It is determined by government that a Royal Dock-Yard shall be established at New-York, in order to which we are informed, the Right Hon. the Lords of the Admiralty, have appointed Edward Le Cras, Esq; a native of the island of Jersey, and two and twenty years Captain in the Royal Navy, to be Commissioner.
It has been also resolved, that Letters of Marque and Reprisal shall be issued at New-York to cruizers against the enemy's shipping, and it is reported that General Tryon will give public notice when his Exceliency shall think proper for the owners of them to apply for their commissions. . . .
"This week arrived a fine French frigate built Ship of 600 tons burthen,mounting 24 guns,1 mann'd with 100 Frenchmen) Laden with sundry goods from Old France, taken by his Majesty's ship SOLEBAY, off the Capes of Virginia; which ship has brought under her convoy the following prizes lately taken by his Majesty's ships on the Cheasepeak station, viz. a large ship laden with Tobacco,2 taken by his Majesty's ship[s] SOLEBAY & RICHMOND; a French ship,3 taken by his Majesty's ships St. ALBANS and OTTER; a schooner from Boston,4 with 116 Bushels salt taken by the SOLEBAY; and a large ship (which was coming in under Danish colours)5 taken by his Majesty's ships RICHMOND, SOLEBAY and SENEGAL, in sight of the St. ALBANS riding in Hampton road.
On the first inst. (March) a large Frigate like ship (supposed to be French) with bright sides,6 coming into the Capes was chaced the whole day by the SOLEBAY, and would have been taken, but a dark night too soon coming on facilitated her escape, as did a French ship of 40 guns richly laden,7 consort to the SOLEBAY's prize,8 from the St. ALBANS and SOLEBAY, (on the 23d past.) More ships are daily expected at the Cheasepeak, from Old France, cleared out for St. Domingo, but have all false names, and false clearances for America (26 are bound to Virginia, with an intention to carry home tobacco,) but we hope there will be a good account given of them, and that we shall have the pleasure of seeing most of them arrive safe at New-York, for the benefit of the captors."
. . .On Thursday was sent into this port, by his Majesty's sloop Galatea, a French ship, Rosiore D'Artois, of 220 tons,9 loaded at Nantz; had proceeded to Hispaniola, where she took in some molasses and taffia, to revive the spirits of the drooping.
Invoices of her cargo at Nantz amount to a considerable sum. ...
The schooner Esther, late Joseph Mount master, a famous patriot for Liberty, and one of the first who inlisted seamen for the Congress in this place, was taken by the armed sloop Hammond, Captain Bridgen Goodrich,10 loaded with 65 hogsheads of tobacco, from South Quay, in Virginia, for Martinico, in lat. 34 : 10, North, long. 70 West from London. Captain Goodrich had taken two empty New-England vessels, a Monsieur from Hispaniola with salt and bijoutrie, which were sent to Bermuda for condemnation.—Since the 1st of December he hath taken nine prizes.
