The Virginia gazette — Williamsburg, Va., 1777-02-28 00:00:00, page 1

! FEBhUARY 29), 1777
NUMBEssR m),
VIRGINIA
GAZETTE.
H
lsijsip'
," Am) run PUBLlCK soon.
ALWAYs POR LI'BERTY.
, &?
High HEAVEN lo GRACIOL'S ENDS direct; I/JL' STORME
By his Excellency PATRICK HENRY, jun.
qu; Govcrnuur or Chirf [flagj/the of
the commonwcalth 0] Virginia :
A PKOCLAD/lATlON.
HEREAS ! have received authentick
\ intelligence, that the simation of
the army under the command of his Ex
cellency General Washington is ffill such
as to require the most speedy and expedi
tious reinsorcements which can possibly he
sent, and it being represented that the ill
success of the recruiting service within
thisstate has been occasioned by the scheme
for enhst'mg voluntcers, which, by my
former proclamation, and from the ur
gent neceility which seemed then to de
mand it, I thought proper to encourage:
To the end, therefore, thacthosc measures
-os government, which nimcd at the gene—
m] lcchlEy and pruipcrzzy or Ainerica,
may no ]ongrr have the unhappy tenden
cy to weaken and impz—si'sisir them both, I
think fit, by and with the advice of the
Privy (launcil, to issue this my proclama—
tion, hereby enjuining und requiringsir all
cmmtv lieusieumts, and other ollicers "and
subjects of this state, who may have been
e-ic:>ar.1};-ss*ed by the terms held out in my
sdid lbr-ss.*-. r_pi*.)cinm:1tion to form volun
teer companies, that they henceforth de—
sit ; :ishi :zh per sons who may h'we alrea—
dy :ilsctciated such companies are eurnestly
requested to use their utmost endeavours
to prevail on the men who have so engag
ed to enlist in the regular service. And
as the expeditious filling up the several
regimcnts which are now raising is a mat
ter that highly concerns the general safety,
it is warmly recommended to every good
man and friend to his country, and par
ticu] 1er to the clergy ofevery deuomina
tion, to exert in their several stations that
influence which they possess over the
people, in such uunner as may be necessa
ry tor etteCtmg 10 lulutary a purpole.
Those officers who have already engag—
ed voiunteer companies, and who may
sin- ] them :eiv =s unable to prevail with
their men to eniiit unto the regular lervicc,
are desired to send me a list of their seve
ral companies, as soon posiihic; and such
of the officers of the six additional batta
lions in the continental service, as are yet
remaininghere, for the purpose of recruit
ing, are once more called upon to exert
themselt es in the prolecution of that busi
nesiz, and are required, according to the
desire of the Congrcss. to march to head
quarters with their companies, or parts
of companies, as they [hail respectively
complete their quotas.
Givcn under my hand, this loth day of
Fczbrmzry, in the lst your of the com—
manwcalth, annoqsiic Domini, 1777.
P \T1UCK "si Vi'i Y siitm.
ii [ S, ]Vsi'ss' m '1/77' lo.
IPIH'. shi usof v. n." nrc s ilcdisszv 1 F wzsshm
sm B: ) ston, and of hers fi "- 11 !zaci'c and
]iorhsort :rre preparing tu sufiow them.
\\csicngeri, scsi -'i some montzhz Fisi', ] :we
bsi-ell continuz- .iiy p-zing to 'md sizom \ cr
saillcs to the .;Ai 121 .cau (len? '- :Lz.
L O N D 0 N, Novembar 23.
llE minority, it is ssiud, of both
Houses, have entirely withdrawn
themseh'es, being determined no longer
to give a sandtirm to measures, by their
presence, that they cannot check, though
pnlpably to the ruin of our country.
A reportis current, that in consequence
of some despatches received srum lord
Gramham, at Madrid, by particular de—
sire his lordship is recalled from the above
court.
An embargo on all the shipping in our
ports is talked of as a measure likely to
take place immediateiy.
Governmcnc offer 5i. a man bounty one
day, and, without waixingtheissue of such
a fair bait, the next set loose. an hundred
gangs osrusiians, who, half drunk with
brandy, and quite so with :] shameful
power, not in to be put in iuch mens
hands, revel in acts of cruelty.
Lalt Monday morning a board was held
at the admiralty office, Charing Cross,
at which several lieutcnants, pursers, and
surgeons, onhalfpay, wereput uponsnll
commissxon, and ordered on board diffe—
rent ships that are now fitting out for sea.
Orders are given to raise three new re
giments of volunteers, for the space of
three years, or during the rebellion in
America; one to be raised in anland,
one in Scotland, and one in lreland.
Their pay is to be 1 8. pcr day.
It is now no longer an idle rumour that
we are on the eve of a war with France.
The ministry themselves talkmost serionily
of the matter, and in all probability a de
claration of hoshhties will take place in a
few days.
Certain advice is received from the Hague ,
that very large snms have been advanced
to the French by the merchants of Holland .
Not less that too lives have been lost by
the present shameful press, and that tdo
at a time the minister says he has every
assurance of peace ; it is a wonder he did
not say plenty too.
A great personage sent for admiral
Kepple on Monday, and desired he would
take the command of ten fail of the line,
and be ready to proceed to sea immedi
ately.
Another battalion is going to be added
to the royal regiment of artillery, on as
count of the number now out on foreign
service, and more that are wanted at this
period. ,
No less than 18 privateers have been
fitted out from Marblehead, and it is
computed that upwards of 90 have been
fitted out irom the several provinces of
New England .
At the commencement of last war,
Great Brit-zin and Amsrica were united
:tsznifist France nkme. Now Great l'zritzzin
:tionc is to cupc with France, Hpra'm, and
Ammctsilca. Then the natiorm! de. hf. wsixzct. 85
mHh-sizm, now itssid upwards nl 159.
land tax was then at gx. it is n- :17 41.
with every other t:six :ulp-me-msid in p
portion, and every seluuct-cc cxictsisiufssicssctt.
Our commcrcc was then prosperous, and
credit good; now they are both shihng.
America then added to our fisi-rcc against
France zossooo man by land, and 15 ooo
by sea; now she cmplovs 50.ooo of our
best land forces, and 18,ooo scamcn, so
that the difference is 7o,oco soldiers; and
33 ctooo sailors. This is more than amoiety
ot'our whole_ force in the last war.
The Romney man of war, capt. Salter,
and the Snrprise srigate, capt. Lirtzac,
though just arrived at Portsmouth from
Newsoundland, and very foul, having
been off the ground 11 months, are or
dered out w sea immediately, to cruise
after the American privatcers. _ The
Princess Amelia, of 80 guns, is ordered to
be fitted out with all expedition, to go to
Spithead, to receive imprcsscd men, and
capt . Deane is appointed to command her.
The Hamplmre, capt. 'Nou'e, uhois
arrived at Portsmouth from Malaga, is
said to bring letters which mention that.
the Spaniards have absohitely sent off &
considerable force to America, and that, as
soon as possible, six sail of the live, and
several frigates, are to follow thcm; that
the first fleet which sailed had lo,ooo sol
diers on board.
All the guardships have orders to take
in stores and provisions ofall species sor six
months, and to be ready at a dny's notice
for going to sea, in case they are called
upon.
Great bets were on chnesday made in
the city, that war would be proclaimed
against Spain on or before the first of ja
nuary next.
The number of sailors in the king's ser
vice, at present in America, is 26,ooo.
The fleet of observation to rendezvou's
at Spithead is to consist of 14 fail of the
line, and two frigates. The rest of the
ships which were commisiioned are to
remain at the several posts where they are
fitted out, but. to take on board all their
itores, and be ready for sea at 24 hours
nonce.
Monday night there was a general pri
vate search for scafaring men in the neigh
bourhood of Wapping, when a great
number were apprehended, and on '1 ues
day examined before jusiice Shecwood
and other magistrates at Shadwell, pursu
aut to the late order of council, when
above 50 stout seamen were sent under the
careofastrong gang, assxstcd by the peace
officers , on board the tendcrat the Tower.
'l'uesdny were examined before the ro
tationjustices, at Hicks's hall, 93 disor
derly persons. One of them who had
stole ?. pint mug, wiih 50 OthCl'S who
could not give a good account of thcm
selvcs, were sent on [man] a man of war.
Vxsedncfflay thecar] ni'Bud-iinphnmflsixirc
was appointed lord ]?zussic-uztnt. us zhe
kingdom nl'h'chmc], nml :!L His ssime— !"nvss':
bid the h-simsissu'si Lo l-siiict' the ]-_i.'ct-_z's
i: 31].