New-Hampshire gazette, or, State journal and general advertiser (Portsmouth, N.H.), 1780-05-27 00:00:00

New Hampshire Gazette
O R,
STATE JOURNAL, and GENERAL ADVERTISER.
[ Vol. XXIV. ]
SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1780.
[ No. 1231. ]
From the CONTINENTAL JOURNAL.
MR. PRINTER,
As the darkness which happened on the last Sunday was unusual, and to many people surprising, it will no doubt gratify the public, to have the observations which have been made in various parts communicated: In this way we may learn the extent, and perhaps ascertain the cause of so remarkable a Phenomenon: With these views I send you the inclosed.
THE observations from the first coming on of the darkness, to four o'clock, P. M. were made by several gentlemen of liberal education at the house of the Rev. Mr. CUTLER, of Ipswich-Hamlet. — There are some things worth noticing before and after this time: — The Hemisphere for several days has been greatly obscured with smoke and vapour, so that the Sun and Moon appeared unusually red. — On Thursday afternoon and in the evening, a thick cloud lay along at the south and south-west, the wind small. Friday morning early the Sun appeared red, as it had done for several days before, the wind about south-west, a light breeze, and the clouds from the south west came over between eight and nine o'clock, the Sun was quite shut in, and it began to shower, the clouds continuing to rise from the south west, and thicken from the thickness of the clouds and the confusion which attended their motion, we expected a violent gust of wind and rain, the wind however, near the earth, continued small, and it rained but little — About eleven o'clock the darkness was such as to demand our attention, and put us upon making observations. — At half past eleven, in a room with three windows, 24 panes each, all open towards the south-east and south, large print could not be read by persons of good eyes. — About twelve o'clock the windows being still open, a candle cast a shade so well defined on the wall, as that profiles were taken with as much ease as they could have been in the night. — About one o'clock a glin of light which had continued till this time in the east, shut in, and the darkness was greater than it had been for any time before. Between one and two o'clock, the wind from the west freshened a little, and a glin appeared in that quarter. — We dined about two the windows all open, and two candles burning on the table. — In the time of the greatest darkness some of the dunghill fowls went to their roost: Cocks crowed in answer to one another as they commonly do in the night: Woodcocks which are night birds, whistled as they do only in the dark: Frogs peeped. — In short, there was the appearance of midnight at noon-day. — About three o'clock the light in the west increased, the motion of the clouds more quick, their colour higher and more brass than at any time before: There appeared to be quick flashes or coruscations, not unlike the Aurora Borealis. — Between 3 or 4 o'clock we were out & perceived a strong sooty smell, some of the company were confident a chimney in the neighbourhood must be burning, others conjectured the smell was more like that of burnt leaves. — About half past four, our company which had past an unexpected night very cheerfully together, broke up. — I will now give you what I noticed afterwards. — I found the people at the tavern neat by much agitated, among other things which gave them surprise, they mentioned the strange appearance and smell of the rain-water, which they had saved in tubs;
upon examining the water I found a light scum over it, which rubbing between my thumb and finger, I found to be not ing but the black ashes of burnt leaves, the water gave the same strong sooty smell which we had observed in the air; and confirmed me in my opinion that the smell mentioned above, was occasioned by the smoke, or very small particles of burnt leaves, which had obscured the Hemisphere for several days past, and were now brought down by the rain: The appearance last mentioned served to corroborate the Hypothesis on which we had endeavored to account for the unusual darkness. The vast cloud of smoke from the woods which had been burning for many days, mixed with the common exhalations from the earth and water, and condensed by the action of winds from opposite points, may perhaps be sufficient causes to produce the surprising darkness.
The wind in the evening passed round further north where a black cloud lay, and gave us reason to expect a sudden gust from that quarter: The wind brought that body of smoke and vapour over us in the evening (at Salem) and perhaps it never was darker since the children of Israel left the house of bondage. This gross darkness held till about one o'clock, although the moon had full but the day before.
Between one and two the wind freshened up at north east and drove the smoke and clouds away which had given distress to thousands, and alarmed the brute creation.
VIATOR.
L O N D O N.
The following is the genuine SPEECH of Lord GEORGE GORDON in the British House of Commons, on the motion of Lord Lewisham for an Address to the King:
“ MR. SPEAKER,
“ I SHOULD have not troubled you, and the House, on this occasion, were it not for the absurdities with which the Speech from the Throne is replete. — His Majesty tells us, he has ordered certain papers, relative to Ireland to be laid before us. Why was not that order made in consequence of the addresses from Ireland? Were Irish addresses to be disregarded? And was the Irish Parliament unworthy of its Sovereign's notice? The truth is, Sir, his Majesty's Ministers are no less odious in Ireland than they are in England. The King well knows this. The Irish deem themselves oppressed, and call this Government tyranny. To prove this, Sir, I need only read to you the opinions of some leading members in the Irish Commons. [His Lordship then produced a news paper, and read from it the debates of the Commons of Ireland on the first day of their meeting; and dwelt with particular emphasis on every sentence that conveyed a censure on Administration.] Thus, Sir, you see the grievances of Ireland are at length become so numerous and intolerable, that the people are obliged to insist on having a FREE TRADE. But if it is intended to comply with their demand, if they are to trade with every part of the empire, I beg the noble Lord in the blue ribbon will give me timely notice. This I ask, and insist on, as a piece of justice in the noble Lord, that I may discharge that duty which my conscience claims of me — that I may write down to my countrymen in Scotland, and give them warning to establish an INDIA COMPANY of their own.
“ In Scotland, Sir, the people are as ready to break with the Minister as in Ireland. The indignities given to Famine have spread the whole country, and they are determined, with the utmost vigilance and resolution, to guard against a people that are become such favourites in the eyes of the Ministry. I do not, Sir, deliver to you my own sentiments only; Government will find ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND MEN at my back, who will avow and support them. The people have sent petitions to the Ministers of State, who have disregarded them; to the Lord Chancellor, to deliver to the Lords, who suppressed them; and to you, Mr. Speaker, who have incurred the displeasure of the people, by not delivering them to the commons. They have now printed their sentiments and resolutions on their grievances; they will shortly be published; and, the moment they are ready, I, Sir, will deliver them to the King and the Prince of Wales, that they may learn from them UPON WHAT TERMS THE SCOTCH WILL BE GOVERNED.
The coast of Scotland, Sir, is left naked and defenceless; the people of Dumfries-shire had therefore petitioned for arms to defend themselves. To my certain knowledge, that country is in such a situation, that Paul Jones might, with the utmost facility, have destroyed Glasgow, Leith, Greenock and Edinburgh, in one expedition. Thus circumstanced, could it have occurred to any one, that Administration would have denied so reasonable a requisition? Wicked as the minds of Ministry are, could any one have imagined that they dared to commit such an outrage upon common sense, common policy, and the common rights of the people? Yet, Sir, extraordinary as it may seem, the answer which those men returned, was a positive refusal of the request! I will, Mr. Speaker, read you the letter from the Secretary at War, to the Duke of Queenberry and Lord Stormont, on this subject. [His Lordship then read the letter; after which, looking at the Secretary at War, he continued.] And you, Charles Jenkinson, how dared you write such a letter? Robert Bruce would not have had temerity enough to have done it. And yet the Secretary of an Elector of Hanover has had that presumption! The Royal family of Stuart have been banished from their kingdom for not attending to the voice of the people, and an Elector of Hanover is not afraid to disregard it? Sir Hugh Smithson, Earl Percy, Duke of Northumberland, armed cap-a-pee, march at the head of all the cheese-mongers and grocers, from Temple-Bar to Brentford, and the present Earl of Douglass is not to be intrusted with arms! The Scots, Sir, are justly irritated at this scandalous partiality; nor are they less exasperated in point of religion.
“ I shall now, Sir, only trouble the House a few moments longer. I would not, indeed, have occupied so much of their time as I have already done, but that, being on my legs, I thought it proper to discover the sentiments of the people of Scotland. All that I have to add, is, to give notice, that I intend, on a future day, to move for an address to the King, to send down to Scotland 120,000 muskets and bayonets, to arm the defenceless people of that country.
CHATHAM, May 10.
It is said that Capt. Paul Jones, with a squadron of eight sail, is cruising off Sandy Hook, and that on Thursday last he chased the Galatea frigate and a Jamaica-man within the Hook.

P E T E R S B U R G H, Jan. 20, 1780.
A Supplement to the Geographical Callender of this year, announces the appearance of a Comet in the course of this year and the next; according to the table of Professor LENELL, which indicates the degrees of longitude and latitude through which it will pass in the Heavens, it will be visible from the month of May 1780, to the end of April 1781. If this calculation be exact, we shall have all that time to see and observe it.
P A R I S, March 27.
Letters from Brest of the 23d of this Month advise, That they are fitting out with the greatest activity the six Ships for the division of the Chevalier de Ternay, destined to assist the United-States of North-America. Six regiments are ordered to embark on board that squadron.
P H I L A D E L P H I A, May 10.
Extract of a letter from South Carolina, April 17.
"We learn that on Friday morning the enemy surprized our horse, and that they had advanced near Strawbery Ferry; our loss was about 20 men and 30 horses; General Huger, who commanded the horse is not come in, but it is said he escaped."
Last Monday was sent in here, the letter of marque brig Elphiston, mounting 12 six pounders, from New-York for St. Kitts, taken by the Fair-American, Capt. Decatur, and the Argo, Capt. Ridge.
The Argo and Fair-American have taken the privateer brig Arbuthnot, Capt. Doancy, of 14 guns, and a Sloop from New-York.
By a gentleman in nine weeks from Europe, we learn, that the Portuguese are working with the utmost diligence on their navy, in fitting them for sea, and it was generally believed, that in the spring they would take part with France and Spain.
P O U G H K E E P S I E, May 15.
The following intelligence we are assured may be depended upon, from the City of New-York, viz - That a vessel was just arrived there from England, with expresses, advising that a fleet of 12 sail of the line, with transports, and 3000 troops, on board, had sailed from Brest for America. And that in consequence of this advice, which occasioned great consternation in New-York, all their vessels of war were immediately ordered down to the Hook.
It is supposed the Marquis la Fayette, who a few days ago passed through Fifth-Street, on his way to Head Quarters and Congress, is to take the command of these troops.
N E W - L O N D O N, May 12.
The Eastern post informs us, that Capt. Watles arrived at Warren, State of Rhode-Island, last Monday, from Hispaniola, who informs, that on his passage he was in company with 17 sail of French and Spanish men of war, who were bound to South-Carolina, Georgia, and that he left them two days before his arrival in port.
P R O V I D E N C E, May 17.
The privateer ship Pilgrim is arrived at New-Port from a short cruise; during which she has taken four Prizes, viz. A Ship from Jamaica, bound to New-York laden with Rum, &c. A privateer Brig from N. York; a Brig. packet from Augustine, bound to New-York; and a Sloop belonging to the Eastward, laden with Oil, &c. that had been taken by one of the enemy's cruizers. The people belonging to the packet, informs that they passed Charlestown, South-Carolina the 20th of April at 11 in the afternoon, when they heard a heavy firing, and supposed that the general attack on the Town had taken place.
Extract of a letter from Charlestown, (South-Carolina) dated April, 1780.
"Since the arrival of the enemy, which is above two months ago, we have been very much employed in fortifying the Town in the best manner possible, which is nearly accomplished, hoping we shall be able to withstand them. Last week they crossed the neck to the amount (as we learned) of 5000, and left a few hundred on the other side, and on the Islands to guard their works there, and are now throwing up their works very fast; in one night they threw up three batteries, notwithstanding we kept a continual cannonade from our lines; they have erected three batteries; one in the road near Mrs. Lebre's, the other back of Mr. Smilen's, and another on Hemstead, near the river, not far from our works; we fired all yesterday and last night upon them, which has done them considerable damage. When they first crossed over upon the Neck we had a Skirmish with them: Col. Laurens and some of Gen. Hogan's men engaged them at Gibbe's, where General Polasky fought them in the spring, we lost Capt. Bowman of the light infantry, and a few wounded; the enemy's loss was considerable; several deserters who have come in, say they had 27 privates killed, one Hessian Colonel, and a Major General wounded; they likewise inform, that we killed twenty-odd the first day's firing on their works; two deserters came in last night, they say that they were to mount 15 pieces of heavy cannon to day, so that we are every hour in expectation of an attack."
B O S T O N, May 23.
F R E S H A D V I C E S.
From the NEWPORT MERCURY, of May 20.
Last night arrived here Capt. Reuben Hamlin, in the sloop Venus, in 10 days from Wilmington, North-Carolina, with whom came passenger a gentleman belonging to this town, who informs that he saw an officer at Wilmington, who left Charlestown the 24th of April, going express to Virginia, with an account that the enemy, on the 2d of April made an attack on the town, when they were repulsed, with the loss of 22 killed, and 12 taken prisoners; that we lost a Capt. Moutrie, one other officer and several privates. That on the 23d they made a more furious attack, but were repulsed and pursued some small distance, leaving 800 dead on the ground, besides a number dead, supposed to have been carried off with the wounded: That Gen. Lincoln had 6000 well disciplined troops in Charlestown, in high spirits and well supplied; so that it was not doubted the enemy would soon be expelled from S. Carolina, especially as a draft was ordered for every third man in South and North Carolina.
Capt. Hamilton who left Georgetown in South-Carolina, the 28th of April, confirms the above intelligence, and adds, that Gen. Scott with some Continental troops, was between Georgetown and Charlestown, collecting a large body of militia, (who flocked in from all quarters) in order to make a grand push on the enemy's rear, at which time it is supposed Gen. Lincoln from within will sally out upon their front.
On Saturday last arrived at Swansey, Capt. Hamlin in ten days from North-Carolina, and by John Parks who came passenger in the said vessel, we are informed, that he belonged to the Continental ship Ranger, Capt. Simpson; and that he left Charlestown, S. C. the 27th of April, in the morning: Our garrison in high spirits. - And that on the 22d at ten at night, the British army made an assault on our main lines, and were repulsed, after two hours engagement, with the loss of 500 men killed on the spot, and 300 wounded, according to the best account that could be obtained from a number of deserters; that our loss was only 11 killed and wounded; - that previous to this assault an attempt was made on the canal to let the water out, which they also failed in with the loss of 150 men; He further informs, that an express arrived the day before he came away, with the agreeable intelligence that Gen. Gates and Gen. Skeene were on their march with 6500 men, to join Gen. Scott, who was in the rear of the British army, with a body of 1500 Continental troops; - that after the repulse and retreat of the enemy the cannonading commenced, and continued till he came away.
A letter from a gentleman at Norwich, dated last Monday, says, "Yesterday arrived at New London, Capt. Champlin, in 17 days from Gaudaloupe, and informs that there has been a bloody engagement between the French and British fleets in those seas, in which the latter were torn to pieces."
The third class of the United States Lottery finished drawing the third instant.
Yesterday a prize Schooner from St. John's to Quebec, laden with wine, was sent into Marblehead by the privateer Rover of that port.
The Southern post informs us, that the live heavy cloud or vapour, extended as far as Danbury, but there was no appearance of it at the North-River.
West-India RUM, COTTON WOOL, COFFEE and SUGAR, To SELL FOR PAPER MONEY, At Mr. M E N D I S's Store, in Portsmouth, by Wholesale or small Quantity.
CASH, West-India or English Goods, GIVEN FOR Old broken CAST-IRON, By SAMUEL HILL, at his Shop on Spring-Hill, Portsmouth.
T O B E S O L D,
A Lott of LAND, at or near Offpe-Pond, between Leavitt's Town and Wolfborough, in Mason's Patent; the said Lott being No 21. and one of the four Lotts laid out to the Proprietors. Inquire at the Prin- ing-Office in Portsmouth.
To be let, a genteel House, four Rooms on a Floor, well finished, with a Barn, Garden, Well, &c - commodiously situated near Sherburne's wharf, lately improved as a Coffee-House. Inquire of JONATHAN WARNER, Esq; of Portsmouth.
State of New Hampshire.
Whereas application hath been made to me the subscriber, Clerk to the Proprietors of Breton-Webbs, in the county of Grafton and State aforesaid, by the owners of more than one sixteenth part of said township, desiring me to notify a meeting of said proprietors to be held at the house of Mrs. Tilton innholder in Portsmouth, on Monday the 12th of June next, at six o'clock, P. M. for the following purposes viz - First, To choose a Moderator to govern said meeting - Second, To determine whether they will pursue the method formerly agreed upon for lotting out the town, or adopt any other. - Third, To determine what further encouragement they will give the first settlers. - Fourth, To ascertain the amount of the claims on the propriety, and determine what shall be now paid to make up the depreciation of money to those who have demands, or choose a committee to treat with the creditors and agree with them on this matter. - Fifth, To raise such sums as shall be found necessary to discharge said demands. - Sixth, To choose officers to assess the same; also, Collector and Treasurer. - Seventh, To determine on any other matter that shall be thought beneficial to the proprietary.
In pursuance of which I do hereby notify and warn the proprietors of said township of Breton-Woods, to attend a meeting of said proprietors, at time and place, and for the purposes aforesaid.
J. WHIPPLE.
Portsmouth, March 12, 1780.
Notice is hereby given to the delinquent proprietors and owners of land in the town of Barnstead that unless they pay the taxes assessed on the same, with accruing charges to me the subscriber, on or before Thursday the 15th day of June next. To much of their lands as will defray said taxes and charges will be sold at public vendue, on said day, at ten o'clock, at the house of Capt. John Drew's, innholder in Barnstead. - Taxes for the year 1779, viz.
   No. 60 acre lots. 1. s. d. 100 acre lots. No. 1. s. d.     106 Col Mark Hunkin, 1 7 7   119 Thomas Westbrook, 1 12 6   John Shackford, 112 2 12 0   David Wentworth, 84 2 7 0   John Sandborn, 29 2 3 4   Nathaniel Shores, 98 1 9 0   100 Jethro Bickford, 1 12 6   86 Thomas Ayres, 1 8 0   112 John Brock, 1 12 6   55 John Downing, 1 12 6   120 Richard Waldron, 1 12 6 83 2 14 0   80 Ebenezer Weare, 1 12 6   102 Robert A Moody, 1 9 3 57 2 3 4   51 Capt John Downing, 1 12 0   77 Paul Gerrish, 1 7 7 94 2 12 0   57 Ebenezer Stevens, 1 12 6   74 John Walker, 1 12 6   103 John Nutter, 1 12 6   41 George Walton, 1 5 0 45 2 14 0   108 Joseph Faybans, 1 12 6   96 Benjamin Downing, 1 9 8   73 Samuel Thompson, 1 9 3   106 Harrison Downing, 1 12 6 102 2 14 0   20 John Wallingford, 1 12 6 100 2 14 0   106 Seth Ring, 1 12 6   36 Jeremiah Miller, 1 12 6 60 2 14 0   56 John D. me. 1 12 6  
BENJAMIN EDGERLY, Constable. Barnstead, May 17, 1780.
All Persons indebted to, or that have any demands on the Estate of JOHN RICE, late of Exeter, Esq; deceased, are hereby desired to settle the same with ANNA RICE, Widow, Executrix to said estate. Exeter, May 17, 1780.
The impossibility of obtaining a sufficiency of Paper, must be an apology for publishing but half a sheet this week, which, however, contains the most material intelligence from all the southern papers; but, for the future, we hope to be able to furnish our readers with a whole sheet.