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. Hfy tiirif ‘Hciu-Yori, March 1, J72T.
jjtN a letter of fbe 24th of February (which was sent po
X England by the Adventure brig, and of which a dupli
cate it transmitted herewith) I had the honour of giving
your Lordfliip all the information I could with propriety do
ry such an uncertain conveyance.] I therein told your
Lordlhip that the picket waited only for the Admiral's
dlfpatches for Europe. But circumftar/bfcj begarf to a flu me
such, an .appearance at the time of their arrival that I
(thought it proper to detain her a.llttle longer, in hopes of
4eing able to jgive your Lordlhip a clearer detail of events
{which (eemed to promise the moft important confcquen
tes) than waa then in my power to do.
On the l6th ult. I received information from Vice Ad-.
%Ki{l AfHuthnot that the French fleet at Rhode Island
Were all ready for failing, fuppefed for the Chefapeak, and
that a number of troops were embarked in transports to ac
company them. 1 immediately upon this hire&ed a large
proportion of tfcops, moft of them the elite of the army,
to be ready at a moment’s warning to embark with Major
{Sen. Phillips; under such convoy as the Vice Admiral
Ihould think proper to appoint. .Though I mud, at the
fame time, eorifefs to your Lor llliip, that I then imagined
their olyett to be an attack of pur fleet in Gardiner’s Bay,
in its weak state, from the eritire loss of one 74, the ab
sence of one flrip of the line and f a 50, and another 74
difmafted ; -and i was the more inclined to form this opi
nion (which I had also given to the Admiral) from the re
bels having made no movements whatsoever in their camp
which indicated any intention of detaching to the foutli-’
ward.’
- I was, however, on the ipth, alarmed by information
from Brigadier Gen. Arnold, dated the 14th, that a
French 64 and two frigates blocked up the Chefipeak, and
“Bad placed themfeives in a situation to favour a co opera
tion against our post at Portsmouth. 1 dispatched this in
telligence to the- Admiral without dejay, but I nm apore
henfive that he had no certain information of these lhips
being part of the Rhode 1 fland fipnrdfdil until the nil,,
though they failed - .from tbence the oth, as he fugvefted to
me nothing of such a movement before his letter of that
date,(which was only two dnfs before their return thither
with the Romulus man of war, which they had taken at
the entrance of the Chefapeak) clfc I am persuaded the
Admiral would have sent to Virginia an adequate detach
ment from his-fleet, which was now become more re
fpeffable by its being rejoined by the two mifiiflg lhips, .utid
the Bedard’s having got iri her jury marts. ‘
” - ‘Mpxcpf.
x ebef General Wa/hington tad made a confiderabk detach
jnent to the southward under the Marquis de Fayette,
clearly marking-an intention of either attempting some
thing against our ports on Elizabeth river, or reinforcing
the'army under the rebel General Green. Os this I like
wise sent immediate notice t®_Vice Admiral Arbuthnc-|
and (though I had indeed taken for granted he had already
detached a proper number of (hips to clear the Chefapeak)
futtmitting to him, if he had not-done it, the propriety of
doing it diredtly.
March 4. I now immediately embarked the troops
destined for this service, and I djretted them to be placed
in a situation from whence they might proceed to sea at a
moment’s notice, Having reason every hour to expeft the
Admiral’s appearing with his squadron to effort them, e- ’
specially as I had just received a letter from him, dated
the id, to that effeft, and acquainting me that he had
that mofning received undoubted intelligence that jooo
French troop - embarked the 25th, to which more wtre to
be added, arvd that they were supposed to have failed for
the Chefapeak on the 27th.
On the 7th I received another letter from the Admiral,
dated the 4th, faying, “ He would move immediately with
4t the lhips, fending a frigate to reconnoitre Rhode’ Island
“ in parting, and regulate his meafurrs, with refpe£> to
** calling off the Hook , by what is difeovered there; and
4i that he had ordered the Richmond, Orpheus, and Sa
** vage, to proceed with the reinforcement, in case he
** Jhould net call off the Hook.”
From these letters I was induced to expeft that I rtiould
either-fee or hear from the Admirabbefore the expedition
moved from hence; but, by his orders to the naval com
manding officer in this port, (of the fame date, and sent,
1 suppose, at the fame time with his letter to me of the
4th) u diredling him to proceed with the transports to
“ the Chefapeak’ with all possible expedition, and, if l se
** dined fending any reinforcement tcr Virginta, requir
“ ing him pofitrucly to join the Admiral in the Chef apeak
•* xtntb all possible difpateb,” it Ceemcd to appear that the
Admiral was already failed to that Bay. Capt. Hudson,
who commanded the King’s lhips, Underftond this also -as
a pofitive order for him to proceed immediately • I however
thought It Angular that Capt. Hudson Ihould receive from
the Admiral such positive orders to fail immediately to
the Chefapeak, when his letter to me of the fame date
(recapitulating these orders) only fays, that he is direffed
to do so, hi case tie Admiral does net call off the Hcok.
Having therefore no means of afeertaining whether the
Admiral was gone to the Chefapeak or no, or whether he
had twti failed front CafdlnotV Bay, or g e
whole or shy part of the French fleet had moved from
Rhode Island to the Chpfapeak, ithought it right to fub
jnit to Capt. Hudson the propriety of flaying a little longer
in expedition of this matter being cleared up, either by
the Admiral’s appearance off the Hook, or at least a mes
sage from him declaratory of his intention;, as, during our
fcrefent uncertainty, I did not think it advifeable to let the
troops go before I heard again from the Admiral, with
Vhich he was so obliging as to aequieffc. # .
I i&mcdiatety after this wrote again to the Admiral,
Informing him that the expedition to the Chefapeak only
waited for his orders, and earnestly requesting that he
#ould, without loss of time, favour me with his pftive
advice refpe fling this very Jerioks and inter effing fvbjctt ;
because, as long as I had reason, from his information, to
suppose that part of the French fleet were gone to the
Chefapeak, I could not think of riflting such a corps of
troops under the convoy of only two frigates, unless ] was
allured that he was in a situation to cover them.
March it. Soon after this letter was dispatched infor
mation arrived from Brigadier Gen. Arnold, dated the
Sth, that the Chefapeak was entirely clear of a French
naval force. By which, being persuaded th|t the report
of one having failed thither from Rhode Iflandon the 27 th
ult. was not founded, I did not hesitate a moment to give
it to Capt. Hudson as my opinion, That the expedition
ihould fail, without loss of time, under the convoy the
Admiral had allotted for it; fuggerting jo him, at the
fame time, whether he had net better take with him all
the King’s lhips now here, or which he aiight sass in with
on his paflage, I was alio more ftrongfy confirmed in. this
Opinion by a letter I received from the Admiral, dated the
Bth, informing me, “ That in confequencc of undoubted
“ intelligence received at two oklock that afternoon that
the French fleet and troops are evacuating Newport with
“ greatest expedition, and that their deftinution is
“ certainly for Virginia.”
Matib 14. , Tfiii day a letter, dated the Ttth, at sea,
was brought to me from the Admiral by the Halifax Hoop
of war, Capt. Bowers, who fortunately fell in with him
off* Montdck Point the loth instant; in addition to v. hat
the Admiral fays,.Capt. ’ Bowers informs’ me, that the
whole French fleet failed from Newport on the Brh inst.
lam not without hopes, that/ a$ the Admiral is dear of
all incumbrances, notwithftandinq they had t,wa days rtait
of him, he will overtake them before they get the-length
of the Chefapeak, should that be really their deiffnatiop.
But, Ihould the Vice Admiral be so fortifnate to overtake
- the French fleet before they reach the Chefapeak, I have
every hope of his success which so fine a fleet and the abili
ties of its Commander can give me.
From Brigadier Gen. Arnold’s letters to me your Lord
/hip Will perceive he is under no apprehensions of any sud
den misfortune; and, with refped to the rebel troops
marched to the ffuthward under Favette, I have no doubt
thdr progVefs (at lead by water) wi?i be impeded, if the
ofcitr commanding the King’s lhips in the Chefapeak has
availed himfelf of the information I have sent him-; nor
do I think they can arrive near our posts bcfof&ojfe 20th
at soonest. The reinforcement under Gen. Phillips wafts
only for a wi.nl so go to sea. I wiih itxould have been
stronger, l>ut I have not another transport left, thofc sent
to Virginia with Gen. Arnold remaining (fill there, I
suppose for want of convoy to bring them back. .
. The best Hi format ton which my fate letters from the
southward, and intelligence frdm’ the rebel country, en
able me to give.your Lordrtiip, refpe<ffiing Lord Cornwal
lis’s situation, is, toeing forced the passage j>f the
Catawba, and difpemd the militia who opposed him, his
Lordlhip had penetrated into North; Carolina as fat as
Ililllborough, driving before him Gens. Green and Mor
gan, who (led towards Virginia with the utmost precipita
tion. And Gen. Arnold’s late diffyuches give me reason
to think that his'Lotdihip has even'reached the bahks of
the Roanoke..
My Lord,
I HAVE, the honour fn inform your Lordlhip that the.
: convoy to ?.f ajor n. Philllßs!fapeditlan, hay ing-We h
Admiral Afbuihti^Ca-
Jers, Tailed tor the Chefipeak on the 20th inst. but n
---ti ary winds'having detained the packet for fome days, t
di i not think it proper to fend her after the wind came
fur, as.l was in hourly expcdlation of hearing from the
Admiral something very inte/efting. - ‘• -
giving therefore reccivtd yesterday a letirr from
informing me oflns haung come up -with the French fleet
off the Capes of Virginia, and engaged them ®n the 16th
mft. I have the honour to fend your Lordlhip a copy of his
letter herewith; 1
I free rely wilh that this aion had fortunately bee iT
moredecifive than it appears to be ; butif the French have
been picvented by it from e'ltabiiibing themfeives in the’
Chefapeak a very is ccitainly gained.
I
LONDON, April 11.
r l 1 HE merchants of.France have been very ua-
A fortunate in Jofing Ceveral of their finelt pri -
vateers. from 44 to 2 3 guns, on the home Nation.
The lifts of St. Maloes give the loss of one of 44,
tvvo of 36, and four of 30 guns. Havre de Grace,
four of 36, three of 32, and three of 28 guns.
Breli, two of 36guns. Bayonne, one of 32, and
two of 28 guns. Dunkirk, one of 30, and one
of 28 guns. T otal, 24.
The new (hip Le M ijefteux, a firft rate of i r 2
guns, lately come round to Brest from Toulon, is,
upon infpedion,'found to be in so bad a condition’
by her running on ftiore, lofmg herfalfe keel, lost c r
marts, Sec. Sec. and other that Ihe muit
‘undergo a very long repair before (lie will be fit to
join the fleet. She will be of no service to the navy
this year.
--Thc Lady Howe pnvafeer, of DaFtmouth, has
taken and sent into that port a Dutch Well India
man worth 2^,#001.
Anew regulation has been introduced into the
army, in consequence of which every officer absent
from his regiment, in case of a vacancy, loses iris
turn oi promotion;;, 7 lie Captain Lieutenant of a
regiment in the island of Jersey has iately loft a-step
in conformity to this Order, but his charafler and
Services having endeared him to his corps/ all the
officers (except the Colonel) have signed a memo,
rial to Lord Amheift in his favour.
April 14. A private letter from Petelfburgh
fays, “ Provisions and stores for 12 lhips of the
line, and fmallcr lhips of war, for four;months sea
service, are ordered to be got in readiness by the
mrddlp.of May, which will be under the command
of Admiral Greig. Whether they are for the as
sistance of Great Britain or not wc cannot vouch, 0
but generally believe they are.’*
April 18. The fleet of observation now form
ing at Spithead is to consist of 20 capital lhips, in
cluding the Vidlory, a firft rate, which are order
ed to be-compleated by the firft of next month.
April 19. Several private letters were received
in town yellerday which positively confirm the re
port-that was current on Tuesday of the death of
Dr. Franklin. These letters particularly mention
his having died at Paris on the of this month,
in a very advanced age.
A letter from Kris by yesterday’s mail fays,
“ M. Manfppas had, on the 7th inst. a conference
at the? State Chambers with the Jhitch,•” Srvedifh,
Daniffi, Ki Spamih Mmiuers, upon the of
the ditpatclie? received f cm their rtfpeAiSe r
at the breaking Up cf which it was confid clH ] y 1
pbrtAl that the Dutch Mini Her had declared th) P
the States had accepted the efrers of medial
from the Courts of Petersburg and Vienna for ■■
>peace with Knghmd.” -* 1
April i(. Orders are given for ten fail I
of war to be in readineis for failing on U)firft? I
tice, as a reinforcement to Admiral Darby’s I
on his return from Gibraltar, which is to I
fleet of observation. * I
The Ruffian Ambaflador at the Court of 1
failles had a private audience of the King on fli I
Bth inst. and the only person present w;th therrf I
was MaurCpas. The coafultation is laid to halx I
ended in a maimet ways latisfadorv to i,i 1
Lxcellency. ? 7 * I
April’ 23. A letter from Paris, dated the le tV I
ihfiani!, lays, “ M. Neckar s plan for raising money I
by way of annuities is annihilated, as the merch I
ants were very averse to the Icheme, thinking I
was for ho other purpose than raising money tj. I
really was) for the use of Coii^rCfi.” |
„ The Sifters privateer td 1 /verpool Has carriH I
into’ Beaumaris the Dorothea Catharina', Brandti I
Dutch ffiipcf 240-tons, from St. Bulkina, botwl I
to She is a valuable prize, bein* I
laden with fugai, cotton, and. indigo; also the I
Ferret, a French snow from Natitz lor Mauinico I
With difp itchei; the letters, however, were throiva I
(jtftrbo iid and funk. 1
Ext’a Sl'of a letter from Edinburgh, April 18. I
“ Yellerday morning, about two o'clock, (he I
J Berwick man of war, ar and Belle Poule frigate, f 0U f 1
rndes of Sr. Abb’s Head, fell in with 1 e Ca 10.4 ,1
pr.vateer, of Dunkirk, (formerly the ‘Far tar) the I
noted l.uke Ryan comm inder, mounting 32 gmuJ
and 230 men, The privateer having in the dark!
miftiken the Berwick for a Greenland lhip
her. to bring to,^anri„fi'frd. feyerf]
Wick’s lower poits were opened they endeavoured
by .crowding fail to make eff, at the fame time
cutting adrift a boat, with a Lieutenant and ij
men, which was lying at the stern, for the purpose
<if boarding the fupipofcd Greenlandman ; having
fliot ahead of the Berwick, the Beile Houle gave
chafe, and engaged her 45 minutes, until the Bcr
vyck came up, when fti-. struck at half pall eight
A. M. The privateer had one man killed and two
wounded, the Berwick one man wounded, and
the Bello Poule none in she lealt burr. Ryan had
been only five.days from Dunkirk, and hnd ralcc,
a Ihort time before he fell in with the above fhipi,
the Nancy of Aberdeen, Ram fay, bound for New’
calUe, and ransomed her for 300 guineas.
“ We are informed that this celebrated depre.' 1
dator behaved with grear intrepidiry. He is noW
on board the Belle Poule, and at liberty to walk
the deck; but,Til! her at rival in the Roads, hew*j
kept in irons. The crew are a mixture of French,
\an:;;es, Scotch, Jrifli, and one Dutchman, who
was pilot.”
April Jo. Three thotjfand troops are ordered
for embarkation in thepitfent outward bound fleet
for the East Indie*.
It is computed that tv/oTrr three capital Dutch
houles in the city have executed foreign commiflh
in purchasing of funds, to the amount of
300,000!. within the lift fortnight.
Ecay 2. Several private letters from the Hague
mention that affairs are likely to tske anew turn ift
Holland, ar.d that the arts of France will probably
turn out as unfortunate as her arni3.
By the fame channel there is account that the
Count de Welderen, who was lately AmbafT.idur
to the C.ourt of London, was on the point of fet
tmg off on an impoitant embafly for Vienna.
i he Hound man of war from Pensacola is arrir
ed a^Cork.
Remain at the Mother Bank and Stokcsßay,
the New-York and Quebedk’ fleets/ waiting tB
the Court Martial of Capt. G. is over before chef
can fail.” ‘
May 5. Sir Joffph Yorke is not yet set out for
the continent, neither is it certain what day he will
take his departure; moft likely a patent of Peeragfc
will forerun that event.
A letter from a gentleman in the fuiie of thfc
ImperaFMiniitcr at Paris fays,*. “ The Emperor
is moft certainly iucreafing his army,, foot and
hone, to nearly the fame complement as it was in
the lall war, yet every letter we receive mentions
hts auguil wifti to re establish peace to all the belli
gerent powers, and speaks of Great Britain as an
envied and much injured nation.”
Advi( * ‘ s re ceived by an express from Aberdeen
that a large Dutch Weft India fliip, called the
Vrow Eyendenhdven, from the Weft Indies, but
hft from Lisbon to Amllerdam, is taken by the
Gordon privateer, Capt. Hamilton, and brought
in there. She came north about, in order to cf
cape the men of war and privateers.
Phe Conqueror privateer of Jersey has taken the
GreenheiiJ, Padack, from Curaffoa to Amllerdam,
reported worth . 8,0001. The Conqueror has
omy fix gu-is and 35 men. . -
PR 2 5 Se Enterfriz? privateer, of