The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg, Va., 1777-03-14 00:00:00, page 2

he applauded the spirit of inqu'ssy which
actuatcd the gentlemen who thought dif
sercmly from administration; and altlmu gh
he was in consequence the frequent object
of their attack,- he wished it might conti
nue.
ln : I ' ] -L... n.... .anhl n'
tllS loruunp UCIHCU siusiu. un. ""l"! __
those employed by us, had massztcrcd any
OF the rebels in cold blood, and parttcn
latlysiclcared the llessmns from the asperh
on, proving that 450 osthe priloncrs were
taken by the llellims. His lordship said,
that in the heat of the battle some of the
rebel: might first [ire, then run, and cry
out quarter; that some of these might
possibly have been put to the bttyouet, but
he conceived no man would throw out
a general censurc on account ofa particu
lar accident. —
After having spoke with great servour
and plainncss to every part ofthe debate,
in which he recoilected that the minister
had been called upon, his lordship begged
pardon of the House sor having taken up
so much of their time about himself. He
said hci'cjected the amendment, as it tend
ed' to delire his majesty to set on foot an
endless and ill-timed inquiry, to procralii
nate events which in all probability would
' soon be produced,' artid to render sruitless
every operation which had taken place . He
concluded, with declaring, that it had ever
- been his wish, and that of every 'other
servant oi'the king, to bring matters to
a: early a conclusion, and with as little
bioodshed, as possible; to use the present
'successes, and the victory, is it was gained,
siwith prudence and moderation, and rather
as a means of cementing a lasting union
and amity than as objects of triumph o
instruments for korging the chains of (lave
ry, and excuies sor tyranny and oppresiion.
Colone] Barre, admirai Keppel, and mr.
Fox, spoke after his lordship. In the
"s eech of the first, we were given to un
erstnnd, from an extract of a newspaper
produced by the colonel, and stated by
him as a well authenticated account of
what passed between col. Patterson and
general Washington, when the former
was despatched to the latter to treat with
him from general Howe, that his majesty's
commisiioners had-broken through a posi
tive act of parliament, but without pro
ducing the desired effect.
The coionel, after fully giving the text
and context of the above circumstance,
threatened th'e minister with the loss of his
head;- and held up a picture of great hor
rour, shewing that we were on the eve of
a most serious war with France, who
would begin her attack within the hearing
of the members who sat in parliamentary
debate.
Admiral Keppel merely shewed the de
fenceless state of the kingdom, from her
nnprepared navy.
Mr; Fox was ardent against administra
tion, but endeavoured to rescue general
Clinton from the censure which had been
thrown out on him.
We have not time to givefa fuller ac
count of the speeches of the three last gen
tlemen, but we mean to do it to-morrow.
Coi. Barre's deserved particular attention;
for if his assertions were facts, and his de
ductions fair, this country is in a tremen
dous situation indeed.
At half after ! I the House divided
on the previous question moved on the
amendment motion, where the numbers
were, 24: for the question, 82 against it.
They then divided again on the motion
for the address, when the numbers were,
242 for the question, 87 against it. The
House rose at 12, and will sit again this
new .
PilILADELPLHsi'lA, March :.
N the 23d ult. a body of 2500 ofche
British troops, with six pieces of
cannon, were attacked and repulscd near
Woodbridgc, by a party of no Amcri
cans, under the command of genersitl
Mwadl. 'l'he enemy had 40 killed, :md
80 wounded; our people hsiul one kiHed,
and eight wounded. it is supposed the
enemy were those that lately lest Rhodc
lilsimd, and were going to reinsorcc the
army at Brunswick.
We hear from 'l'iconderoga, that on
the ctlglh ult. a number of lndians and
Canadians, advancing within about 30
miles of the sort, were attacked by our
advanced guard, who drove them off, and
took two Canadiss si 'soners. [( is sup
posed dcsisi si " i-to surprise the
guard; 3 si sict it does not up
' - htroops were
])Csls (
with t . ct _
We " ss si -- name of
Kemble, '_ as lately
inhumanl ctss. of the
!
British troo innF he told
them he w ,sisitent. and
had gencr He was
firstshott si
thrust. thro _ _
long enough to e": mehncholy tale to
a party of continental forces, that came
by his house soon after the murderexs
were gone off.
B 0 8 'l' 0 N, Fclz. 6.
Extract-os a letter from Bourdeaux , Dec. ] 3 .
I HAVE the pleasure of informing you,
that the hon. BENJAMIN FRANKLKN,
esq; arrived safe at Namz on the 6thinstant,
and has set out for Paris. He took two
prizes on the Cape loaded with wine and
brandy, which he sent to Quibcroon bay,
betweeri this and Namz. The people at
large here are all your friends, and I be
lieve the government of France are dispos
ed tofat our you. Awar between the pow
ers of France, Spain, and Great Britain, is
said to be unavoidable. ' Great preparati
on: for war are making all over Europe.
NEW HAVEN, Feb. 5.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in Bos
ton to his friend inthis city, dared jau.
1777- .
I H AVE the pleasure to inform you, that
the recruiting forthe service three years,
and during the war, is uncommonly suc—
cessful in this state. lt swarms with re
cruiting officers, and many men of influ
ence, not in the military line, cxert them
selves to promote the eniisting of men.
They are confident oshaving their 15 re
giments ready for the field by the middle
of March. Large quantities of barrelled
bees are already provided, and on the way
to Albany, for summer stores to the nor
thern'army; and, in short, ageneral spirit
osactivity, both in early procuring tr00ps,
clothing, tents, and provision, that pre
sagcs our being able to open the campaign,
with a numerous well appointed army. ]
hope Connecticut will exert itself with
equal s pirit.
-————————-*—
BALTlMORE, Marcb4
GENTLEMAN from Philadelphia in
forms us, that it was reported there
that general Arnold was preparing to make
a descent on Rhode island with about 4000
volunteers, in consequence of a consider
able part of the British and Hesslan troops
having left it, to join Howe's army in
jersey.
On the 28th of ]anuary last, Daniel
Strong, of Dutchess county, a spy from
the Enemy'si. army, was cxecuted at Peek's
Kill, puriuant to a sentence ofa general
court martial.
A few days ago the Hon. Contincntal
Congrefs adjourned from this town to
l'hiladelphia, for which place the members
have moffly set out.
Last evening the lady of his ExcelleHCy
General Washington arrived in town from
Alexandria .
l
\VI L LIADlSBUR G, si'sssi"L'/) [4_
Extract ofa letter fi'L-m (: ;: ul/c man (] zlz/Q
tindian, datcd (lhathum, Fel). 10. ss
Y brigade has beh ned to admiration,
molt of the ofh'cers like heroes, ".ml
in a csitmpaign or twov. illsurpussany [l'OLPSI
in the world, for solnicly, orderly be ha-ss
viour, and true courage. 'she 23d ossilu—
numy, we cut to pieces the 28 ]] rcgimcnt
of Lur enemies; and on the lst instant,
col. Scott, with pnly 6oo men, and no
artillery, attacked gooo of the enemy,
under lurd Cornwallis, who had with them
nine pieces of cannon. Col. Scott began
the attack with 90 Virginians, and beat
230 British grenadicrs; but not being sea
sunably supported, was obliged to give
way. The enemy butchered ]ieut. Kelly
of'thc 5th regiment, a brave officer, and
five others, who were wounded. I sent
in mnjor Bland with a flag, upbraiding
them with savage cruelty, and threatening
retaliation. On the 8th instant we were
again engaged for four hours and compel— si
ed the enemy to retrent. Lieut. Gregory, ss
who was killed on the lst instnnt, upon
being brought out osthe field, and ahcsiu:
half an hour before he died, called the
men to him, and said, " Countrymsn and
" fellow ibldicrs, ] shall leave you in a
" few minutes. All that ] am sorry sor
" is, that I did not live longer to be of
" service to my bleeding country. Be
" brave, my lads, :md z.Cquit yourselves
" like men! Maintain your own hb-sirty,
" and that of your country !" And im
mediately expired.
The hu'xldings at Lictle England, near
Hampton, were burnt down last Monday
evening, by accidenr'. ct
Sacred to the memory of maj-zr ) O H N
F LE MI N G, siwho fell at the battle of
Princeton. si
.............. lssho die: for freedom ,
Ha: liv'd his term oj'nature and of" glory;
And who survive: it, but a single hour,
Ha: liv'd that hour too long. ' '
M ] DST the horrid din oi cruel war,
The trumpets found, the cannons
thundering roar, sssi
On Naussau's plains, the muscs soft rc treat,
The school of freedom, learning's awlul
seat, -
Wherer'ernsPoou, with every virtue
fraught,
The generous youth his sacred precepts
taught, '
The sage's wisdom, and the patriot's sire,
A noble love osliherty inspire.
Here early try'd, and acting but too well,
The brave, lamented, much-lov'd FLE
MING se".
With gayclt hopes of happiness possess'd,
W'tth every sinile osflattering fortune blest.
just as the spring of life began to bloom,
And manly virtues sadder makes the tomb,
ln all that health, and energy of youth,
Which promis'd honours of maturer
growth,
When his full heart expanded to the goal,
And promis'd victory had flush'd his soul,
He fell,--his country lost her earhest boast,
His lovely sisters a fond brother lash
O! ever honour'd, ever happy shade,
How well hast thou thy debt to virtue paid!
Go, happy ghost, to where the good and
blesb,d
Enjoy eternal scenes of bliss and rest;
While we below thy sudden shrewel mourn,
Collect thy virtues weeping o'er thy urn,
Recall their scatter'd ]ultrc as they past,
And see them all united in the lzzlt.
Mand—
I N C () U N C l L.
WILLIAMSBURG, March 14. 1777.
EROLVED, that the commanding
officers osthc six additioml bmtuii
ons of contincnml troops to he raised in
{his state du immccliatelv cause a general
rcndczvous oi the scvcml officers ullotud