Imagens da página
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

next told, that he was given over by his phyficians. The news of this threw the British troops in Germany into a general, confternation; and we dare fay it gave great uneafinefs to all his countrymen in this ifland, who had any tolerable, in formation of his merit. Later accounts bore, that his father, the Duke of Rutland, had received advice of his being in a fair way of recovering.

With refpect to the evacuation of those places which belong to the King of Pruilia on the Lower Rhine, we give the follow ing articles verbatim from the public papers.

66

Nimeguen, Dec. 22. According to authentic advices received from Cleves, in fome of the territories which are to be evacuated by the French, and delivered up to the King of Prullia, the most exact capitulation hitherto obferved, is changed into the feverest treatment of the inhabitants; who, after having been plundered by the moft heavy contributions, have had a further sum of two millions de manded of them, being the remainder of what is due, purfuant to an agreement made between the flates of thofe provinces and the French court, and was to be complied with by the 1ft of May 1763. In anfwer to which it is alledged by Pruffa, that by the preliminary articles of peace concluded and ratified between G. Britain and France, thofe territories being to be evacuated and given up, fuch laim muit ceafe with the evacuation. At the fame time the French intendant is altogether of a different opinion; in con fequence of which, in the night between he 20th and 21st, he ordered a detach ment of two corps of volunteers which were yet in the province, to march to all the feveral places in Cleveland, which hey entered by feven next morning, feied the perfons of the magiftrates, and principal merchants and tradeimen, toether with their books, &c. and conucted them to Wefel. At the fame time heir houses were locked up, and a guard et at their feveral doors. This traniac

on has occafioned an inexpreflible conternation. Yesterday the French colonel Viomeuil waited on the regency of Cleves, acquaint them that he was commanded ʼn like manner to seize their persons, and onvey them to Wefel, which with great ifficulty they got poftponed till the morng, when at leven o'clock all the memers of the feveral colleges, together with ates-deputies, were conducted to Welel, uarded by a party of foo dragoons,"

[ocr errors][merged small]

Weselos Dec.1944 All the shoftages which the French have taken in this pros vince, as well as from Prutian Gueldres and the duchy of Mears, were brought hither yesterday; and fome hours fter! the Count de Pergen and Gen. Ketrier arrived on the part of the Empreis Queens A divifion of the Pruffian troops is factually under our walls; but the French feem to have orders to deliver up our keys to the Auftrians.

66

Dufeldorp, Dec. 26 Some companies of the Empress Queen's troops have al ready entered Gueldres "

Berlin, Dec. 21. It is just now reported, that Gen. Neuweid is gone from Naumburg with a confiderable corps, and that he is directing his march towards Weftphalia and the Lower Rhine."

66

Hague, Dec. 17. Several advices inform us, that a large body of Pruffians are on their march to come and take pof feflion of Wefel, Gueldres, and the coun➡ ty of Cleves. This corps will be reins forced by the greatest part of the British legion, and several other bodies of light troops which have been difcharged from the Allied army, and which, it is faid, are gone into the fervice of the King of Pruflia. Mean while it is prefumed, that the approach of theie Pruflians will be looked upon with an evil eye by this re public, where an uneafiness is already visible; but no body dares to open their mouths about it. From Bruffels we are informed, that every measure is taking in that country to oppofe the enterprises of the Pruffians, and to be beforehand with them; that in order to make head against them, orders have been received from Vienna to inlift all the men that are discharged from the troops of France; but that they are apprehenfive that all thefe fleps will prove too late."

"Aniflerdam, Dec. 21. It is certain that fonic powers have taken umbrage at the conduct of the King of Prullia, which may poflibly give occafion to a new al liance and a change of lyftem. It is ap prehended here that the body of Prudians who are marching to take poffethion of Cleves, will execute a coup de main as gainft a certain province of the republic on which the Pruffian monarch has long. had a defign; and also against the county of Horn, to which he makes claim. Mean while, we are informed, that 15,000 French who have been disbanded, - are gone into the fervice of the Emprefs. Queen, and are to join the troops in Bra

1

bantg

on

668 Circumstances that contributed to our fuccess in Cuba. Vol.xxiv.

C

D

bant, în order to take possession of Wefel and Cleves. It remains to be feen, whether they can be beforehand with the Prullians. The French may confiderably favour which they pleate by their manher of evacuating those places." 3M. Bompart, one of the FRENCH admirals, after an idle parade for three months, with eleven fail of the line, two frigates, and three chebecks, on the coafts of Sardinia, Tunis, and Malta, returned lately to Toulon, without taking, as we are informed, a fingle prize. Advices from ITALY bear, that near the lake of Como, between the Valteline and the country of the Grifons, a high mountain has tumbled down, and crushed to death upwards of 800 people who in habited a village at the foot of it. The village belonged to the Emprefs-Queen, As to affairs between the SPANIARDS and PORTUGUESE, letters from Madrid, of Dec. 9. fay, That the Spanifh army being in want of many neceflà ries, the Count d'Aranda had begun to diftribute it into winter-quarters on the confines of the frontiers. An article from Lisbon, of the 12th, is as follows. Upon the news of the fignature and ratification of the preliminary articles between G. Britain, France, and Spain, including Portugal, a ceflation of hoftilities between the refpective armies, has been agreed on, and published."

14

[ocr errors]

Our late fucceffes at CUBA were greatly promoted by the following circumstances.

Sir James Douglas, who had the command of the fquadron at Barbadoes and the Leeward iflands, as foon as he had received a letter from Capt. Johnflon, commander of the Hornet floop, at Lifbon, (which arrived in 23 days), in closing the King of Spain's manifefto, and informing him that all the English veflels were feized in the Spanith ports; he thinking that fufficient authority, on the 23d of January, gave orders to the mafter of the Dublin's tender, a fine floop of 10 guns and 60 men, (his own property), to commit hoftilities against Spain; who took and fent into Jamaica, the 12th of February, one of the King of Spain's packet-boats, who was carrying

shes to all the Spanish governors, which packet-boat a fortnight before had been spoke with by one of our men of war, and fuffered to país, they being a biftranger to the above. This lucky cap sture kept them from the knowledge of the transactions in Europe: a proof of

[ocr errors]

which was, that about the time that Sir George Pocock had got off the Havannah, Sir James Douglas received a flag of truce from the Governor of St Jago de Cuba, complaining to him of thes behaviour of the English privateers, and defiring to know if the two nations were at war or not; for he could affure him, that he had received no orders to commit any hoftilities, nor had he nitted out a fingle privateer. Commodore Douglas, in his way down to the relief of Jamaica, as foon as he was informed our iflands were in no danger, and that a convoy with 3000 troops and provisions, were expected from New York, under a weak efcort, (who, had they been intercepted by the fquadron át Cape Francois, it might have frustrated the expedition at the Havannah), he detached Capt. Hervey, with feven fail of the line, for their protection ; which bad alfo the good effect of keeping in that quad:on of seven sail of the line at Cape Francois, who, according to undoubted intelligence received by the faid officer, were to have taken the troops they brought from France with them, and joined the Spanish fquàdron at the Havannah, which then would have confifted of nineteen sail of the line, a force fuperior to Sir George Pocock's. The Commodore was alfo the means of our fleet's getting fafe through the Old Straits of Bahama,, without the least accident; for as the Bonetta arrived at Jamaica the 15th of April, with ten pilots, who were to conduct the fleet of men of war and merchant-fhips through that unknown paffage, he fent for and examined them, and found they were entirely ignorant, forced on board at Providence, all the good pilots being fuffered to go on board the privateers; he therefore fent the Richmond, and a small floop, with fome of the moft intelligent of them, to go down that paffage, and come up again, to take every measure they could think of, to make themselves acquainted, by taking the bearings and diftance of the head-lands and islands-foundings, and to come to an anchor at night, if he thought proper: he particularly recommended to Capt. Elphinfton, when he came off Pariaco, the east end of the island, to fend the floop in to endeavour to take fome of their pilots, as that was the place where the Spanish men of war always touch at to take in their pilots when they go down; all which orders Elphinston executed; took one of the King's pilots, and

met

Dec 1707. A failor's account of the operations at the Havannah. 669

met Sir George Pocock, the day before they were to enter that difficult paffage, How neceffary that precaution was of his, we have been convinced of fince; for the Chesterfield and four of the transports with troops from North America for the army, were loft the end of July, in their paffage down. After Mr Douglas had joined Sir George Pocock with his fquadron from Jamaica off Cape Nichola, he was fent back by him to forward every thing the ifland of Jamaica was to furnish. Agreeable thereto he took up and fitted out tranfports to carry the 2000 negroes and provifions for the fleet and army, and when he had joined him again at the Havannah the 12th of July, being informed that our army lay under the greatest difficul. ties for want of earth to make their approaches and batteries against the Moro caftle, he acquainted Lord Albemarle, that the merchant-fhips under his convoy had a number of cotton-bags on board, which would not only ferve for the above purpofes, but likewife fill up the ditch, whenever he fhould think it proper to ftorm that fort, they being about feven feet long, and near three feet high. On his Lordhip's approving of this thought, there were immediately landed 600 bags. The following two letters, from a fail

*

or at the Havannah, to his friend at London, are entertaining.

LETTER I.
Honoured Friend and Meffmate,

Thi
His comes to let you know as how we
dun't. Howfomdever, I'll tell you
all how it happened, from our going
through the straits of Bahama, the Old
Straits I mean; which we did as clean, as
ever boat went through bridge. Then
we made two small forts to the eastward
of the Havannah, and brought to. Then
with twelve fhips of the line and fome
frigates, our admiral bore away to block
up their harbour.

As Will Trip and I were in the longboat, with our captain, to overhawl what the Dons were doing with their fhips, a fix-pounder took our boat a broadfide, and ftove her to pieces, and made us fall to fwiming like fo many puppies in a horle-pond- Nobody was hurt though, for all the Spaniards pelted us, while we were in the water, with finall and great fhot, just as you and I used to fhoot at files; except that I loft my pouch, as our boat went over.

The Mercury and another frigate went

against one of the forts that had fired at us, and foon gave them their belly full and the Dragon came up against t'other, and with three or four broadfides, un hip ped all the Dons guns, and away the Ne gers and Spaniards run, making their legs make all the fail they could, to get out of the reach of our upper tier.

Well, we got our landmen on fhore, and the foldiers did fcour about, ftarboard and larboard all along the coast, and the Dous that were to defend the births they were ftationed at, fcampered off, making all the way, they could from our folks just as we have feen the black guards in Moorfields run away from the conftables.

I fhould have told you before, that going to lie on the Cayo Sal Bank, the Alarm and Echo made a fignal for feeing five fail on the N. W. quarter. We came up with the Spaniards, engaged and took the Thetis, a Spanith frigate of 22 guns, 180 men, and the Phoenix armed ftorefhip, 18 guns, 75 men. A brig and two fchooners were with them. One of the fchooners we fancy was manned with Frenchmen, because the ran away after the first gun firing.- A burnt child dreads the fire, you know, and faith Monfeers have been well peppered by us, for that matter; and I fancy Jack Spaniard will grow foon as fick of faying any thing to us, in the broadfide-way, as the French folks are.

There were fourteen or fifteen large Spanish men of war in the harbour; them we had blocked up with fome of our fleet fo fnug, that they were as fafe as a fellow with his feet in the bilbows.

There was a blunder made about the Sterling caftle; but mum, we failors, do you fee, have fomething else to mind than find fault; we leave that for the landmen, who have nothing else to do than ftay at home, and run foul of oneanother with hard words, because they pretend t'other fide don't know how to keep a good reckoning.

But I know nought of politics; howfondever, hot work we had on't, when the Cambridge, the Dragon, and the Marlborough, went against the Moro.

To be fure fome folks can't bear the head-ach, and if a ball is put into their heads, how fhall they get it out again, they think; fo they chufe to keep out of harm's way, or fo.

[ocr errors]

The devil of a drubbing the Dons lid give us that day, the cattle was fo high that they brought every gun they pleased

to

670

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

1910 o on Your's, and all friends, ¿ P. SI If I'm dead, do you fee, don't expect a letter.

A failor's account of the operations at the at the Havannah, Vol. xxiv, to bear upon and Por I mought make one a were forced to be ordered off to salus niong them and he gave me his word I adt fuck devilishly in our stomachs that should; and in my next, if I am alive, We were obliged to leave our station buts Ihtell you how I've come off if you'd feen the three hips, they lookeds like the fighs of Rotten mow we had hardly a yard of ftanding or running rigging left, but what was fhot to pieces, and feemed like old oakuin; our decks and hulls were like honey combs, like rocks full of rat-holes; and all our yards and mats were fhivered, fplintered and Liced in fuch a manner, that they were only fit to be bundled up for chips, and Hove athwart a day labourer's fhoulders, as he comes home at noon out of the dock yard.

We took a frigate of 26 guns, and one of 18 guns; but I wish you had feen our folks iet to at the Moro. We were or dered to bring different pieces of artille ry afhore, for now and then we got five or fix minutes to have a knock or two at Jack Spaniard.

We had fine fun, until one of our beft land-batteries took fire, and then down came the Dons, as much as to fay, Now the English are all hands employed to put the fire out; we can knock 'm o' the head; but avaft that blow.

As foon as they came down, our men clapped to with the Dons; fo the Spaniards about hip with themselves, and turned their backs upon our people, be fore I could drink a point of grog offSo all they got by our battery being on fire, was to run away by the light on't. : Never fince I was along with Adm. Hawke there with the Breft fleet, have I feen fuch finart work. Granades, bombs, balls, and fuch like pick-teeth pellets, go about as plenty as apples in a cyder-country; but I don't believe every body thinks they are fo relishing.

They talk about ftorming the Moro in a day or two, and I have got leave to be at it, because you must know I happened to fave a land captain of the general's, who could not fwim: he fell overboard, and I jumped in, and got him out; fo he told our commander, and I was ordered into our ftate-room, and the gentleman would have given me his purie, but I would not, take it, becaufe, as I told him, I came there to get money of our enemies, and not take it from our friends; so our commander told me, any thing I asked in reaton I fould bave. So then I asked him to let me go and fee our folks grapple with the More, when they ftorm

LETTER II.

Friend Tom,

Suppole as how you know we've done for the Dons, and fhipped ourselves on board the Havannah, and we have taken as fine a parcel of Spanish thips as ever cut through falt water. I got leave to kee our land-folks (as I told you in my other pacquet) ftorm the Moro, and a pretty piece of tight service it was while it lafted. There was a high rock for us Eng lifh to clamber first and foremost, and the ladder which I and Will Jones had flow ed ourselves on, broke, and overboard we went down the rock again, and there was a Spanish twenty four pounder came rowling after us no harm done how ever.

1

Well, we got up again, fo made a tack a little more to the fouthward, and clap ped ourselves upon our hands and knees, and made fail up the rock that way; and when we came up to the walls, our people were at it, faith, yard-arm and yard-arm, alongside the Spaniards, and they were having the Dons whikers," with the edges of their bavonets; and Will Jones and I came in for a flice or two of the curled locks of their cheeks with our cutlaffes.

Howfomdever, give the Dons their dde, they stood a good drubbing, that they did; and for my part I love folks that will give and take a bellyfull. I never faw better fport for the time it lafted, nor more bullets put about in fo fmall a place in all my life.

When our foldiers had drove the feniors from the hole in the wall, (the breach I think they call it), away our men lanch ed into the caftie, and we too with them, all helter kelter, like people going to les a show at fair-time. We ran foul of good many Spaniards in our hurry, bat they didn't get out of our way, fo we o vertet then.

[ocr errors]

I was forry for the commodore of the castle, 'caufe he was a brave fellow; bồ ball came aboard of him, under the lar board fide of his breaft, and clapped a flop. per upon his commitlion, before one could lay Jack Robinson,

[ocr errors]

uxx do 2f9d1 ts angutarego adi to impoops a volity & Dec. 1762. A failor's account of the operations at the Havannah.

It's all fortune of war, you know, and we must die in peaceable times pfo there's nothing in it that I can fees: Asyfor my part, fince we must all one time or other bear away for death's harbour, as Ronly. wait for failing orders, I never mind when it is, and no more value making that voyage, nor I do firing at a Frenchman. This life is no more than a large river, where we float like fo many cock boats, and upon which the tide of our fortunes car ries us backwards and forwards, and the ftorms of our pallions toffes us about in ita I hear as how, that if fome of your gentlefolks at home don't think much as bout keeping the Havannah. God blefs his Majesty King George and her Majety; but, if they have a better place, or fo good a one for the good of Old England, I'll be content to be kept at fhort allowance all my life afterwards.

[ocr errors]

Why man, 'tis the Spaniards fheet-anchor, and they who have the Havannah, and a good fleet of ships in the harbour there, have more command of Mexico and Peru, than those who are at Gibraltar, bave of the Mediterranean.

I'll tell you what the inhabitants fay here, that can jabber a little English, that they are fure we fhall give up this place again, because we can fend home. better commodities, and much cheaper from Cuba, than from any of our Leeward iflands; and old standards don't care to have young tradeimen, who can deal in better goods, and at lefs price, come into their neighbourhood.

We have got a fort of talk here, as how a peace is upon the stocks, and that fome duke is to land in England, one Mr Naverno; but our boatswain says, that if we don't take care, the French will fling us at laft; becaufe, though we can fight better than they, we can't palaver so well; and fo to be fure we must give them one place, because it will how our breeding; and another place, because they say they want it; and another place, because they fhan't say we are ill-natured; and fo we are to be tolled about like a fhip at fea without ballaft..

Howfomdever, we have got fo many places now, thank God, that the devil's in it, if they get them all back again, unlefs they can bully us out of our fpirit, or jaw us out of our fenfes,

So no more at prefent, but I reft and remain your's and Old England's friend, and God blefs their Majesties once more, and all the royal family, not forgetting

[ocr errors]

the Duke of Cumberland they fay this
was his king, and he has fent as fine
a parceb of officers here, general and ally
as ever put fcarlet coat ond gest bluov
Nay, for that matter four admirals and
captains (except one mum for that) are
as good, and they do agrée, and pre
grappled together in good fellowthip like
chain-fhot; and therefore fay the devil
can't beat them. For my part, I am all
for the good of Old England, and hope
fhe's well navigated now. I'm fure we do
our duties here; and if your what-do-you
call them folks don't do as much at home,
that's no fault of ours, you know.
don't understand your land-voyaging, not
I; I am forry to hear as how you have
fo many variations at the helm, as you
have. But for all that, I would fooner
lofe a month's pay than ever Old England
fhould part with the Havannah: we that
are upon the pot know what fort of a
place it is; and if you did but know half
fo well, the city of London would footer
let St Pole's church be pulled to pieces to
build Black Fryars bridge, than ever gi
their confent to let the Dons have it a-
gain.

So no more at prefent; only I must tell you, that Will. Hempfeed, who got Goody Grant's daughter with child, has had his leg fhivered by a splinter, but our doctor has fpliced it.

Tell our Nan, I got a watch for her, that is the fame thing that gentlefolks fling by their fides to keep a day's reckon ing with; and Tom Logboard defires his love and friend/hip to the fat widow Bacon, at the Crooked Billet; and fays, as how that if fo be he lives to come home, and the parlon will grapple them, he'll ftow aboard the fame birth with her.

ENGLAND.

The preliminary articles of peace were taken under the confideration of parlia ment on Thursday Dec. 9. Both houfes were very full. Many were in the house of Commons by eight o'clock in the morning, and the houfe did not rife till twelve at night. All the peace-officers: of Westminster attended, to prevent difturbance.The debates were warn in both houfes.It is faid, that, in thel houfe of Lords, the Duke of Ne was ftrong against approving of the peace, but urged few arguments of any weight that the Duke of Gn thundered against it, and, in the courle of hig fpeech, threw out for.e warm expreffions

again.t

[ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »