunday arrived in this harbour, after a passage pfa
bouc 6 weeks from Brest, M. M. de Barras, Rear-Admiral,
appointed to the chief command of the squadron of his Most
Christian Majesty at Newport, in the frigate la Concorde,
commanded by M. de Tanouarn. This frigate has also
brought back to America the Viscount Rochambeau, son td
the Count Rochambeau, commander in chief of the French
army; likewise the Baron Dubourg.
As la Concorde had been destined to another quarter and
was suddenly and unexpectedly ordered to attend the Admiral
this way, no private letters, weare told, are come, though
public dispatches are gone forward to the Commander 'at
Rhode-Inland and to Congress. This frigate, it is said has
brought a large sum of money for the land and naval forces
of France in America. We have not yet been able to obtain
any European neyfpapers, --Accounts in general are, That
some days before la Concorde left Brest, a squadron of 18
ships of the line, besides frigates, and a large number of
merchantmen and transports had failed from that port, the
greater part bound to the Weft-Indies, and some to the East-
Indies, so a& in conju&ion with the Dutch forces in that
quarter : That Holl^id had begun reprisals upon Britain, and
was now making every preparation to carry on the war with
vigour : That Portugal had undoubtedly joined the armed
neutrality, andwas fitting out men of war for th£ support of
it; and that the Court of Russia had ordered 8 ships ofthe.
line to the coast of Portugal for the fame purpo e: That the
armed neutral powers would make up for the . jming sea
son, a Fleet confining of 56 fail of the line ; while it was
concluded in Europe that Britain, in her present circumstan
ces, could not retain for the channel service, and her home
defence, more than about 30 ships of the line : That the
blockade of Gibraltar was still continued, and the earrifon
much straitened for fupplies.'
That the Continental frigate the Alliance,which failed from
thfs port last February, in which Col. Laurens went on pub
lic business to the court of France, had arrived at Port I'Ori
ent, about the middle of March : That M. Necker, the cele
brated Diredor-General of the finances of France, had pub
lished, by order of the King, the account he had rendered
his Majesty of the State ofhis finances, on the firft of'Janu
ary last, which had given the highest fatisfadion "to the
whole kingdom, as this is the firft instance of the kind and
as it evidently appears from this state, that by the abilities
of that great man, the revenues of the kingdom are now in
a better situation than before the war began : That it did
not appear that Britain had been able to procure a single ally
in Europe, tho> reports had been f^read that the Emperor of
Germany and the Empress of Russia would become media
tors far a general pacification, which Britain appeared re
want ; but theie reports were too vague to have any depend
anac placed upon them, * '