The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1782-12-17 00:00:00, page 3

The following Intelligence is extrafled from Ri
vington's Royal Gazette.
N E W-Y OR K, November 30.
Last Wednesday arrived his Majesty's frigate
Cerberus, Sir Jacob Wheate, Bart. Command
er, fafely convoying the Steady and Supply
ftorefhips, four navy victuallers, eight trans
ports, and the brig Iris, Capt. Caldclough, la
den with dry goods, viands, &c. they had se
ven weeks pallage, and were to be followed in
two or three weeks by the Pacquet; the letters
mention that by the latest information from
Gibraltar, General Elliot had declared he could
hold that post four months against all the force
the enemy might employ. Lord Shelburne and
the King's friends daily gain strength from the
accession of the most refpeftable Senators in
both Houses of Parliament, whose session it
was expected would be much more serene than
of late years; the minds of people, hitherto ab
surdly disposed to favour the American revolt,
had become weaned by the last summer's treat
ment of his Majesty's Commissioners, and their
conciliatory overtures: That the force of the
French and Spanish fleets (lying in Algeziras
Bay, exhibiting a shew of opposition to Lord
Howe's relief of Gibraltar) was much exagger
ated, as great numbers were in bad condition,
unfit for battle, weakly manned, and out of
trim for failing. The British fleet departed full
of spirit and confidence under Admirals Howe,
Barrington, Alexander Hood, Richard Hughes,
Mark Milbank, and Commodore Hotham, a
squadron admirably appointed in every article
for conquest, and confining in real strength fuf
ficient to engage a force superior to that which
may contend for the conquest of Gibraltar.
PROVIDENCE, December 7
Extrafl es a letter from a gentleman in Philadel
phia, dated November 12.
'' Young Captain Afgill, some time ago allot
ted as a victimof retaliation, to atone forthe mur
der of Captain Huddy, is liberated by direction
of Congress. No reasons being aligned in the
resolve, the world are left to conjecture at the
motives which induced it. It appears undenia
bly true that Lippencut was the real murderer,
and that he had many accomplices with him---
some aCtually assisting in the faCt, others advi
sing, direCtingand approving it. Subsequent to
the threat of retaliation, several things have ta
ken place to render its execution less neceflary
in the opinion of many. The British Command
er in Chief has reprobated the faCt in unequivo
cal terms; he has instituted a formal trial by
court-martial, in which, after much parade,
Lippencut was acquitted. He has promised to
pursue the inquisition, so far as justice will ad
mit, to detect and deliver to punishment the
guilty. He has dissolved the infamous board of
refugees, and declared it as his intention, and
that of his court, to conduct the war on liberal
and humane principles; and his official con
duct has not yet belied this profeffion. In con
sequence of a well written and molt moving let
ter from the distressed mother of Afgill, * Count
de Vergennes, in his private character, has ad
dressed our Commander in Chief on this fubject.'
He paints in high colours the effeCts ofthis let
ter on the Court of Versailles—the youth and
innocence of the victim —the tears of the mo
ther—the diffraction of (he father, and the ruin
of the family, have excited royal companion and
interceflion.
The Count further adds, that it would not on
ly be a most grateful thing to their Majesties to
have Afgill restored to his inconsolable parents
and friends, but they hope that it will be consi
dered on this occasion that he is a capitulant of
York-Town, and that the laurels of that dav
were acquired by the joint arms of .France and
America.
" How far these considerations, or any others
that may be suggested, will juftify this measure,
must be submitted to the decision of the civili
zed world, and posterity; I (hall only observe,
that as the chief end of retaliation is to prevent
a repetition of injuries, when that end is substan
tially obtained, forbearing to execute a threat is
a double victory."
B OST O N, December 12.
Yesterday a public dinner was given by his
Excellency the Governor, and the Honorable
Council, to the General and Field Officers of the
French army, now in town,the Marquis de Vau
dreuil, and principal officers of the fleet, he,
NEW-LONDON, December
Last Saturday arrived here from the Weft-In
dies, a Danish sloop, with salt and rum.
H ARTFORD, December 1% .
The following contains all the particulars of an
unhappy affair which lately happened at We
thersfield, which have as yet come to hand:
On the morning pf the 11th instant, about sun
rise, at Wethersfield, a deed was perpetrated, of
the most extraordinary and astonishing nature :
—William Beadle, a native of South-Britain,
who has resided in that town nearly ten, and in
America, about twenty years, who became ac
quainted with, and married (at Fairfield, inthis
State, about 14 years since) an amiable woman,
of a reputable family, by whom he had four
lovely and promising children, one son and three
daughters, whose education he superintended
with great care and seeming solicitude, and was
apparently an affeCtionate husband—His busi
ness, which' was that of a trader, declining some
years since, he betook himfelf more to books
than usual, and was unhappily fond of those
esteemed Deiftical ; of late he rejected all Re
velation, as imposition, and (ashe expresses him
felf) " renounced all the popular religions of the
world, he intended to die a proper Deist." Hav
ing discarded all ideas of moral good and evil,
he considered himfelf, and all the human race,
as mere machines ; and that he had a right to dis
pose of his own and the lives of his family. In
letters and papers he left, addressed to sundry per
sons of his acquaintance, wrote a short time be
fore his death, he declares he has had in con
templation for three years past the awful tragedy
he now proceeded to 'aft, with all imaginable
deliberation and composure of mind.
About fun-rife he sent his maid (the only per
son of the family who survived) with a letter to a
friend in the neighbourhood, therein announcing
his dreadful purpose, and declaring that before
his friend should read the letter, he and his fa
mily fliould enter into a happier state, and de
siring him to call two persons and come to his
house, gently to alarm the neighbours, and ad
vise them to be as collected in their minds and
reason as he then was. Upon receipt of this
line, the house was instantly opened; but too
late ! All was over—He had made ready the
knife, the ax and pistols, as weapons of death ;
the latter he made use of upon himfelf, the two
former upon his family ; these instruments he
had carried with him to his bed-chamber for
some weeks, under pretence of defending himfelf
against thieves.—With the utmost secrecy, un
perccived by any, he destroyed a worthy and
beautiful wife, in the midst of life, and four
pleasant children,deeping in their beds, the eldest
about 12 years ofage, who the evening proceed
ing were like olive branches around his table—
He closed the awful feene by destroying himfelf.
Some circumstances render it probable that he
had given an opiate to the family before they re
tired to rest.
Speaking of this catastrophe in one of his let
ters, he fays, '' I mean to close the eyes of fix
" persons, through perfect humanity and the
" most endearing fondnefs and friendfhip; for
" never mortal father felt more of these tender
" ties than myfelf." Having become reduced
in some degree in his circumstances, he reject
ed his former ideas of divine Revelation and be
liefof a future state of misery: He adopted his
new theoretic system which he now put in prac
tice.
The Jury of inquest, were of opinion, that
he was of found mind, and returned their ver
di& accordingly. Tis difficult to determine
where diftraftion begins. Tis very evident he
was rational on every other fubjeft; on this no
one conversed with him.
On Thursday the body ofthis man was buri
ed without any marks of refpe&; and on Friday
the unfortunate woman, with her children by
her fide, were interred in one grave, with every
mark of refpeCf : When a sermon was preached,
suitable to the occasion, to a large concourse of
people, and grief mingled with pity, displayed
itfelf in every countenance, on the unusual and
melancholy occasion.
The humane and benevolent, while they ex
execrate the deed and detest the direful princi
ples productive of such effects, cannot fail to
.weep over the victims who fell a facrifice to such
mifehievous error.
Last Wednesday died at Glaftenbury, where
he went for inoculation, Mr. Joel Bartlett, the
eldest son of DoCtor Moses Bartlett of Chatham,
an amiable and promising youth of 8 years of
age: He was attacked with a Malignant Fever
and disorders incident to children, which proved
fatal after four days illness.
I Snfoiber wants to Purcbafe
IA Quantity of RA.W HIDES,
1 For which Cash, or any fort of Shoe or Saddle Leather, or
Men's Shoes will be given. Also for sale by the Subferiber,
Liver Ofl, Lamblack and Pitch.
JERIJAHBARBER.
Windsor, December 13.
HN DUBA LITE
Wants to Purchase,
A Quantity of F LO U R,
For which a Generous Price in Cash will be paid
on Delivery. Enquire at Mr. Jones's Tavern.
Hartford, December 13, 1782.
TO SO L D,
At JAMES TILEY'S Store,
In HARTFORD:
BROWN SUGAR, by the hogshead or lefsquantit,;
American Salt, by the barrel orlefs quantity; Melaffes,
by the gallon ; Steel Sleigh-Shoes, and Steel for other uses.
*, Park and Flour will be received in Pay for any of the
above Articles.
To BE SOL D,
At PUBLIC VENDUE,
On the Twenty-Sixth Instant, at Ten o'Clock
in the Morning, at the Dwelling House of
Mr. PETER VERSTILLE, late of Hartford,
deceased, near the Court-House:
SUNDRY ARTICLES of Houshold Furniture, consisting
of Feather Beds, Bed-Steads, one Suit of Green China
Curtains, Looking-Gltffes, Pi&ures, Chairs, Tables, one
Black Walnut Desk, ditto with Book-Case, a number of
Books on Divinity, Hiftoiy, &c. Sundry Articles of Shop
Goods, Kitchen Furniture, among which is a good Roaft
meat Jack, with many other Articles not enumerated.
N. B. The Articles may be seen the Day before the Sale,'
and no Articles will be delivered before the Money is paid,
Hartford, December 12, 1782.
O S O L D,
Two Grist-Mills, under one
Roof, well situated for bufinefs,'about a mile from Winton
bury Meeting-House, in Windsor, upon reasonable terms,
with a reasonable time for payment, on good security, or
half of said Mills to any perfon,coming well recommended,
that will attend both. For further particulars enquire of the
fubferibers. URIAH LOMIS,
ODIAH LOMIS.
^'f° f or Sale,
A House, Barn and Shop, with
about Five Acres of Land, with an Orchard; a good place
fora Tanner, joining to laid Mills. Enquire of SIMEON
GRIMES for said Land.
Windsor, December T 2, 1782.
RAN AWAY, the 2d instant, from the fubferiber, &
NEGRO MAN, named JACK, about 19 years old,
upwards of § feet 4 inches high, has a blemish in one 06
his eyes, speaks quick ; had on and carried away a whitish
coloured Coat, one striped red and white Jacket, one white
do. one pair white Stockings, and one pair mixed do.—-
Whoever will take up said Negro, and return him to the fub
feriber, or secure him in any goal in this State, shall re
ceive FIFTEEN DOLLARS reward, and necessary charges
p^d, by JABEZ SWAN.
Eaft-Haddam, December 12, 1782.
WHEREAS a report hath been spread abroad, that:
Major Uriel Holmes, whilst he was a Selectman
of the town, had Helen a quantity of baize cloth, the pro
perty of the town, and converted it to his own use ; and
laid report hath, in the judgment of a refpedable arbitra
tion, been legally proved to have originated from me:
Although! am not confeious of making such report, yet I
freely fay I have noreafon to believe there is any just foun
dation for it ,• and whatsoever I may have said at any time
to the contrary, I do now retra^ l it, and desire that the
charade, of Major Holmes may stand in as fair a light in
the public view, as though such report had never existed.
THOMAS BEMAN, jun.
Hartland, December 5, 1782.
1 his to give Notice, that the
Subferiber, lately from Denmark, has set up the Business of
CURRYING and DRESSING LEATHER, ac
Simeon Riiey's house, in Wethersfield, where the Currying
shall be done in the best manner. If any gentleman wants
work done, should be glad to wait on them at the above
place, and their favors will be acknowledged, by thei&
humble servant, JACOB MAYLAND.
Wethersfield, December 13, 1782.
Town Taxes for the Town of Colc
-1 brack, on the Lift of 1780 and 1781, and also the
Colledor of two former Land Taxes, granted in 1778 and
1779, hereby warns ail persons who have lands inlaid town
liable to be fold for Rates, that their lands will b'fofd at
the S : g -Post, in said Colebrook, on Tuesday the 28th da,
of January next, if they neglcd to pay their refpe&i ve rates
till that time, viz. J.,feph Humphry, Daniel Porter, Jaaeb
Strong, Elisha Bigelow, Wareim Williams, Abigal Hall,
Ebenezer Bliss, Aaron Loomis, Eli Loomis : David Loomis
Samuel Beach, Triphena Abbot, Wait Beach, Simeon Bum^
pass, Ebenezer Devotion, Thomas Egglefton, Elijah Gay
lor, Joseph G.ylor, Moses Haydon, Dorothy Loomis, Abner
Loomis, Moses Loomis, Ichabod Lord, Elizabeth Morgan
Samuel Mather, Aaron Pinney, James Viets, Jonathan
Viets, Marv Woolier, Thomas Post, James Rockwell
Chauncey Whitlefcy, Edward Carrington, ortbeir heirs'
SAMUEL ROCKWELL,)
NATHANIEL BURR, ) Collectors.
JOHN PORTER. )
Colebrook, December 9,178 a.