The New-Jersey journal — Chatham, N.J., 1782-11-27 00:00:00, page 2

hinklin has had the audacity publicly to protest a
^hin t the existence of such a measure.
The providential arrival of the Baltic trade is an
additional inftaace of that good fortune which has
generally attended the arrival of our fleets during
the war, for with a 50 gun (hip, and three or four
frigates, this valuable convoy has eluded the vigi
lance of the Dutch, who had almost enfuied them
felyes of itscapture.
Lecters from Hungary advise, that some mifunder-
Handings Bill subsist between the Porte and her Im
perial Majesty, relative to the navigation of the
Black Sea.
We are sorry to hear that the crops have failed in
many parts of Poland, which country has ever hi
therto been considered as the granary of Europe.
Letters from Amsterdam, dated the 7th of this
month, mention, that as soon as the wind dial! fhift
into the eaftein quarter, their fleet will fail dire&ly
for the British Channel.
The Dutch fleet, after protesting their merchant
fliips to a certain latitude, will certainly insult our
coast at lead, if they do not attempt any thing fur
ther.
According to the last letters from Ireland, such
differences of opinion prevail among the volunteer
'corps in that kingdom, as threaten a total diffpluii
on of thole military bodies.
We hear from good authority, that the Duke of
P d has resisted all the pressing felicitations
which have been made him by a late feeder, to take
an atlive part against the present Ministry. His
Grace, with a manly spirit which refleas the high
ell luftre upon his character, having repeatedly de
clared to his friends, that no private prejudices in his
bread should ever disturb that publick unanimity,
which at this hour is so afTential to the salvation of
the country.
The Dutchefs of Richmond ordnance ftorefhip, for
Gibraltar, arrived at Plymouth on Thursday last
with the loss of her topmasts ; she parted from Lord
Howe's fleet the 16. h, 63 leagues W. S. W. of
Scilly, proceeding, though some of the convoy were
disabled in the gale of the 14th.
A squadron of men of wa r is ordered to rendez
vous in the Downs as fall as possible, for the purpose
Of looking after the Dutch fleet at the Meafe, which
are hourly expelled out, and are said to be bound
down the Channel.
The Dutch fleet in the Meafe consists of four fail
of the line ; if these join rue-iquauiun avvuc Texet,
it will amount very little short of 20 fail ofthe line.
Lord Rodney's name is ordered to be put on the
lift of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council.
Governor Franklin, who lately arrived from
New-York, had yesterday a long conference with his
Majesty at St, James's, relative to American affairs;
and had the honour of laying before the Sovereign
the addresses of the Loyalists in New-Yok to his
Majesty and the Cemmiffioners, on the very extra
ordinary epistle of the letter to the cbel General Wa
shington. declaring the Colonies Independent States,
without an, stipulation whatever.
Governor #" kiin has had private audiences of
several of the Mirritfr, since his arrival; and it is re
ported he is to attend an extraordinary Privy Coun
cil which is to be fammoned next week, on the af
fairs of America.,
The Governor has brought over some dispatches
From Sir Guy Carleton, to the Secretaries of State.
The dispatches which were received on Thursday
by Government from Gibraltar mention, that the u
nited fleets had ftri& orders to dispute our passage
into the Bay, while they made the grand attack by
sea and land on that fortrefs.
Ministry are in high spirits on hearing the determi
nation of the Bourbonities to oppose our relieving
Gibraltar, as they place the most implicit confidence
in Lord Howe coming off victorious.
It now appears, from the most authentic intelli
gence, that five fail of the line were detached from the
fleet which left Cadiz in March last, and diredly fail
ed for the East Indies. This must give the French
Admiral in those seas a decided superiority of seven
fliips, even after Sir Richard Bickerton shall have
joined.
When Mr. Grenville proposed to the French Mi
niftty, that the [fluids taken since the war should be
restored, he was modestly answered, that Tobago was
the only one that could be given up, or indeed rea
sonably demanded, in the critical situation of our
affairs,
As the combined fleets were in Gibraltar Bay,
when the last advices came away,an ad-ion of the most
decisive nature to this country must have taken
place before now. Lord Howe's inftruQions at fail
ing were, to give the enemy battle at all events,
wherever he might meet them.
T^e only reason that can be addufed for the Bri
tish fleet not re capturing St. Kitts, and the rest of
our late loft possessions in the Well- Indies, is the want
bf troops, the climate having swept off all the new
corps that were very improvidenriy sent co that part
of the world about two years ago.
It is confidently reported, that the restoration of
Canada will be strongly infilled on by the French
Monarch in the preliminaries to # general peace,
for which all our settlements in the Weft Indies, that
have been captured since the commencement of hos
tilities, will be restored.
Admiral Parker will fupercede Sir Edward Hughes
upon the Eail-India station as soon as he arrives
there.
Governor Franklin's sentiments with refpeflto
American Independence correspond so exactly with
those of the firlt Lord of the Treasury, that his ar
rival will rather tend to Strengthen the determination
ofthe Miniller, than induce him to make such df
gracefalconceffions as were recommended by the Man
of the People.
Mr. Fox, with an impatience similar to that of
Doctor Slop, who cut the filings which confined
his bag of instruments rather than wait to untie the
, knots, was for getting rid of all temporary incon
veniences in the most decisive method imaginable.
Ireland, fays he, wants to be independent— grant
it — America to be independent— grant it —whatever
is requeued, that may embarrass by a refufal, 0 grant
", grant it — Let's get rid of it, deft let us be plagued;
never mind consequences, let posterity look to that ;
only let us have case, and peace and plenty, and en
joy our places now we have got them. But poor
Charles, like Doctor Slop, bz§ felt the consequences
of his rashness ; for as the latter cut his thumb, the
former has burnt bis fingers.
Weare well informed, that Mr. Laurens has de
clined all public interference between England and
America; that he is determined to accept of no
commission on either fide, but is going back to a life
of retirement upon a few paternal acres.
We are allured the troops will not be u ithdrawn from
New-York, but that it is intended, if the Americans
refufe the terms now offered them, to prosecute the
war, or to strengthen that post, according to the
measures which (hall be resolved on by the Parlia
ment, at their next meeting ; it is thought the firft
thing proposed in the House will be to refc nd the
vote by which the British forces arc rendered inac
^e are also assured that our naval force in the Wefl*
Indies and America twill be confderail, reinfo ced soon
in the,ear, if peace should not take place previous
thereto ;in fort, fould the olive branch be rejected,
the most vigorous exertions ofthe sword twill take
place.
All thoughts of making,an, further attempts to raise
the Ro,al George are laid aside, as the expence and un
certainty attending most of the proposals given in to
Weigh the sip, or save the flores, are thought to be
attended with an expence superior to an, good effeds
that might be derived from making the experiment.
It is now a matter of serious depute among the po
liticians, whether the crown has a right to dismember
the empire without the assent of Parliament. In the
case of Great-Britain and America, the disputants
on thisfubjeA should rccdllec?, that, by a recent flatute,
his Majejl, has been invefed with unlimited authority
to make peace with America,fo that the present ques
tion is, whether his Majefy, by virtue of this aft, has
received a virtual poster to grant independence.
The aa fays, to make peace, the joint letter of Sir
Guy Carleton and Admiral Digby goes much further,
they take upon them to offer independence to America,
not as an article of peace:,but as a preliminary grant to
open a negotiation. The lawyers will argue upon the con
firuAion of this fatute, but ou> legislators will argue
that this is not a quefion of law, but conftitutir n.
Extraa of a letter from Amflerdam, Sept. 16.
" In the very heavy gales that we have experienced
for some days past, there have been great apprehensions
for our squadron at the Lexel; but wejuft now hear
all are fafe, except the Leiwarden frigate, of 24
guns, that drove from her anchors, and was on Jbore
near Medemblic, but is little damaged.
" Admiral Hartfnek's appearance here convinces
us, that either bis age has obliged him to give up the
command, or that the squadron will be no more employ
ed this year at leaf, perhaps not at all, the talk of
peace being ver, general. Since the 30th of lafhmontb
135 vessels have entered this harbour from different
ports."
Admiralty-Office, September 10, 1782.
ExtraA of a Letter from Gov. Elliott, to Secretary, Ste 9
vens, dated Sept. 12, 1782.
I HAVE taken an opportunity of fending this by Mr.
Frazier, master of t/he Speedwell cutter, whois to
fail to-morrow for England with the subsequent ac
cdunt of our success against the Spaniards, in their (a
much boasted attack with their floating batteries. [
am in hopes he will get off fafe, as the Spaniards, sick
ened by their late attempt seem to have drawn off theri
cruisers, as despairing of success.
This, Sir, has been dne ofthe most tremendous feenes
I ever was engaged in, and words fall short of giving
you an Idea of an action fofuriousand dreadful; how
ever, I (hall attempt to relate some of the particulars.
As it was always my opinion that we should be attack-,
ed by their whole force on St. Louis's day; I made e
very necefl^ry prepa,ation to deceive them ; on the e
vening ofthe 24th I ordered several light boats to fail
forward and backwards to observe their motions, and
bring intelligence ifthey saw ary thing of the Spani
ards, in the mean time, a fl bating battery, in form of
an half moon, conttru&ed under my direction, was
towed off from thore about 400 yards, and there secure
ly anchored ; twelve gun boats were also formed in
two divisions on the right and left of this battery, and
two batteries on a point of land, the oneof 36 guns,
the other of 24, swept the bay in an oblique direction^
and four bomb batteries of fix mortars each ; there
were all the extra preparations.
About h: If after one in the morning, I had notice
of their approach, but very (lowly, as them batteries
were built in such a manner as required much labour
to bring them on, and by the noise we heird, we ima
gined their passage was attended with great difficulty §
they were towed by a vast nonber of boats and light
ers, and seeming at tim s were in great confufion. By
the accounts which were brought in, I thought it:
would be of great service so disturb them a little in
their passage, and ordered the gun-boas to quit their
present station, and advance and form a line about a
mile a-bead of the battery,and by a constant fire, drive
to put the Spaniards into greater conlufi n. This:
manoeuvre had the defied effect; the Spaniards but,
in bringing forward their unwieldy batteries, which,
moved very flow, had not time to observe the approach,
of our boats, and thought themselves in perfect tecu
rity, until they were attacked with vat 1 showers of
grape shot and pieces of old iren, which few as thick;
as hail, and did incredible mifchiefamongit them, for
now boat was dashed against boat, and many went to
the botte tn
It was tow About three o'clock in the morning,
when, by the light of the moon, they were teen about:
a mile dftance from cur battery.
"Not thinking it proper to give them time to anchor,
I made a fignaffor our battery to begin. Nothingcart
equal the consternation of the Spaniards, as I have,
since been told, by some #f the prisoners (for we have
a gieat many, whom we have laved from drowning)
than this Fend unexpected attack, which was repeat
ed from every quiter in ^eftrutrivi fhewers of bombs,
and balls, and which undoubtedly did great execution
among them: however, under these disadvantages,
they brought some oftheir batteries to be: r and a e.oft
furious c.inonade, commenced. The Spaniards, on
the land fide, heari, g the action was begun, plied a
most tremendous and amazing fire, which we futtain
ed for near an hour without any return; but as
soon as day-light appeared, a signal was made from
Watson's battery, for every gun in the whole line, that
could be brought to bear, to begin. But oh ! how
fball I paint to you the horrid feene ? you would have
thought all Hell was broke loose, and that this world
was going to be crushed to atoms; the eminence 011
which I flood, shook, or seemed to shake, as if it were
convulsed, or (hook by a mighty earthquake.
' In this manner did it continue until 11 o'clock in
the forenoon, when four of their batteries were ren
dered ufelels, and tw 0 more were quite defected which
were taken possession of by our people ; the remainder
were towed off with difficulty, support d by their gun
boats; and I am greatly mistaken in my conje&ures,
if ever thsy pay us another visit. Our iu%e's on the
land fide ^as no lets promising, for one of their advan
ced^woi^ota&teg fire, burnt with great fury; Two
magazire^,!^Twder blew up, and did incredible da
mage ;'and ' the whole firing ceased before sun-set.
Our lots has been very inconsiderable, not exceeding
-150 killed and wounded, and many of them flight'll
Their's must exceed ^mgrooufands, as manywere
blown up, 2nd vast MnErFdrowned. Thusin about
fifteen hous hard work, ended this mighty boasting
of cur energies in a total confufion and di may ; and ic
will surely appear astonishing to future ages, trat ihh
little rock, with 7000 men, baffled the united efforts
ofFranceand Spain; however we remain on ourguard,
expecting tiern to make another trial ; at present art
is quiet, and we hope the Spaniards, tired out with
thyir fruitlefs endeavours, will at length abandon the
project, of starving us out. A reasonable supply rt
present will be of great service, as we are in want of
many necessaries.
ELLIOTT.
PHILADELPHIA, November 19.
Extract of alerter from L'Orient, dated Sept. 28.
" Admiral Howe failed from Torbay on the
11th initant, with 32 fail of the line, besides fri
gates, store ships, and transports, amounting in
all to near 200 fail, for the relief of Gibraltar ; but
the winds have, ever since bis departure, been
contrary. From the latest accounts we have had
from Gibraltar, Governor Elliott must, 'ere this,
has furre^e,^ ' § the garrison is exceedingly
reda&TatyAvofn down, both by fatigue and the.
wan: cfp^vifions"
Yefler&y/the ship Rising Suh, Capt. Decatur,
arrived hei4 in 38 days from Tenerifl'c. The day