The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-06-19 00:00:00, page 1

L O N D O N, February $
IT begins to be a matter of great doubt, whe
ther ministers really intend to attempt the re
lief of Gibraltar, or not ; for they now give out
that the French and Spaniards jointly are too
strong, unless we can fend thirty Blips of the
line..
The grand fleet were to have failed from Ports
mouth yesterday, but on account of^the heavy
gale that came on last Saturday evening, the Blips
let down their anchors again.
Four fliips of the line, two frigates, and five
thousand troops are embarked on board transports
at I’Orient, for the East-Indies, for which they
are immediately to fail. T ,
Eighteen fail of the line are likewise preparing
at Brest, with all poflible expedition for the
Weft-Indies.
We are authorized to fay, that the insinuation
thrown out in the public prints, on the day sub
sequent to the trial of Lord George Gordon, that
the jury had declared the question to be nice and
difficult, is totally void of truth and foundation.
No person can be so blind as not to fee that the
Ruffians mean to join in hostilities against us.
Their express renunciation of our maritime^-
vereignty, and their vindication of a right to a
free conveyance of stores to whatever ports they
please, and their denial of the jurifdi&ion of our
court of admiralty, are declarations incompatible
with the continuance of amity and neutrality.
The plain reason why we do not relive to Gi
braltar is, because we are afraid to fend a moderate
fleet, and we cannot spare a large one.
The bright news of the American revolt seems
to be vanished into smoke. Not such is the pro
gress of hostile tidings; the rumours of a French,
a Spanish and a Dutch war, have arisen- from
gradual surmises ; clouds and doubts have at firft
concealed them, but the hostile flame has at
length broken out with certain and indubitable
terror.
It is remarkable that no dispatches from Caro
lina have been published in the London Gazette,
since the battle of Cambden, which happened
the 16th of August (near fix months ago) altho'
it is acknowledged that several skirmishes have
happened of considerable consequence, in favour
of both sides.
The report of Lord Mulgrave's resigning his
commission in the navy, has no foundation ; for
though his 'Lordfllip is one of the Lords of the
Admiralty, he fees no impropriety in being on
that board occasionally. .„
Letters are received from Dommico, which
give a dismal account of the effects of the hurri
cane on that i[jand.
So eager and intent are ministers to please a
certain Great Man in pursuit of that liobby-noue
of all wars, the American war, and to demon
strate their liberality in contributing out of their
fairies and douceurs of office, that Jolly Dick
will fell his last dozen of carrot, Rathurft pawn
his last new fmirkifh tail wig, and Welburne
mortgage liis old choice suit or mottled velvet,
(fifteen years old, and two years layed up) ere the
war shall cease with America; and as a proof of
their unalterable attachment to the glorious mea
sure of Lord North's wife and politic administra
tion, these consummate politicians have fettled
that the Dutch fliall be well trimmed, and the
Ruffians top, if they dare to fay-throe words.,
The minister is at his utmost fliift about the
new loan, and driving his utmost to make it pa
latable, and the taxes flip down, but there is not
tig money to be got so eafilyas feme people may
ffc / .(lit# ^nfin^ (111111 11 n
,''— ^LG^-oc^A^^(^ -^>'^'
WEEKLY INTELLIGINCI EC
HARTFORD : Printed by HU DSO N AND G OODWI N, near the Great Eriece.
TUESDA Y, June 19,1781.
ary 2, 1781.
“ We are assured the Emperor has demanded
of the States General, an exadt account of the
revenues their High Mightinesses have drawn
from the barriers in the Low Countries, and what
they have employed to impair and improve the
barrier towns."
Feb. 14. On the 4th infant was married at
Monk-Wearmouth-Shore, near Sunderland, Mr.
Alien McDonald, aged % years, to Mrs. Mar
garet Bedge, a ypung widow, aged 2$ years.
Extract of a letter from Portsmouth, February 16.
" At a meeting of the inhabitants of tins town
for the relief of the fufferers in the Weft-India-
Islands, 1451. was contributed, and books opened
to receive farther contributions."
Feb. 19. Yesterday morning private advices
were received from France, which were imme
diately sent to the King. By what has transpired,
we have information that 8000 troops, in the
vicinity of Brest, have actually embarked on
board the transports, and that they are bound to
America, with seven fail of the line compleatly
equipped and manned.,
Extras of a letter from Plymouth, February 13.
“ About ten o'clock at night, the Thames, a
transport, bound for New-York, was wrecked
under the Hoe. All her crew was faveci ; (he
beat to pieces before the morning—This morning
presented nothing but parts or wrecks, swimming
about, and the mold tremendous sea ever seen.
The Hero, Daedalus, Champion and Nemesis,
rode it out very well.
Feb. 20. On Sunday morning a messenger
was dispatched to Portsmouth, with immediate
orders for the failing of the'grand fleet. Ipey
had been prevented for some time from failing
by the loss of the llore-fhip in the Downs during
the late hurricane. They have now got their
stores, but the windis contrary.
The report of the American revolt being now
decisively falsified, some retribution, some mark
think;for a nation dipt ofits territory, defrauded
of its commerce, and groaning beneath an ac
cumolated load of taxes, can ill supply, from
year to year, the exorbitant demands of an ex
travagant and ignorant administration,
Last week the following complimentary card was
presented to the fate noble prisoner.
" The Protellant friends^of Lord George
Gordon, who have associated together on his ac
count ever since the fifth day of October, ly" 1 ,
and whose resolves have been echoed through the
two united kingdoms, beg leave to present their
mod refpedful compliments, and to congratu
late his Lordship, their worthy, firm, and steady
president, on his late acquittal, from a charge
they always thought him innocent of : This strik
ing instance of divine interposition, loudly calls
on them, as Protestants, to give God the -glory.
they heartily with a reiteration of his Lordship's
health ; and it is thei^devout prayer, that the
universal good to wh^h all the operations of
providence tend, may nefult to him and them
from this signal falvtfirn."
The Dutch ship Wifabe>h Helena, Capt. Bray,
from Granada to Rottycam, taken and carried
into Falmquth, is ordered to be released.
The high win'd last night did considerable da
mage among the (hipping ; a Gravelcnd boat
going down the river, witli upwards of thirty
passengers on board, was overfet, and every per
son perished. Several houses were blown down
in various parts of London and IVeftminiter, and
it is feared many lives are loft.
Extract of a letter from the Hague, dated Febru-
of public infamy, fnould be deeply fixed on those »
three M of P who endeavoured to
circulate this report, and vouch for its truth. By
the operation which this report has upon the
funds, it is computed that every money dealing
man, in the secret, has profited above 100,000 1.
Lord Cornwallis, in the preface of his dis
patches, as published in the Gazette, promises to
give a particular account of all the operations of
the army in Carolina :—Where then arc the par
ticulars of the defeat of Col. Ferguson, and ths
number of troops that was loft ? V/here then is
the account ofthe unfuccefsful encounter with
Gen. Sumpter, as well as of Cob Tarleton's en
gagement With him ? These are concealed from
us, for reasons best known to the Mmifter ; and
while they draw a veil over a part, it is reafonabl^
to cohje&hre, that there may be also other diG
agreeable circumstances which we are not so well
informed ofc ARoyal Gazette should be sworn,
not only to tell the truth, but to tell the whole
truth, as far as may be done without affixing ths
enemy by improper information.
The Grantham picket, Captain pull, from
New-York, is arrived at Falmouth, in twenty
two days.
The fleet of twenty-five fail of the line under
the command of M. le Touche Treville, wears a
very formidable appearance towards the Weft,
India-Islands. What force have we to oppefe
against them ? Sir George Bridges Rodney has
been defeated in his attempt upon St.^Vincent's,
and accordingto probable reports, with a confix
derable loss. He has been unable to effed any
thing against the exposed and damaged ithmds of
the enemy, though unoppofed_by any hostile
fleet to counteract his designs. But how will the
islands of Barbadoes and Jamaica be able to retift
the invasion of this powerful force. 1 lie dil
trefied objects, as well as the grateful offerings,
of charity, sent to their relief, will be alike ex
posed to the irrefiftable attack of this fleet.
ExtradVof a letter from Portfmouth,February 19.
" The Medway of 60 guns, has heided a signal
for merchant {hips bound to Gibraltar.
" This uforniug part of Col. Fukarton and
Col. Humberfton's regiments were embarked on
board the outward bound EaR-Indiarncn."
Extract of a letter from Olney.
" The news of Lord George Gordon's honora
ble acquittal was received at this town with pe
culiar eclat ; the bells were immediately set a
ringing, and the evening was concluded with il
luminations, fire-works and other dcmonlirations
of joy.",
Feb. 28, Yesterday morning an express ar
rived at the Admiralty from Portsmouth, with
advice, that the grand fleet is compl^atly ready for
sea, the- whole being at anclwr at this time at
at Spithead, and only waitir^ f or a fa
vorable wind to set fail. # Several (hips of the
line that have been waiting at Plymouth, have
received orders to join them, which will mfr
this grand armament consist of thirty-three ihips
of the line (nine of the number being three
deckers) five §0 gun Ihips, and eleven frigates,
betides; fire-lhips. The Eift-lndia and N&w-
York fleets, -with the transports and trade for
Ireland, are likewise ready, and will take advan
tage of the above convoy.
The French frigates lately taken, as well as
most ofthe privateers of that nation, are filled up
between the linings on the quarter with old junk,
to prevent the shot from palling through. This
practice, which appears of great utility, is now
adopting on board feme of our frigates.
(No 856.)