The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg [Va.], 1779-06-19 00:00:00, page 2

Eve!!- and haughtiness, and threatcned is continued to raise hath to a
ight insupportable to the rest of Europe.
ln short, their own best informed ltatesmen and writers confess, that
of cause is exceedingly favoured by 'courts and peopi: in that uarter
of the world, while that of your adversaries ia equally teprobate ; and
from thence draw ominous and well grounded concluliotts, that the final
event mult prove unfortunate to the latter. Indeed, we have the best
reason to believe that we shall soon form other aliiances, and on principles
honourable and beneficial to these states.
Insatuated at your enemies have been from the beginning of this contest,
do you imagine they can now flatter themselves with a hope of conquering
you, unless you are false to yourse!ves?
When unprepared, undisciplined, and unfupported, you opposed their
fleets and armree in full conjoined force, then, it at any time, was
conquest to be ap rehended. Yet what progress towards it have their
violent and ince ant efforts made? judge from their own conduct.
Having devoted you to bonda e, and after vainly wasiing their blood
and treasure in the dishonoura le enterprise, th deigned at length to
offer terms ofaecommodation with respectful addre es to that once despised
body the Congtsiesa, whose humble supplications only for peace, liberty,
and safety, they had eontemptuoufly rejected, under pretence of its being
an uneonsh'tutional assembly. Nay more- desirom of seducing you into
: deviation from the paths of rectttude, from which they had so far and
so r " y wandered, they made molt speciotu offera to tempt you into a
violatinn of your faith given to your illultrious ally. Their art: were as
unavailing as their arms. Foiled again, and flung with rage, embittered
by envy, they had no alternative, but to renounce the tnglorioua and
minoul controversy, or to resume their former modes of proseeuting it.
Th chose the latter. Again the savaget are stimulated to horrid
ma aeres of women and children, and domesticks to the murder of their
maken A 'zin our brave and unhappy brethren are doomed to miserable
deatha in jai s and prison-lhips. To complete the sanguinary system,
all the " extremitiet of war" are by authority denouneed against you.
Piously endeavour to derive thin eonsolation from their remorselese fury,
that " the Father of Mercies" looks down with dilapprobation on such
audaeious defia'ices of hil holy hurt; and be further comforted with
recollectinp, that the arms assumed by you in your righteoua cause, have
not been smlied by any unjuflifiable severitiet.
Your enemiu despatring however, at it seems, of the success of their
united foreet inkour main army, have divided them, as is their defign
was to hlfs': : you by predatory, desultory operationa. If you are
assiduour in improving opportunities, Saratoga may not he the only spot
on this eontinent to give a new denomination to the bathed troops of a
nattnn impioufly priding herself in notions of her omnipotence.
Rouse ysi-urselVes therefore, that thin eampaign ma finish the great
work you have so nohly carried on for several year: _p . What nation
ever engaged in such a contest under such a eomplieatton of disadvantaget,
so soon surmounted many of them; and in so short a period of time had
so s-ettain a prol'pefi of a spoedy and hatssy conclusion. We will venture
lo uronounee that so' remarkable an in anee exish not in the annala of
llm,ksitnd. We well remember what you said at the eommeneement of
this war. You saw- the immense difference between your circumstance
lnd =th of your enemiea, and you knew the uarrel must deeide on no
less than your livea, liberties and ehtee. A] these you greatly put to
every hazard, resolving rather to die sreemen than to live (lawes; and
jufliee will oblige the impartial world to eonfese you have uniformly acted
on the same genervua principle. ' Consider how much you have done, and
how eomparatichy little remaina to be done to crown you with success.
Persevere. and you ensure peace, freedom, safety, glory, sovereignty,
and felicity to ourselvet, our children, and your children'a children.
ssEnrounged hy savoura a ready received from infinite goodnest, gnte
fully acknowledging them, earnestly imploring their continuance, oon.
lantly endeavouring to draw them down on your head: by an amendment
of your livea and a eonformitz' to the divine will , humbly confidin in the '
lection so often and won erfully experienced, vi oroufly ent fay the
meant placed bv Providence in your hand:, for eomp eting your hours.
Fill up your battauona, he prepared in every part to repel the incursiona
ot vour enemies; laee vour several quotat in the eontinental treasury;
lend money ? .r ubhck usesiq sink the emifliom of your respective states;
frovide esse " l\ far expeditinss the conveylnee of suppliet for your
armies and fleeta; and for your alllea; prevent the produce of the country
frouct hein ' monn lized; effectually superintend the behaviour of public]:
osicmt; iliger. y promote piety, virtue, brotherly love, learning, fru
plit - and moderation; and may you be approved before Almighty God
worthy of those bleflings we devoutly wish you to enjoy.
Dm t'a Congrtfl 0 mnine: tutfmt, this ath day of May, 1779.
] 0 8 N ] A Y, President.
lnffl. Cent.:- Tttotuoa, leeretary.
(: A7D Iss Z, JANUARY to.
THE Mzrqnio de Almodovar goes on happily, it in said with his
medintion. It is : difficult but loriouc talk he has in hind to
bring the haughty nation of Britain to ac nowledge the independence of
Ameriea. If thin cnn be lceompliihed , as the hath of : peace, all Europe
will thank him; for every power would choose to have it done without
! further s ofthe flameo of war. Accordin to : list of our naval
fare: in ed about here, we have 167 armed vesse I ofdifferent fixes; 67
fnil of the line, 31 in our road. and :: at Ferrol, are eompletely uiped.
Our King" I published diven regulations in favour of the tude of rance,
through :] the Spanish Peru. All French vessel: coming from the West
India. n' North Amertca nre allowed to put into any ofour pom, to
m-d the British eruisen; and shift their cargoec to Spanish or other
bottom., a they shall find convenient. French merchandizes of all kinds
In ["and to be entered !) the board of Agredn and Victnria, md to
be Word to Seville or adiz. French cruisen are allowed to enter
the "n'as Spi'n, and to sell their prizes there; they are also allowed
to ? out without my rtllraint, unless it be to attack a vessel in sight of
th! put in Which they aresiat nnchor.
BOSTON,MAY:7.
Extract of a letter from Philadelphia, April 13.
VE'ESEI. just arrived srum Surinam, mention., thata Du'ch .
ofwas had arrived there jult before (he lest it, in 3! dayl s. T:
stcrdam, and brought aecounts that the State: General, on'the
and violent remonstrances of their merchants, had given permiflionsishr
individuals to sit out vessels to etsiuise against the British trade, and had
granted letters of mar ue'and reprisals for that purpose."
May 20. On Mon ay last, Capt. Parson; arrived at Newhuryport
from Martmique, and informs, that Count d'Estning had been reinforeed
with such a number of capital ships as to make his flcct superiour to the
British; and that Admiral Bymn l.uy at St. Lucia, not daiing to venture
out, as sickness raged with great violence on board his fleet.
it is said that several vessels of force, and a number of trans'ports with
troops had sailed srom New York, their ditlination uncertain: Some
suppose to Canada. We are told at the same time that General Walh
ington's army is moving, and drawing nearer to Ncw Ycrk.
Since our last several vessels have arrived at different ports from Statirt,
Martinique, Guadaloupc, and other port: of the West lndies; by these
vessels we have it uported that Admiral Byron and the Count d'Estaing
were (till at their old stationl, without having made any capital move
ment. Some attribute this to : pacisick disposition at bottom of both
Comtl ; others to the inferiority of Byron in seemen, and of theCount
in ships. That not long since Admiral Byron sent four men of war of
the line, and a number of {signes, to eruise not far from Martiniquc;
the Count, as soon as he was apprised of it, sent a number of the line
and Frigates to take care of them; this motion drew out, by succeffive
detachments, both fleets, but without producing any general action.
By the above vessels we learn, that Count d'Eltaing, having cmbax'ked
hie troope, and made such dispositions as indicated some enterprise in view,
all the illand of St. Kitts was in arms, cxpectinza visit from the French
fleet, and eve precaution taken there for the sitsifcnce of the island".
One of the alt vessels from the West Indies informs, that a large
number of store ships, with some ships of force, had arrived at Martiniquc
from Old France; this is probably the fleet mentioned to have sailed from
France to the West lndies. By the cutter not long since arrived hete.
and which left Brest the beginning of March. This reinforcement, it is
said, will give the fleet of France :: silpcriosity of strength to that of the
British in those seal. -
By the same channel we are informed. that two ships of the line,
belonging to the squadron os Admiral B) run, were hauled up at St.
Lucia for want of men, each of them it .ving buried zoo of their sailors,
By : vessel lately arrived at Maitinique from the Havanna, an account
wax brought that the last mentioned ])Yacewas in the best nm of defence.
Beside: 14,ooo men, of which the militia on the iflnnd of Cuha now
consists, who are regimcntal, and ccniitlu'ably well disciplined, there
are 8 re intente of regular troops at the Havanna, 5 shipo of the line.
and le rigatet in the port. Two ships of ninety and sixty gum readyto
be launched, and several other! of high rate: on the flocks. The Apo
rianl who flock there from all part;, are well received with their circu—
of every kind. ' . ;
.. l_. .L
FISHKILL,_J—UNF3.
HE latter end of lafl' week, : number of British vessels made their
appearance in the North river; they consifl of [3 ships, 3 brige,
. topslil sehooqen, ; galliee, 6 topsail floopl, about so smaller vessels,
end a great number of flat bottomed bones. -
Let} Lord: day (zth ult.) rsoo men landed eight miles below Peek'l
Kill, on Taller's point, consisting of British and Heflian grenadiers,
light iniantry, volunteert of lreland, and Yagen. On Monday the ac
inflant, the enemy landed : party on the welt side of the river, where they
b'umt some houses, and opened two small batteries, from which the
threw some shells, and eannonaded fort de la Fayette across the river,
all that day) two gallieo kept up a severe fire on the fort at the same
time. They continued their firing till eleven o'clock on 'i uesday fore.
noon; meanwhile their army marched from Tzllefs to Ver Plank'e point,
on which the fort (lande; by a Bag they demanded :: surrender; the parley
continued two hours: Capt. Armsirong thought fit to surrender. Gen.
M'DouE-ill he: not yet received nsi justisiable renfon why the fort was given
it . T is little fort was built on purpose to secure King's ferry, from
the insultl of the enemy's vessels, which frequently had interrupted our
boat- srom eroffmg: it was small, and would contain with conveniency,
about a company of men; the redoubts was Krong, and covered : bar.
bette batter , mountin ; pieces of cannon: We had in the barbettc .
company o artillery; : ey were tll drawn cR" but zserjeant, a corporai,
and II. privaten in the redoubt were :! Captain, two l'uhaitenzs, three
serjeants, and 44- nnk and file, they had provision and water to serve
them 30 dayt.-Wednesday evening, the wind now prevents the shi ping
from advancing to sort Clinton on West Point; which we suppo e, in
the enemy'e main object: The sort is now in tolerable order, well pro
vided, end the men in fine spirits; the militia are coming in salt, and
every appearance is promising; the enemy have come out in force,
end it is said, lre from 7 to to,ooo mem—Thcis troops from their lnte
excursion to Virginil, returned last Thursdzy, and without landing ::
New York pushed up the river. .
Thursday morning, four o'clock, we learn that the enemy Ire in
motion, as isthey meant to come up the east side of the river. ,
Athol's Highlandcrs, called the 74th, who arrived at New York lbm.
week- ago, are I" the reinforcements the enemy have yet received. the
we can learn. . '
Since the British landed, we have taken 7 prisoners, and 3 desert
have come in. Yesterday it was reported, that the enemy had bursizsi
Lieutenant Governour Cortland's house, near Crolon river, where th', '
first lnnded. '
Extract of :: [mer from Albany. dami qu 19.
:.
" We learn hy three prisoners, taken by our people, (hit Bflnt ad
Butler have betakcn themselves to Niagarz; to make preparation to
ossnsinse _ our troopl this cum pnign."