The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg, Va., 1776-08-02 00:00:00, page 2

l'n'x s may be wanting, in so distinguishafflc
an office; but my endeavours to render
sittissaction, by an upright deportment,
and constant attention to every thing that
i<jsiatt, reasonable, and politieal, as far as
l am able to judge, shall ever be devoted
to the good of my country. I shall rest
satisfied, gentlemen, that you will not
_expcct a personal appiicat'ron, as it is almost
impracticable for any man. lknow no
better method of offering my service to
you a" than this, which ! hope will be
taken in good part. I am, gentlemen,
your most obedient humble servant,
jouN TYLER.
'INMAN FlELD!, July 28, 1776.
NEW YORK, july 15.
LAST Friday morning it was reported
in town that lord Howe was arrived
at Sandy Hook, with a large fleet from
England. Between 1 and : o'clock P. M.
two ships have in sight, aldjoined the fleet
at the Wateringsi Place ; and about an hour
after, a ship, supposed to be the Phenix of
44 guns, afrigate osza, and three tenders,
got under way at Staten island, and stood
up For this city. The army soon took the
alarm, and in a few minutes every man
was at his station, well provided with all
necessaries for a vigorom defence; but as
soon as the ships came near Bedlow's island
they inclined towards the ]ersey shore, to
avoid our batteries, that then began to
play upon them From every quarter, on
both sides osthe river, and notwithstanding
they must have received considerable da
mage, they stood theircourseup Hudson's
river, firing several broadsides as they
went along, without either killing or
wounding any osour people, who on the
occasion behaved with uncommon bravery .
A strong southerly wind, and the tide of
flood, sacilitated the ships getting above
the batteries near the town; but we hear
they were rou hly handled about 12 miles
np the river, From whence they have not
yet attempted to return, but we hear lay
at Tarry town, aboutgo miles up the river,
on Saturda evening. Several shot went
through difzerent houses in the town; two
into the house of mr. Verdice Elsworth,
at Powlis Hook ; three into capt. Clarke's
house, at Greenwich; one of them went
through the front, and lodged in a briek
wall at the head of miss Ciarke'n bed, in
her bed-chamber; a second went through
the house, and a third destroyed several
tree: before the door, and took its course
into the woods. A ball also struck the
house of mr. Daniel Phenix, and from
that took its course to the new dwelling os
mr. Christopher Smith, in the opposite
side of the street.
Soon after these ships passed the town,
: great number of salutation guns were
heard in the fleet below, which we are
since told was on the arrival oslord Howe,
with a few more ships.
On Sunday astcrnoon a barge From the
fleet appeared in our bay, with a white
flag, which was there met by the gette
ral's barge, with several gentlemen of the
army on board. The fiag was sent by
lord Howc, with a letter to his cxccllency
general Washington; but as the letter
was improperly directed, it was not re
ceived, though much solicited by the of
ficer, who we hear said it contained
nothing ofa holtile nature; for that lord
Howe came over possessed of unlimitcd
power, and was much concerned he had
not arrived a few days sooner, which
would have effected a reconciliatinn, &c.
However, it seems his uniimitcd power
did not extend to the necessary prelimina
ries osa negotiation-nansi acknowledgment
. of the right of the persons, to whom he
came, to treat with him. Indeed the idea
oscoming m er to propose a plan osrecon
cilintion is, in every view, absurd and ri—
diculous ; forms the colonies never invaded
thc rights of Britain, and only dcscndcd '
their own, there was no occasion at all
for negotiation- The moment Great Bri
tain rcced'ed from her unjust claims, the
war was at an end. The very propo ztion,
therefore, of a negotiation, was a proof
that Great Britain persisted in her en
croachments on the rights of the colonies,
and was in itselsan act of a hostile natu re .
On Tuesday another flag from the fleet
appeared, and was met as before; when
a letter was again offered, but, for the
same reason as the former, rejected .
Capt. johnston, in a small privateer
from Bolton, has taken and carried into
Cape Anne twoships, one of them a large
three-deckcr from ]amaica for London,
with 4oo hogsheads of sugar, :oo punche
ons ofrum, 30 bags of cotton, and a
large quantity ospimenta, &c. with seve
ral ladies passengers. The other a ship
from Antigua, bound to Boston, with
490 puncheons of rum, &c.
juy- 18. The 4th ot'july Was launched
at Newbury Port, in the presence ofa great
number of spectators smm different parts,
the second contincnta] frigate of 36 guns,
named the HANCOCK. .
A gentleman who arrived here on Tues
day evening reports, that he saw the two
ships of war and three tenders standingup
the river, under sail, at 1 1 o'cluck the
same day, the foremost ship about 13 miles
below fort Montgomemy. That 1400 of
the militia were called in to the fort, which,
considering the good condition it was in,
it is hope will be sufficient to repel the
utmost efforts of the ships to proceed far
ther up the river. Their princkijyal design
no doubt is to destroy our two rigates on
the stock: at Poughkeepsie, which are al
most ready for launching.
We are informed that William Barrack
and ohn Sneden, two of the pilots on
boar the ships of war, were both killed
by_the shot from our batteries in passing
them last Friday. These adventurers up
Hudson's river are the Phenix capt. Par
ker, and the Rose, commanded by the
infamous VV allace , and their three tenders .
Several ships from the fleet at Staten
island, whether men of war or transports,
or where bound, we could not learn, sail
ed through the Narrows this day towards
Sandy Hook. ,
We hear from Poughkeepsie, that 23
persons disaffected to our common cause,
endeavouring to disarm the friends of li
berty, have been taken up by order of the
committee of that place, who have order
ed them to Ridgesield jail.
It is said the fleet destined for the Ame
rican station is as follows, viz. One of7o
guns, three of 60, seven of5'0, two of44,
seven of 32, twelve of 28, five of 24, five
of 20, twoof18, sevenof16, three of 14,
three of 10, and three of 8, besidcs armed
vessels, and one bomb-ketch.
Extract of a letter, dated Southampton
(Long island) Ydly ;.
" Two of our privateers took a shi
and floop from England, and carried them
into an inlct. called Nichol's Gut, in the
south bay. The ship had on board five
gentlemen, their wives, children, servants,
and household furniture, intending to settle
on some pleasant part of the conquered
lands. I hope we shall be able to settle
them all as these are settled , viz. in ajail."
PHI'LADELPHIA, july 20,
HE rev. Jacob Duche is appomted
chaplain to the Hon. Contincntal Con
gress.
This astcrnoon the first battalion of the
Maryland regulars, commanded by col.
Smallwood, arrived in this city, on their
way to the Jerscys, where they are to
compose part of the shing camp.
Since our last the militia of this city,
withanumbcr oscompanics from the other
Parts of the pruviuce, have matchcd sor
New jcrscy.
By accounts from Canmla, we learn that
our troops, a few cisixys al'tcr thc bsimlc at
Three Rivcrs, retrratcd to the ill: de
Noix; but finding that an extreme un.
healthy place, werc obliged to retire lo
Crown Point, where they are repairing
that old sortisicmion. '1 huc the English
had got to St. juhn's, \\ hol'c they would
have to build bonts before they could cros:
the lakes; and that we !] 1-1 :: schuoner of
six carriage guns, and Isiuur mhcr armed
vessels, with which it is hupsisil the English
will be prevented cz'ullinsi; Ulc- ]sixkc.
15 A L T ] L\l U i'x i., ful)! 24.
Y & gentleman who Ltl'tchd yutsi'tutlay
B from Ph'hulclphia, we are informed
tn'sitt last,; VVednesday a French ln-ig from
Cape Nichola Mole, hotlcn with tugars,
dry goods, &c. arrived at that plctce.
VVhen she came to author, she immediate
lyhoisted attenlign wit]? 13 iinwer -:ic'-.ucc,
in complitnent to the 13 Unitcd States of
America. 'l'he captain sigs, it will give
universal satisfaction to the French go
vernments, when acquainted with the de
claration osittdependenee; that the naval
preparations they have been making are
chicfly to protect the tratie intended to be
carried on with us by them, and to recover
those VVest Intiia iilamis which sormerly.
belonged to them; and that, shortly, we
should have trading vessels in abundance.
"—
WILLIAMSBU no, Augustz.
E have the pleasure -to inform the
publick, "that our worthy GOVER
NOUR, who is now at his sc-atin Hanover,
is so much recovered from his late severe
indisposition that he walks out daily, and
it is holied'will soon be able to return to
the seat of'government, toattend the dutie'b
of his high and important office. si
Since our last, we have certain advice
that lord Dunmorc, with his motley band
of pirates and renegaclocs, have burnt the
elegant brick house of William Brent, esq;
at the mouth of Aquirt creek, in Stafford .
county, as also two ythcr houses lower
down Potowmack river, thc property of
widow ladies, with several scrry beats;
that on Tuesday se'nnight he relanded on
St. George'l island, but was beat off by
] zoo Mar landers ; that he had burnt eight
oshis vesiils, and was seen standing down
the bay the Thursday after with all his
fleet.
By private letters srom Philadelphia, we
learn that a reinforcement had been sent to
general Clinton from Staten island, where
both lord Howc and his brother the general
waited thoarrival of the men of war and
transports from England ; so that we may
look for important news from that quarter
by every post, which, considering the
justice osour cause, the integrity and abi
lities of our noble general, joined to the
zeal and alacrit of our northern brethren
to protect their liberties, there is the
greatest reason to believe will be propitious
to America.
AD'VERTISEMENTS.
ANTED immediately, a SURGEON'J
MATE to attend the ho/pital .
WILLlsfM CARTER.
CHARLES ClTY, Yuly 27, 177'6.
OST or left on same compler or table
in Williamshurg, un Friday the 19th
instant, a small BUNDLE anAPEKS
tied with a piece of white tape, in which
handle was a hand of mr. Thomasjoram'!
for 30]. odd, and another of mr. Grccn
Munford': for 2ol. with (: receipt on the
[me]? for lol. of the within, actl/b sundos
other papen. Whoe'uer will deliver th!
fill'd hand: to mr. Allcn Dczm or mr. Tho'
mas Skinncr of WilliznusLurL, or to the
suhscriper in Charles City couuty, stzallhaw
205. reward . "
si L/llVRENC/Z ECMON
N. B. Ifbre'u'arnusi'!fwr/ssfunnrji-omtaking
an nss/hlgimffint oj'tlxu abou- Lsi-uh .