The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-08-07 00:00:00, page 1

From the Martimico Gazette, June 14, 1781.
A Letter of marque lately arrived at St.
Chriftophars from Europe, reports, that
the Court of St. James's had not disapproved in
any sense the arbitrary conduct of the British
commanders at the taking of St.Euftatia, and
that it had given its approbation to the seizing all
the effects there; except such as were English
property, and could be proved to be such. It is
to be presumed that this small palliation will not
appease the clamours of the nation, inasmuch as
it can but very little compensate the great dama
ges it has sustained. All the world knows that
the English Colonies were more interested than
any other in the commerce of St; Euftatia, and
that it was not possible to take away the French,
the Dutch, and the American property, with
out giving a terrible blow to the English mer
chants. Besides, it is well supposed that the resti
tution of therr particular effects, will be made
slowly, in an unfaithful manner, and that there
may be a thousand ways to elude it, at least in
r part. We are impatient to know in what light
the people of England will confider this event,
and particularly in what colours the opposition
will paint the miqiftry who give such orders to
the commanders.
Capt. Ogilvy, who otcafionally commandedat
St. Euftatia, lately died there. We are told that
the Court has named Paul Wentworth to the
government of that island, and that he was to
embark for his station in the month of April.—
The last news from London, mention some steps
which the Empress of Russia has taken to medi
ate between the belligerent powers ; we may
hope that they will haye some success, and the
General Congress will assemble by July, in the
capital of Austria [Vienna.] —The fentimentsof
peace and moderation which the Emperor of
Germany has manifefted since the death of his
mother, have calmed the minds of those whoare
pacifically inclined. As to the movements of
the British Admiralty, they have loft nothing of
their activity; on the contrary, they exhaust all
their resources to meet in all quarters the enemies
of Britain. Commodore Cooper had failed from
Portsmouth with one ship of the line, two fri
gates, and an armed brig, to cruize in the chan
nel of Ireland. Commodore Jobnftone failed the
lath of March, from St. Helens, having under
his orders the Hero, 74 guns, the Monmouth,
64, the Romney, Jupiter and Iris, of 50, Active,
Diana and Jason, of 32, Mercury 28, Shark and
Porto, of 16, Rattlesnake 14, and Terror bomb.
This squadron was to convoy to the East-Indies
eleven ships of the company, loaded with stores
of all kinds for their eftabliihments on the coast
®f Coromandel. Itis said Commodore Johnftone
had orders to convoy all the ships of the company
to their destinations, and then to join Admiral
Hughes, in an attempt upon the Cape of
Good-Hope.
We are assured that the firft loan of a million
es florins, negotiated by Mr. Adams, Minister
Plenipotentiary from the United States of Ame
rica, has been filled up at Amsterdam. This
eagerness to serve the enemies of England, does
not look as if Holland was disposed to alk for
peace, and submit to the yoke, as the public pa
pers of England would fain peyfuade us.
According to the last letters fromSt, Domingo,
dated May 7, M. de Monteie, who had been for
some time with his squadron at the Havannah,
failed from thence between the 15th and 20th of
March, not for St. Domingo as was presumed ;
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER^
HARTFORD . • Printed by H UDSON and G OODW I N, near the Great Bridge.
TUESDA Y, August 7, 1781.
but to join the Spaniffi forces on the coast of
Florida. Don Juan de Galvez, by hisadivity and
indefatigable perfeyerence, taking with him a
good part of this reinforcement, went, without
loosing a moment, to Pensacola. The English
attempted in vain to throw fuccours into that
place; Don Galvez carriedit; and we hope this
intrepid commander will go on to make a rapid
progress in Florida, and that he will add Augus
tine to the number of his conquers. ,
. By a vessel that left L'Orient the 6th of May,
we learn, that the King's ship, the Couronne of
80 guns, was lately burnt at Brest. We are not
informed of the circumstances of this unhappy
accident. M. de la Mothe Picquet had failed
with 6 flips of the line,' and two frigates, with
orders to cruize in the channel of Ireland, to in
tercept the convoys from that kingdom. 'There
were fill at Brest and Rochfort 18 or 20 ships of
the line, ready to' weigh anchor upon the firft
signal : And they were working with thegreateft
activity upon new ships of war, lately orderedon
the stocks by the Minister. It is known likewise,
that Holland has made the greater efforts—4o
or go ships of the line, frigates, andarmed flutes,
who are to go out at the opening season, and
cruize in the channels to check the British com
merce. This formidable armament joined to
the naval force of the House of Bourbon, gives
the greatest hopes to the enemies of England;
and this haughty power cannot be without in
quietude refpe&ing her fleets.
A vessel that left Cadiz the 14th of May, in
forms, that the difeourfe there turned much upon
an order said to have come from the Court of
Madrid, for openingall the ports of Spain, and
permitting liberty of commerce in all the domi
nions of that crown, to all vessels of allied or
neutral nations.' This liberty to continue to the
end of the present war.
N EW-Y O R K, July 7.
The following is an account of the late operations of
the army in Virginia, under the command of
Lieutenant-General Earl Cornwallis, brought
here by an express last Saturday.
His Lordship after passing James Rivefy at
Weftover, moved to Hanover court-house, and
crossed the South-Anna. The Marquis Fayette
keeping about 7'o miles distance from him. From
this place his Lordship detached Lieutenant Co
lonels Tarleton and Simcoe, the former of which
took some Members of the AiTembly; at Char
lotte-Ville, and destroyed there, and on his re
turn, one thousand Hand of good arms, some
eloathing and other stores, and between four and
five hundred barrels of powder, without oppofi
tion.'
Baron Steuben, who commanded about eight
hundred twelve month's men and militia, retired
with great precipitation from the Point of Fork,
before Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, who, after
using every exertion to attack his rear guard, de
stroyed there, and places adjacent, about three
thousand stands of arms (then under repair) some
harness, salt, &c. and about one hundred and
fifty barrels of powder.
His Lordship then moved by Richmond, and
arrived at Williamfburgh on the 25th of June,
having in addition to the articles already menti
oned, destroyed on this expedition in different'
places, above two thousand hogsheads of tobac
co, a greatnumberof iron guns, ten brass French
24-pounders, and brought off four brass 13-inch
mortars, five brass three inch howitzers, four
long brass nine-pounders, and a confidcrabk
quantity of £hot antHhellfr
On the 26th, as Lieut. Col. Simcoe was re
turning with his corps, and the Jagars from the
deftrutcion of some boats • and stores on the
Chickahominy, lie was attacked by a much supe
rior force of the enemy, who were repuffed with
confidetable loss; and three officers and twenty
eight privates taken prisoners., . , +
His Lordship having an intention to cress
James River, marched on the 4th instant to a
camp near James Town, and made his arrange
ments accordingly. , On the 6th, information,
was brought him about noon, of the approach of
the, enemy, and about four in the afternoon, a
large body attacked his out- polls, but conclud
ing that the enemy would not bring a considera
ble force within his reach, unleft they supposed
that nothing was left but a rear guard, his Lord
fllip took every means to convince them of his
weakness, ,which had the desired effe&, for
about sun-set a body of troops with artillety be
gan to form in front of his camp, he then pu^
the troops under arms,'and ordered the army to
advance in two lines. , , . ~\
Tire attack was begun by the firft line with
great spirit, there being nothing but militia ,op
posed to the light infantry, the a&ion was food
over on the right.; but Lieut. Col Dunda&'s bri
gade, confiding of the 43d, 76th, and ncah regi
ments, which formed the left wing, meeting the
Pennsylvania line, and detachment of the Mar
quis de la Fayette's continentals, with two fix
pounders, a smart aHion ensued for some mi
nutes, when the enemy gave way and abandoned
their cannon; The cavalry Were ready to pur
sue but the darkness of the evening prevented
his Lordship from making use of them."
The force of the enemy in the field was about
two thousand continentals and militia, and their
loss he believes between two and three hundred,
and that half an hour more daylight would pro
bably have given him the greatest past of the
corps.
N E W-HAVE N, July 26;
A few days since, a vessel with ordnance
stores, coming down the North-River, was at
tacked by a British frigate near Dobb's Ferry ^
the people to prevent her, falling into the hands
of the enemy, set her on fire and quitted her,
when the frigate man'd out several boats to take
her, but were prevented by the fire of some well
directed shot from some artillery on shore, under
cover of which Captain John Miles, of this towny
swam on board the vegel, extinguished the file
and recovered .her ; for which hazardous enter
prize, we hear, he received the public thanks of
his Excellency the Commander in Chief.
Sunday last, in the afternoon, a party of the
enemy, surprised the congregation of the parifit
ofMiddlefeXfybetween Norwalk and Stanford,
while attending divine service in the meeting
house, and made prisoners of abou t fortv, includ
ing the Rev. Mr. Mather, minister of the parifa.
The furprize was so compleat that only four or
five escaped, one of them a son of Mr. Mather,
who was fligbtly wounded in the legyas he was
running off. They were carried to the water
fice and put on board two armed vessels, which
at that instant came too, supposed by previous
appointment. The enemy also took away a num
ber of hdrfes, with fiddles, &c. A few of the
inhabitants collected, who exchanged some shot
with the enemy, and one or two were seen to
fall, but whether mortally wounded .is not
known. One prisoner was taken.
This is the fecoud time tl at Mr. Mather has
been a prisoner with the enemy.
(No. 863.)