The Freeman's journal, or, New-Hampshire gazette — Portsmouth, N.H., 1778-01-13 00:00:00, page 4

•BOSTON, February i§, 1778.
, His Excellency General LEE, weare told, is releas
ed from his long Confinement; but whether he is ex
^anged, or only out on his Pirolo wg cannot Iran.
ftfahte Bomm^nd, by making i'wi'iis@r
Ro Great Britain. But notwithstanding th^fe
things,he was received and treated with great
politeness by General Gates, and the officers
of hts army—-not a single insult was offered
to him or his army by the common soldiers.
This behaviour is chara&eriftic of the natural
magnanimity of these people. It gave me
pain to hear, that when General Burgoyne
entered into the town of Albany,a mob cried
out, " elbow room !" but they were soon
filericed by an officer. It is the only instance
J have heard, since my arrival in this coun
try, of an act of rudeness, even in the lowed
of the people, to a British prisoner. fc
General Burgoyne speaks with greaft ref
ped of theßehaviourr of theAmericun troops,
and all his officers are astonished at the order
anddifcipline of General Gates's army. The
General is a fenfibk bred man, and has can
celled his former animohty to the Americans,
by coriceffions that fliow real dignity of foul.
What eulogiums can equal the merit of
General Gates :—His successes are almost
Without a precedent in history. But his mind
hits been accuflomed to feed upon more fub
liantial food than the Acclamations of the
multitude. He has destroyed ONE HALF
'the power of Britain in America. He has
humbled the pride of the haughtiest nation
in the world. He has given the people of
America a confidence in their courage ahd
resources, which can never be Shaken by any
future misfortune. He hastaughtthe Ame
ricans that Britons are no longer irrefiflable
in the field. He has shown the folly & danger
of Handing armies in the time of peace,bycon
quering a body of veterians with the militia
of the country. He has shaken the corn
fels b and baffled the riegociations of Greatßri
taih, in all the courts in Europe. France
And Spain must now throw off the mask.
The Congress are not insensible of the im
portant services of their General —They have
voted him their thanks, and a gold medal.
But no reward can equal his merit. The gra
titude of posterity alone will be able to do
justice to him.
'I had like to have omitted one circum
fiance in the history of the convention be
tween General Burgoyne and General Gates.
Burgoyne expected every hour to be relieved
by General Clinton, with a large body of
troops from New-York. They had taken
Fort-Montgomery, and were within^ few
days march of Albany,where all Gates's stores
and provisions were lodged. Fortunately the
convention was signed before the news of
Clinton'^ march reached General Burgoyne.
Had it not been for this body of troops in
General Gates's rex, he would have given
Mr. Burgoyne less favorable terms of submis
sion. Clinton fled back to New-York,as soon
as he heard of the surrender of Burgoyne.
, T'he royal army, as you will fee by the pa
pers is now in the vicinity of Boston. The
legislature of Massachusetts-Bay have wifely
cut off all unnecessary intercourse between
them and the inhabitants ;— fearing left the
minds of the ignorant should be poisoned
by them. In Several of the American States
there have been instances where people well
affected to the liberties of this country, have
had their allegiance to the States Shaken by
the falfhoods that have been propagated by
the BritiSh prisoners quartered among them.
, Adieu, my dear Count, and, be assured of
the perfect esteem with which I have the ho
hour to be, your most affectionate friend and
obedient Servant, DE LISL E.
, P. St Embrace your brother for me, I
Shall write to him in a few days, by a vessel
that fails from Boston.
A Letter from an Officer, at the Southward, T^erf
January 22, 1778, fays/ On the noth Infla^t M for
Jemafon of Foot, Captain Lee, and Lieutenant 'iefay,
of Light Dragoons, with four Men of tbe. ; r Corps,i&e
furrouhded by near 200 of rhe Enemy's Cavalry, in
• their Quarters, at a A&fe in D^rby ; they foade fcft
the Doors, and fought them through, the W%dov.s,
made them retreat repeatedly, and atlift obliged them
to. a pfecipitnteTlight, with the lots of two killed 3rd
four wounded on the Spot;.a fl ghtwound ucthe Iliad
of Lieut. Lindfiy, is the only Damage on our S.de, in
. this NOBLE A@ion.”
The Weflern Puff informs, That cn Friday the 6 h
Inflant, a Fleet of 5 Sail of Shipping, from the E ft
ward, drove ash dre at High Water- M^ kon Midd ) <ff
Long bland, and 'tis thought, w^l be eoriely loft.
One ofwheb VeOtis, his laid, is a Ship of 20 Guns,
another of 26,
A Cartel arrived at Providence with 220, Souls on
board, partly Inhabitants, from Rhode Bland. Qey
I report that Commodore Manly, and Caprafs Ch/don
and Williams, (all of th'? Top n)° are closely cot fined
on board the Frifon Ship thete, ard are treated in the
moil infamous and infusing Manner !
In CONGRESS, January ij 1778.
Relined, That , General Spence, sregfination for
the reasons, 'offered'b, him, in his letter of th? 2,th of
December, be accepted,when he (hall be relieved f.om
his present command by a fuhatle officer, of the rark
of Major General, who is to be immed ately feet to
take the command of the troops railed for the defence
of the Stateof Rhode Biand and FoLdence Planta
tions. . Ex'rrdircm the minutes,
CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary.
Extract of a letter fiernan OfhcE~ dKfed, camo jan.
.^2,1,8
"Nothing new free 1 wro eyolhft, save the gallant
Defence of a Stone Rou e by ? Horsemen, against 150
or 4 poof the Enemies Horse. This was done by fyla
jor famefon, ( apthin Lee, Lieut. Liedfiy (all of V !r ,
gini^ and a Corporal ard). Fhjra.es, It was on the
I MerWrig of |hv zoth Inflant, just after Day break,
itpemy feud cd a Ci:cui: &iQfger to forp,fa Capt
IfceOvbbcpnimanded the light foif, M;,r Jamtfoa
[beifife acetate)&,y at hjrQtrirT^^Lee nad'rot ere
iMO tp.@ fr Window,.yet baffled the Attempt of theE
affy, to force into the House; hwy then went to the
Stable to ger the Ilorfes, but they being near)' Lee
kept up to warrn a Fire upon them, that thy did not
demount : and just at that time he ordered his Party to
hozza, (which they did) and cried out," Now wp are
fate my Boys, the Light Infantry is come to support
us." — The ' Eremy.heard,and fled with Precipitation.
Captain Lee was about 18 Miles from Philadelphia,
and 3 Milea from our .mod advancedPofl of goo Men §
from the latter, a Party was lent to intercept the Horse,
I but thpy fled top faft. Captain Lee is a young Man,
but a.celebrated Partizen, With tii^fingic Troop,he
hasmade i goof the Enemy ^rhoners /firfee they land
ed at the friend of Rik. Captain Lee futtciae^ no Less ;
Lindsay was only Lightly Wounded. We have 'heard
4 or § efthe Enemy were (carried off dead."^
We learri that Sir Peter Parker, in the Briflol, of
go guns, lately failed from Rhode Inland for the Weft-
Indies.• .
We hear from Providence, that laft§e,y morn,
ing threefrigates and two brigs fail'd from Newport ;
and in the afternoon 20 fail of transports —they were
seen Handing to the Southward and Baftward.
LO S T,
The tenth Day of this Month, between the. Sorth
Meeting Hcufe,and Capt. Fernald's, two Pair of Yarn
Stockings, one Pair Blue, the other a mixture of Blue
and White.— Whoever has found the fame, is desired
to leave them at the Printing Office, and they will be
hanfomely rewarded. Portsmouth, Feb. 20.
Choice London Porter,
By the Cask, Gallon, or less Quantity,
TO BE SOLD BY
Samuel Gardner,
Nearly opposite to the Market. Also,
BOHEA TEA, by large or small Quantity, Loaf
and Brown Sugar, Cotton Wool, Allium, 'Cop>
peras, Brimstone, Well India Rum, Ginger, Alfpice,
Snuff, Cream coloured^ Ware, and a Variety of other
Articles.—Likewise COFFEE by the Rag or fingld
Pound, WOOL CARDS, and black Barcelona
HANDKERCHIEFS. —
gAN OX CHAIN found on the Long Wharf, fom^
time ago. The owner may have it again paying Char
ges. Enquire of William Waldron.
Printed 41 Daniel Fowl's Printing Ofe