The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1782-07-09 00:00:00, page 2

^t was given for the fleet of eight ffiips, under
M. de Barras ; and that a paper, particularly
mentioning the deftination^nd force ofde Graffe
which the Admiralty received, was not on the
table.
Lord Sandwich again rose to explain, andprove
that credit was given for fix ships, which were
all that de Barras had. As to the paper, he ap
prehended it was on the table..
Lord Fauconberg thought, that where such a
multiplicity of evidence was concerned, and
where the principal persons, Lord Cornwallis
and Sir Henry Clinton were absent, it was im
prudentln the House to proceed on such a mat
ter. His Lordihip alked, if the cause of thismis
forune might not be attributed to Sir Henry
Clinton's not preventing General Washington to
move, or at least not interrupting him in that
movement which had the greatell appearance
of the firft reason of the difalter.- For his part,
he said he considered the motion so highly im
proper, that it I'hould meet his most hearty nega
tive.
The Duke of Richmond thought that Lord Sand
wich, by his own calculation, flood convicted
of what the motion went to prove, for it certain
ly appeared that there was not fufficient naval
force to combat the French fleet in Chesapeake.
His Grace, however, on comparing the numbers,
did admit that we should have been 34 or 35, in
cluding three fifties, if unforefeen accidents had
not happened. But he itill contended, that the
Admiralty were to blame for not being prepared
against misfortunes of this kind.
The Chancelloriaid, if the evidence on the table
was the evidence by which the House was to be
regulated, then it followed ofcourfe, that we were
only inferior by one in point of the number of
fliips sent out, and that if such an inferiority was
proper ground fora vote of censure, the House
ought to pass it.---But if on the other hand, the
motion appeared frivilous, it ought to be"rcjecf
ed. The learned Lord added; that for his part,
he certainly saw it in the latter light.
Lord Cambden differed with the Chancellor,
andthe two learned Lords replied to each other
several times, the Chancellor adhering to the
matter of faR before the House, and Lord Cam
den to strong suppositions, which had a different
tendency.
The Duke of Grafton made a violent attack on
Ministers in general, profefled 'his opinion to be
entirely in favour of the motion, and declared
his hearty assent to it.
Several other Peers spoke, and the Committee
divided.'
Contents for the motion 37
Non Contents 72
Majority 35
LONDO N, March 27.
An English gentleman at Peteriburgh writes
to his correspondent in London, that the Ruffian
ffiips of war were so badly conftru&ed, that it
would be impossible for them to hand a general
engagement even in a smooth sea ; and gives it
as his decided opinion, that it will be impossible
for them to acquire a naval importance, as the
very genius of the people are against it. [When
the fox found he could not finger the grapes, he
said, " Take them who will; they are green
and four, so I will een let them alone."].
March 29. The great men are much dividedin
their opinions concerning theholding New-York
and its dependencies as a garrison. However, it
is thought the votes for retaining that important
post will! be most numerous. The principal rea
son for keeping it is said to be, that if it be once
abandoned to the rebels, such shoals of vicious
refugees and poor English from America will in
feft this country, as cannot fail to put this coun
try in a very disagreeable situation. Most of
those who have hitherto come over are pension
ed, or supported by some way or other by the
public, who already groan fufficiently underother
intolerable taxes and oppressions. Certain it is,
that notwithstanding the boasted wealth, plenty,
and resources of this kingdom, our friends at
New-York would soon be reduced to the most
abje& poverty, and litterally in a starving con
dition, were it not for the provision prizes they
take from the rebels, who happily for us, are by
this means providentially compelled, though
sorely againfl their wills, to contribute largelyto
the support of those that left all for the fake of
their rightful sovereign, George the third.
PHILADELPHIA, June 26.
Several valuable prizes confiding of British
dry goods and tea have lately been taken, in the
more eastern counties of New-Jersey, on their
way to Philadelphia. Every danger is encoun
tered, every rilk run, and every art pra&ifed to
convey these infernal and execrable commodi
ties through the country : Among other curious
inventions, waggons have been conftruded last
winter at Shrewfbury by an ingenious mechanic,
with falfe bottoms and double sides, forming va
cancies capable of containing seven or eight
hundred pounds worth of such articles as are
commonly brought hither ; others pack up a wa
ter tight barrel full of goods, head it up and in
clofe it in a hogshead of cyder. This species of
traders may be easily known, as they are com
monly very officious and generous in drawing
the liquor to treat any they meet on the road,
who seem inclinable to examine them about the
contents of their hogshead.
Defection prevails to a great degree amongthe
troops lying on Staten-Island. Those that come
over into the different parts of Jersey (which one
week with another, may amount to a dozen or
fifteen) are chiefly Germans, who declare that
the whole would come off had they the means
of getting away ; there rarely desert more than
three or four together, and seem for the most
part worn down with hunger, and the fatigue
of severe duty.
It has lately been computed from the liftsand
returns of the prison ships at New-York, thatno
lefs,than 4000 persons or thereabouts, have died
out of those receptacles of misery from the time
the British took possession of that capital in Sep
tember 1776, to March last. If we add to these,
the great numbers that have died after their ex
change, with the infectious ship fevers and other
contagions brought from thence^ the amount
will be formidable indeed, and mult deeply afte&
every friend to America, especially when he
confiders that these men- were the flower and
strength of our marine, and have most of them
been needlessly Sacrificed to the low revenge and
murderous policy of a mean spirited, rancorous
and unprincipled enemy. ,
We hear that the article Teethhas lately come
into considerable demand in New-York. In se
veral of Mr. Rivington's late papers they are
even advertised for, especially the front teeth.
It is said, that in consequence of these advertise
ments, many of the people called tories present
ed themselves, and offered their teeth for the
reasonable price of one guinea each ; it is added,
they are since fallen to three dollars, and are said
to be parted with for no fault, but onlyfir want
femploy.
On the ridge of the mountains commonly cal
led Neverfmk-Hills, in Monmouth county, Eait-
Jersey, a considerable quantity of land, some fay
forty acres, gave way in April last, and funk di
redly down a considerable depth, forming a ca
vity equal in circumference at bottom to devoid
space above. The tops of the trees that funk
with the foil, and which were mostly of conside
rable bulk, are now nearly even with the edges
of the remaining ground. Round this again the
earth is cracked open in one continued fiffure, %
foot or more in breadth, for a considerable dis
tance, and, as is conjectured from its present ap
pearance, will ihortly go down also, me founda
tion being perhaps but a loose quickfaid.- It is
supposed by the country people thereabouts, to
have been occasioned by the waffiing and under
mining of the sea, to which it is contiguous. It
is somewhat remarkable, that the sunken land
was'only at a small distance from the spot where
the unfortunate Capt. Huddy fuffered death,
and took its present situation but a very short
time thereafter.
Notwithstanding all Mr. Rivington and his
brethern have sung and said, printed and lied,
about the total defeat of the French fleet in the
Weft-Indies, we have good authority to assert,
that the combined fleets in those seas do now
amount to 45 or 46 fail of the line, fit for service;
a force we apprehend, that will give Mr. Aucti
onier Rodney some uneasy sensations. One
would think such glorious news as the royal prin
ter has fed his pious little flock with for some
weeks past, would have produced a great deal of
joy in the city of New-York—No such thing—
On the birth day of George their king, they
made out to fire a few faint guns as usual, but the
long faces of the inhabitants demonstrate that
all is not well with them. They received private
accounts near three weeks ago of the capture of an
CHA T H A M, June 26.
Intelligence being received at Elizabeth-Town
of two whale-boats, fitted for a two month's
cruise in the Delaware bay, lying at a wharff
the north fide of Staten-IGand, a plan was con
certed to furprize and bring them off, which was
put in practice last Thursday night, and the
boats, with all their appurtenances, were fafely
moored at Elizabeth-Town bridge ne*t morn
ing, together with 18 prisoners that were on
board, fix of them valuable negroes. The party,
continentals and volunteers, confiftedof upwards
of 30, commanded by Major Crane. There was
a centinel in each boat, who hailed, andattempt
ed to fire on the party, but their pieces providen
tially slashing in the pan, the party, regardless of
danger, rushed on them with such impetuosity,
that they had not time to prime again, and a few
moments put them in compleat pofleffion of
their object, without any farther alarm.
Lippencut, we are told, has certainly received
sentence of death by a court-martial, for the
murder of Capt. Huddy, and, it is expended,
will either be executed at New-York, or sent
out this week.
ture to fay from the public ^ being under no
more reilraint than I am at present in France ;
so great is their affection for the Americans, par
ticularly the volunteers.
" By letters received bere to-day from Eng
land, we have advice, that the Irith parliament
has declared their right of forming and pacing
their own laws indepedent of the British parlia
ment; allo, that fifteen thcufand of the volun
teers, from different parts of the country, had
marched into Dublin, and obliged what regular
troops were there (consisting of two regiments
of foot and one of horse) to go out of town and
take their quarters in the country ; being deter
mined to support the parliament in their resolu
tions. This Ido not doubt, having during my
stay in that country, a perfect knowledge of the
sentiments of a great number of the volunteers,
who are composed of the best men in the coun
try."
immense fleet of tranfterts, with three fltips of
the line and five frigates, by Admiral Guichen,
off Cape-Finiftere.
When the British gain a viflory, 01 ;have ever
so little partial success, they confemly applaud
themselves for it, and cannot fufficiently extol
their own prowess and bravery. Some people
blame them for this egotism, but without reason;
if the English do not speak well of themselves,
no body else will do it for them.
Extract of a letter from an American gentleman
at Nantz (late a prisoner in England) to his
friend in Philadelphia, dated April 15, 1782.
" I have been eight months in Ireland, 'and
am now here on my return home. You might
reasonably suppose that 1 run a great risk of be
ing apprehended, flaying so long in Ireland ; but
I do assure you, that I met with particular pro
te&ion, not only from relations, but I may ven. 1
She schooner Antelope, Capt. Yallet, arrived
on the 14th instant at Baltimore, in 8 days from
the Havanna. On his passage he captured a
privateer sloop of 12 guns, Capt. Freeman, from
New-York, and brought her iafe into port. The
day he left the Havanna, an enemy's fieet, con
sisting of 13 fail of the line with a large convoy,,
were descried, but their destination could not be
known. Two frigates from the above fleet gave
chafe, but the Antelope with only three of her
fails set, in a few hours, run them out of fight.
The fhiplris, of Baltimore, is also arrived there
from the Havaima.
TO BE SO L D,
By DANIEL JONES ^ Co.
At the Store late belonging to Benjamin Payne, Esq; a little
north of the Great-Bridge, and opposite the Printings
• Office, in Hartford ;
A History of the^Work of R^
demption, ._
Containing the Out-Lines of a Body of Divinity, in a Me
thod entirely new.
By the late Rev. JONATHAN EDWARDS,
Prudent of the College of New Jersey.
¥*¥ This excellent Book was firft printed in Scotland
from'the Manuscripts of the worthy Author, and but few
Copies were sent to America, which induced some Gentle
men to undertake Re-printing it, that it may be more ge
nerally ufeful.
July 8, 1782.
Wrapping Paper by the Ream
or Qii re to be fold by the Printers hereof