taxes, until the first day of June next. That they be received until the firft day of June next, into the continental loan offices, either on loan, or to be exchanged, at the election of the owners, for other bills of the like tenor, to be provided for that purpose.

That the bills lodged in the faid offites to be fo exchanged, be there regi. ttered, and indented certificates thereof given to the owners by the refpective commiffioners of the said offices.

That the commiffioners of the loanofces make returns to the treafury. board, immediately after the 1ft day of June next, of the amount of the bills received into their respective offices to be exchanged as aforefaid; and that proper bills to exchange the fame be furnished, and ready to be delivered out at their faid offices within fixty days from and after the faid 1ft day of June. That the firft-mentioned bills, as they are brought into the treafuries and loanoffices, be immediately croffed, and ftruck through with a circular punch of one inch diameter, to be afterwards examined, and burned, as Congress shall direct. [40.298.] CHARLES THOMSON, Sec." In confequence of fome letters that had paffed between Sir Henry Clinton ad Gen. Washington for the exchange of prifoners, a meeting was held at Perth Amboy, on the 11th of December laft, between Cols O Hara and Hyde on the part of the King's troops, and Lt-Cols Harrison and Hamilton on the part of the Americans; which however proved ineffectual. On the return of the commiffioners, the officers out on their parole were ordered to be called in on both fides.

DECLARATION.

Whereas the loyal refugees from the province of Maffachufet's-bay, and other loyalifts, have fuffered many injuries and indignities from rebels in general; and particularly by two inhuman atts of the ufurped government of that province, by one of which our proper ty is feized, and confifcated, for the exprefs purpose of fupporting and main taining the prefert rebellion, and by the other our perfons are profcribed, and for ever banished from our native land, never to return nder penalty of death; influenced by motives of loyalty, zeaous for the good of his Majesty's ferThy and actuated by the olduft Luw of

nature, we apprehend ourfelves fully juftified by the laws of God and man, in making retaliations and reprifals. We, therefore, the faid refugees and other loyalifts, do hereby declare ourfelves the avowed enemies to, and that we will from this time commence and carry on hoftilities againft, the rebels and their adherents, that are in oppofition to our Sovereign Lord the King, his laws and government. It is not our intention or defign to involve the innocent with the guilty; therefore, in any expedition or defcent upon the rebels, if, through mistake, any peaceful loyal fubject's property fhould be injured, the directors of this affociation engage to make good fuch damage; and they hereby offer all fincere friends to government, who are difpofed to join, a full participation of all privileges, benefits, and advantages, that have or may be conferred on this determined band of loyal affociators.

In behalf of the directors, I pledge my faith and honour for the performGEO. LEONARD.

ance of the above articles.

Newport, Jan. 18. 1779.

The Marquis de la Fayette, with Cap. tain de Barras and the Chevalier de Raimondis, embarked at Boston, on the 7th of January, on board the Alliance frigate, in order, as it is given out, to make reprefentations to his court in favour of the United States. He carried with him fresh inftructions to Dr Franklin, with orders from the Congress to prefent the Marquis with an elegant fword fet with diamonds.

A letter, dated, Fort Royal, in Martinico, gives the following account. [85.]

"The King's fquadron, under the command of Count d'Ettaign, Vice-Admiral of France, left Bofton the 4th of November, and arrived the 8th of December at Fort Royal in Martinico.

that on the 12th ten English regiments, The 14th they learned at Fort Royal, under the command of Gen. Grant, had cover of feven fhips of war, commanded landed on the island of St Lucia, under by Adm. Barrington.

The Count d'Eftaign immediately or dered 4500 foldiers and about 1cco volunteers to embark on board his fquadron, and got under fail to go and attack the enemy, and retake St Lucia ; where he arrived the 15th.

The English fquadron was fationed in
T 2

the great Cul-de-Sac of the island, protected by the batteries erected on the fhore: the fituation of the coaft added ftrength to its pofition; and the wind failing, it was impoffible to attack it with any advantage.

The troops landed; but the works which had been erected for the defence of the island, being occupied by the Eng, lifh, they could not poffibly diflodge them. The 18th, there were two fharp engagements between the King's troops and the English. In the first, the French carried a redoubt; but the want of ammunition, which had got wet during the march of troops through a continual rain, put an end to this bufinefs; in which the grenadiers and chaffeurs have merited the greateft applaufe.

The fuperior officers fucceeded in forming feveral corps at the entrance of a wood, with fearce any fpace, under the fire of musketry from an eminence, and of a numerous field-artillery, and of feveral pieces of heavy cannon, loaded with bits of old iron and nails, which made a dreadful havock.

The King's troops stood this fire with great courage. This fecond action lasted three hours; and the French retired to the distance of half cannon-fhot of the enemy; who did not pursue them. The retreat was made in the greateft order, and the troops were re-embarked.

The French have loft five officers and 167 fubalterns and foldiers; the number of officers wounded is 32, and that of the fubalterns and foldiers 442. We know not the enemy's lofs.

The King's fquadron put into Fort Royal in Martinico the 29th; the thips are all in the beft condition.

The island of St Lucia capitulated after the departure of the fquadron; the garrifon confifted of roo nien.

Gen. Grant and Adm. Barrington remain in the fame pofition at St Lucia.

On the return of the fquadron, the frigate l'Iphigenie, commanded by the Count de Kerfaint, took the Ceres, an English thip of eighteen guns, sheathed with copper."

"St Christopher's, Jan. 9. On Wednefday, Dec. 16. Count d'Eftaign, with thirteen fhips of the line, two forty-gun fhips and eight frigates, after having the politenefs to fend in terms of furrender to the British commander, (which he had the rudeness to reject, by drawing is pen through the whole), made his

difpofition to attack, with the bloody flag at the main-top-maft-head; which manoeuvre, inftead of damping the fpirits of the British tars, kindled in them a moft lion-like rage. The engagement commenced about fun-rise, and continued with unabating ardour to eleven o'clock a. m. The Prince of Wales was to appearance one continued flame the whole time, from her inceffant fi ring, having fuftained the heaviest force of the French artillery; but fustained it victoriously. Never, in the annals o the British naval hiftory, was any action hotter, or more defperately fought; an when the disparity of ftrength is confi dered, never were laurels, honour, ant fame, more nobly won, or better be ftowed, than on the valiant and intrepi Barrington."

An officer on board Adm. Barring ton's fleet, in a letter, dated, St Luck Jan. 1. fays, "From the 15th of la month till very lately, not an officer i the fleet has feen a bed; but have bee obliged to lie on the bare deck or a quarters, with no other covering ove their heads than the canopy of heaver and a superior enemy lying in fight a anchor not four miles diftant."

EAST INDIE S.

A letter from Maj. Gen. Munro to the Vi count Weymouth.

"Pondicherry, Оa. 27. 1778. My LORD,

I hav

I have the honour to inform yot Lordship of the fuccefs of the Eaft-Indi company's troops against Pondicherry after a fiege of two months and ten day from the first invefting of the place. Th town furrendered by capitulation on th 17th of October, and I have fent here with the terms of capitulation. to requeft your Lordship will be pleafs to lay them before his Majefty; and a I have been, so fortunate as to have had the honour of commanding troops that have reduced a place of such confequence to the British fettlements in India, my utmoft with now is, to have his Majefty's approbation of my conduct. As your Lordship may wish to be informed of the operations of the troops during the fiege, I have the honour to fend you the following account.

On the 8th of Auguft, part of the troops intended for the fiege, encamped on the Red Hill, within four miles of Pondicherry;

Pondicherry; but it was the 21ft before a fufficient number of troops were affembled fo that we could attempt to advance. On this day we took poffeffion of the Bound Hedge, within cannon-fhot of Pondicherry; which prevented all communication with the town by land. On the 6th and 7th of September we broke ground, both on the north and fouth fide of the town, it having been determined to carry on two attacks; and on the 18th we opened our batteries with twenty-eight pieces of heavy artilley and twenty-feven mortars. Though our fire on the town was very great, yet the enemy's was equally fo on us from day-break till towards the evening; when our batterieshad apparentlythe advantage, and the fire from the fortress decreafed greatly. The approaches were continued with the utmoft expedition poffible; but theobftinate defence of the garrifon made it neceffary to act with caution, and the nolent rains that fell retarded the works. A gallery being carried into the ditch to the fouthward, a breach made in the bation called L'Hofpital, and the faces of the adjacent bastions being also detroyed, it was refolved to pafs the ditch by means of a bridge of boats made for the purpose, and to affault the place; while, on the north attack, our battenes had ruined the eaft face of the northwe baftion, and a float was prepared to pass the troops over the ditch at the me time; another attack was to have been made on the fea fide to northward, where they bad ftockades running into the water. This was intended to have been put into execution the 15th of Octeber before day-light: but in the foreToon of the 14th, the water in the ditch to the fouthward was fo raised by the rains for two or three days before, that it forced itself into the gallery, broke it down, and damaged the boats intended for the bridge. It required two days to repair the damage done; and every thing being ready for the affault, it would have taken place on the 17th; but on the 16th, M. Bellecombe fent me a letter by his aid-de-camp M. de Villette, relative to a capitulation, which was figned by both parties the next day. The gallant defence made by M. Bellecombe will e ver do him honour; and I beg leave, in juftice to the troops I had the honour to command, to affure your Lordship, that they acted with the most determined refolution on every occafion. I am in a

moft particular manner obliged to Sir Edward Vernon, and his Majesty's fquadron, who moft chearfully gave every affiftance during the whole fiege; and and when the affault was refolved on, Sir Edward landed his marines, and 200 feamen, to affift in the attack.

I have the honour of fending your Lordship herewith a return of the killed and wounded on both fides, together with a lift of cannon and ftores taken in Pondicherry.

Thefe difpatches will be delivered to your Lordship by Enf. Rumbold, of the 6th regiment of foot, who obtained his Majefty's leave to come to India with his father, the Governor of this settlement. He has acted as one of my aid-de-camps fince I have been on this coaft; and, as I have great reason to be perfe&ly satisfied with his conduct, I beg leave to recommend him to your Lordfhip as a young man of merit. He takes with him the colours of Pondicherry, to have the honour of laying them at his Majefty's feet.

I have the honour to be, &c.

HECTOR MUNRO." We infert the preliminary article, and the first article of the capitulation, with the answers, verbatim.

"Prelim. Art. Mr de Bellecombe, Major-General in his Moft Chriftian Majefty's armies, General Commandant of the French establishments in the Indies, Governor of Pondicherry, proposes to Maj.-Gen. Munro, commanding the Englifh army, to furrender the place the 25th of this month, if before that period he does not receive any fuccour; and requires, that in the mean time hoftilities be fufpended on both fides, as alfo the works; and that there fhall not be any communication between the befiegers and befieged.

Answer. The fort of Pondicherry must be delivered up at twelve o'clock tomorrow at noon, and the British troops put in poffeffion of the Vellenore gate at that time.

Art. 1. The officers on the staff, the garrison, and other military perfons defending Pondicherry, shall have the honours of war: They fhall retire by the fea-port with their arms and baggage, colours flying, drums beating, lighted matches, with fix cannons, two caft mortars, which shall be put on board the veffel in which M. de Bellecombe fhall embark; each piece fhall have fix char

ges,

ges, and each foldier fhall have fifteen cartouches.

Answer. The gallant defence made by Maj. Gen. Bellecombe and his garrifon juftly demands every mark of honour: The garrifon are therefore allowed to march out of the Vellenore gate with the honours of war; they will, on the glacis, pile up their arms by order from their own officers; where they will leave them, with their drums, the cannon, and mortars. The officers in general are allowed to keep their arms; and the regiment of Pondicherry, at Gen. Bellecombe's particular requeft, are allowed to keep their colours.'

By the other articles, the private pro perty of all the people in Pondicherry was fecured to them, and fuch as chose to take the oaths of allegiance to his Britannic Majefty might trade, if they chofe it, under the protection of the English flag. All the officers and foldiers were to be tranfported to France at the charge of the government of Madrafs, and all the feapoys, &c. in arms to be permitted to go where they pleased, after delivering up their arms; and were to be protected from the violence of their countrymen by the company's troops. An inventory was to be taken of all military ftores, &c. found in the fort, and a duplicate to be given to the French governor, for the future difcuffion of the courts of England and France; the fortifications to remain in ftatu quo, only the breaches to be made up, till the decifion of the two courts are known.articles entire, viz.

We infert three

"Art. 13. The free exercife of the Roman Catholic religion shall be entirely preferved. The churches fhall be refpected, the ecclefiaftics and religious orders fhall be fupported in the full enjoyment of their houses, and all their other property and privileges. Protections fhall be given to this effect, principally to the Apoftolical Prefect, in order that he may exercife, without fear, and with decency, the functions of his office. The miffionaries fhall be at liberty to go from place to place, to proceed in their refpective functions, and they fhall receive under the English flag the like protection as they enjoyed under the French flag. In particular, the Bifhop of Tabraca, now at Pondicherry, fhall have every regard paid to him, which he merits by his piety ftill more than by his dignity.

Anf. Granted as long as they behav with propriety, and do not endeavour to make converts from amongst people profeffing the Proteftant religion.”

"Art. 24. The prefent capitulation fhall extend as far as the articles of it are capable, to all that relates to Chanderna gore, and other French factories at Ben gal, at Yanaon, and at Karical, which the English have seized, and at the fet tlement of Mafulipatam; as alfo to th French veffels which have been taken in the Ganges and on the coaft of Coroman del, fince the firft of July laft; the fail ors of which, and those who were in th place, shall be transported to the Iflec France. The papers and letters ad dreffed to Monf. de Bellecombe, whic were taken in those ships, fhall be faith fully restored.

Anf. Inadmiffible."

"Art. 26. (the laft). The full an entire execution of the prefent capitula tion fhall be observed bona fide, and tha be fecured, not only by the fignature < Maj.-Gen. Munro and that of Comme dore Vernon, but alfo by the govern and council of Madras; referring myle for the reft to the decifion of the court of France and of England, for a repara tion proportioned to the violation of trea ties, and of the right of nations, which has operated in Asia fince the month a July laft, by the orders of the governor and councils of Calcutta and of Madrafs to the very great prejudice of the Frenc nation, and of humanity.

Anf. This capitulation will be figned by Sir Edward Vernon and Maj.-Gen Munro, and they will be guarantees fo the ratification of the fuperior council o Madrass."

In the fort were found 181 iron guns ferviceable, 29 unferviceable; 55 braf guns ferviceable, 3 unserviceable; 20 brafs mortars, 3 iron ones, and 6 howitzers.

Small arms. 5934 mufkets with bayonets, 248 without bayonets, 108 riflebarrel pieces; 60 wall-pieces, 45 carbines, 556 piftols, 930 fwords, 80 barrels of gun-powder, 100 lb. each, and 21,7c8 thot of different fizes.

The total lofs of the company's troops during the fiege was 224 killed, 693 wounded. The company's troops confifted of 10,500 men, whereof 1500 were Europeans.

[The London papers give the names of British officers killed and wounded in