The Massachusetts spy (Boston [Mass.]), 1770-08-23 00:00:00

The Massachusetts Spy.
VOL. I.] From TUESDAY, August 21, to THURSDAY, August 23, 1770. [NUMB. 9.]
WEDNESDAY, August 22.
CONSTANTINOPLE, [ capital of the Turkish empire ] April 3. SINCE the inroads the Russians have made into the Morea, &c. our army has been reinforced from Asia, and now consists of 150,000 men.
TRIESTE, [ Italy ] May 12. It is now no longer a doubt that the Russians have taken Modon and Coron in the Morea.
From the WEISSEL, May 13. The grand Russian army will entirely have passed the Niester about the middle of this month, and will now hasten their operations against the Turks on every side, viz. The Generals Romanzo on the Danube, Panin against Bender Berg against Crimea, Tottleben against Natolia whom the fleet at Asoph will aid, and afterwards in the Morea, and the head squadron of the Russian fleet in the Archipelago against Constantinople itself.
General Stoffeln has totally routed a Corps of 20,000 Turks who had ventured to cross the Danube, killed 3000 on the spot, took many prisoners, and all their baggage and artillery.
VENICE, [ Italy ] May 19. The face of affairs seems entirely changed in the Morea. Coron is again in the hands of the Turks, who are recovered of the consternation into which they were thrown on the first descent of the Russians. While they were busied with the Epirotes in re-taking Patras, advice was brought them that 4000 Mainotes were marching towards Achaia. The Ottomans directly advanced to meet them, and killed 2000 of them on the spot, the rest being totally dispersed. By this victory the whole Duchy of Claren, of which Patras is the capital, is again subject to the Ottomans. All the letters likewise received from that Peninsula, as well as from Zante, bring, that an army of 60,000 men, headed by a Seraskier, is already arrived at Corinth.
TRIESTE, May 19. The following account is now given us of the demolition of Patras, which is destroyed from the very foundations. The garrison in the castle which was blocked up, made on the 13th of April, at seven in the morning, a sally, which being supported by 6000 foot and 4000 horse, they made themselves masters of the City, and put all in it, able to bear arms, to the sword. The resistance made to them was very small; for the Turks having set fire to the city, in many different places, such of the unfortunate inhabitants as could not escape became a prey either to the flame, or the sword of the barbarians. This carnage lasted several hours. The foreign Consuls had the good fortune to escape to Zante, all except the son of the English Consul, who had a good deal of difficulty to get out of the hands of the Turks: this young Gentleman being retired to his hotel with
two Napolitan travellers, and several women and young Ladies belonging to the principal persons of the city, to the number of about seventy a body of Albanians, armed with hatchets, endeavoured to force his gates; but he representing to them that his nation was in alliance with the Porte, they conducted him to the castle, together with all that were with him. In this fortress he saw a great number of persons beheaded, and but for the arrival of the Turkish commander, who knew him, would have undergone the same fate. The Turkish officer ordered him to be conducted to his own apartments, where he remained till five in the evening, when he ordered him to be re-conveyed to his hotel, under a strong escort; but on his arrival there, he found it in ashes, so that about dusk, he withdrew to the sea side with all his retinue, and one domestic, and after three hours march on the shore happily found a bark, into which he got with all who fled to him, and arrived safe at Zante. The whole city is destroyed, together with all the villages around, and most of the inhabitants murdered.
VIENNA, [ capital of Germany ] May 19. By letters from Constantinople we learn, that the Russians, who made a descent on the Morea, having been joined by a great number of Greeks on their advancing into the country, were attacked by a body of Ottoman troops, which defeated and cut many of them in pieces; 10,000 Greeks were left on the field of battle. They add, that there also has been a sea-fight in the Archipelago, between the Turks and Russians, in which four ships belonging to the latter had been sunk, and another taken by the Ottoman squadron.
LONDON, May 29. An Address and Petition from the Parliament of Ireland, is preparing to be brought over to be presented to his Majesty.
The Russians by their successes the last campaign are masters of Choczim, and so have a passage open on that side to enter the Turkish dominions when the season will permit; they are also masters of Walachia and Moldavia; they are in possession of every inch of ground on this side the Niester and the Danube, and have now opened a passage on the other side the Mediterranean by the conquest of the greatest part of the Morea.
June 2. It is an actual truth that some Gentlemen of fortune in the country of Middlesex are now determined to contest the payment of the land tax.
This day came on at Westminster-hall, the trial of Mr Almon, for selling the London Museum, in which was contained Junius's letter; when the jury found him guilty, after being out two hours and a half.
June 5. Yesterday some important dispatches arrived in town from Governor Colden of New-York.

It is reported that the Marquis of Granby was offered all his late offices under the government, but that he declined accepting them.
The leaders of the opposition have had several conferences within these few days, on the subject of a new method of application for a redress of grievances.
The word reply has become, we hear, since a certain event, matter of much diversion at St. J--s's it being now very common to hear one say to another, "Well I will give you an answer, if you will promise to make no reply."
We are informed, that upon a strict computation, it appears that the expences attending the giving away candle and cake at St. James's, on the present happy occasion, will amount to no less than 1600l. As much plumb-cake as two chairmen are able to carry on one of their horses is consumed every day.
We hear that it is not a fortnight ago since a great man, late at the head of the administration of affairs, publicly declared he had now turned his back on the ministry, and washed his hands of all government concerns.
June 7. We hear from Dublin, that they have letters from Cork, giving an account, that a vessel is arrived there from Boston, the master of which affirms, that before he sailed from thence, the populace forced open gaol where Capt Preston and the soldiers were confined, brought them to the usual place of execution and put them all to death.---!!
June 8. It is now said to be agreed on by all parties, that Lord Sandwich will have the government of Ireland and it is said his Lordship will set out for Dublin before the end of this month; advice having been sent to Lord Townsend.
June 9. The supplies granted by Parliament for the present year amounted to 6,934,932l. 16s. 2d. The ways and means to 7,327,656l. 7s. 8d. half-penny.
It is said, that at the last privy council, the appointment of a new lord chancellor was the chief subject of consideration.
It is said that above seven hundred suits have been already brought against peers, members of parliament, and their servants, since the last act took place. One sheriff's officer boasted on Wednesday night, of having himself arrested forty-two domestic servants of members belonging to both houses.
June 10. It is said that two experienced naval-officers, who signalized themselves last war, have been applied to refill their former posts.
June 11. A certain great man in the ministry, was heard to say the other day, that in his opinion, the most effectual method to prevent the remonstrating contagion from spreading, was, to send the next persons, however respectable, that presented a remonstrance, to the Tower.
A private letter from Paris says, that an account has been received there from the Island of Bourbon, that the Nabob of Audernec was at the head of a numerous army, and in full march for the English settlements at Masrafs, in order to lay siege to that important place.
June 11. The remonstrance from the county of Surrey will be presented to his Majesty to-morrow.
THURSDAY, August
KINGSTON, (Jamaica) June 23.
Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman at Hispaniola. I RECKONED without my host, when I expected to have joined my brethren on the 24th of June at Jamaica, and amused myself that day: but on the 3d current an Earthquake happened at seven o'clock in the evening, with such force that the town of Jacquemelle is entirely destroyed; and we have had since, certain accounts that Port-au-Prince doth not exist, and that there is not a house standing. St. Marks, the Caye, the Cape and other ports, with the sugar and indigo works are all overthrown, and the different shakes are not now ended. The first shock was the most severe, and lasted nine minutes; with this, every fine building was thrown down; mountains tumbled; valleys are destroyed; and several persons have perished. We have not provisions of any kind, and this country is ruined for many years.
NEW-YORK August 16. A Letter from London mentions, "That the celebrated Historian, Mrs. Mac Aulay, (with a select party of her friends) was elegantly entertained on board the Ship Duchess of Gordon, Capt. Wynne, (belonging to New-York) the 7th of June.
By letters of the 14th ult. from Detroit, we are informed, that a French trader having been robbed by some Indians on an island within six miles of Mischilimackinac, thirty of the principal traders at that post, both English and French went in canoes, landed on the island, surrounded the huts, fired upon the Indians, shot one of them in several parts of the body, and then tomahawked him till dead, this affair, it is expected, will occasion great disturbance in those parts.
About four weeks since, Dougell Campbell, Esq; arrived here from South-Carolina, and soon after set out from hence for Canada, but a day or two after his arrival at Lake George, early in the morning he was seen to walk into the woods, and has not since been heard of.
By letters from London we are informed of the death of Robert Charles, Esq; Agent for this province, at the court of Great-Britain.
PROVIDENCE, August 18. The public Commencement in the College of colony will be held at this Place, the first Wednesday in September next.
HARTFORD, August 20. So extremely severe has been the drought in this and many of the neighbouring towns, that the standing crops are greatly threatened with being much cut short if not wholly destroyed. Many farmers have already cut up whole field of Indian corn for fodder, there being not the least prospect of its coming to any perfection.
B O S T O N.
It was yesterday reported here, that a vessel was arrived at Falmouth, Casco-Bay, from Ireland, which brought word that William Beckford, Esq; Lord-Mayor, Alderman and a member of Parliament for the city of London, lately died there; and that Barlow Trecothick, Esq; was elected Lord-Mayor in his room.