New-Hampshire gazette, or, State journal and general advertiser (Portsmouth, N.H.), 1781-06-04 00:00:00

THE New Hampshire Gazette OR, State Journal, and General Advertiser.
[ Vol. XXV. ]
MONDAY, June 4, 1781.
[ No. 1283. ]
HAGUE, March 4.
T HE Prince de Gallitzin, Envoy Extraordinary from the Empress of Russia, has been in Conference with the President of the Assembly of their High Mightinesses, and delivered to him the following memorial.
"High and Mighty Lords,
"As soon as her Imperial Majesty was informed of the sudden departure from the Hague of the Ambassadors of his Britannic Majesty to your High Mightinesses, her Imperial Majesty, guided by the sentiments of friendship and benevolence which she professes towards the two Powers, hath not waited for ulterior explications as to the consequences which might be produced by such an alarming step to their tranquility and reciprocal welfare, to make to her Minister at the Court of London the most pressing representations, in order to avert the evils, if possible, induce the contending Powers rather to prefer the ways of gentleness and conciliation, offering to co-operate therein in every thing which may depend upon Her.
"Though her Majesty hath not yet had time to receive the answer, of the Court of London, she has however reason to presume, that those intimations will have been received there with pleasure. In this confidence the Empress hesitates not to give a new proof of her salutary intentions in favour of the reunion of the two States, which she equally regards, and which she has seen for so long time live together in friendship the most perfect, and the most natural to their respective interests; proposing formally to them her good offices and her mediation, to stop and make cease entirely the discord and the war which has just broke out between them.
"Whilst M. de Simolin, minister from the Empress to the court of London, acquits himself of the orders which she hath just given him on this subject, the undersigned has the honour to discharge on his side the same task with their high Mightinesses, and to assure them of the zeal and eagerness with which he desires to labour in the precious work of establishing the repose and tranquility of their State.
"The disinterestedness, the impartiality, and the motives of general beneficence, which have stamped their seal on all the actions of her Imperial Majesty, have equally had the rule of this.
"The wisdom and the prudence of your High Mightinesses to acknowledge these august qualities, and dictate the answer which the undersigned shall receive on the execution of his orders."
(Signed) The Prince De Gallitzin.
LONDON, March 13.
On Sunday M. de Simolin, the Russia Ambassador, was at Court at St. James's, and had a conference with his Majesty on the subject of the dispatches received by his Excellency the preceding evening from the Empress of Russia, which are reported and favour the wishes of Great Britain, even beyond expectation.
By a gentleman who left Portsmouth yesterday morning, and travelled express, we are informed that the grand fleet were fallen down to St. Helen's, and were under sail with a fine wind when he left that place.
A private letter from Paris, dated March 3, says, "Last night his Excellency the Russian Ambassador receiv'd dispatches from his court, and this morning held a meeting with
the Dutch, Danish, Imperial, and Prussian ministers, at the breaking up of which, it was reported that the Empress had proposed a treaty of general pacification between the belligerent powers."
BALTIMORE, May 8.
Extract of a letter from an officer of distinction in the Southern army, dated camp, May's-Mill, April 15, 1781.
"I have only time to inform you that we are thus far on our route towards Campden, said to be 60 miles distant from this. What is to be expected there, events must determine.—Tis said Lord Cornwallis is at Wilmington. Lord Rawdon's force I can't ascertain tho' vastly superior to ours—which I suppose, upon a rough calculation amounts to 10 or 1200 effective Continentals, and about 500 North Carolina militia, and Washington's and Lee's Horse.—Sumpter will collect 1000 militia to act in conjunction—This may, I believe, be depended on by the best information directly from him, Clarke has defeated a body of tories, mounted as dragoons, near 96 headed by a British officer; he killed 30 and made 40 prisoners."
It is just now reported, that the British troops, under command of General Phillips, after having destroyed a large quantity of tobacco and other property, at Petersburg, had taken post at Manchester, commonly Rocky Rige, on the south side of James's River opposite to, and about a half a mile from Richmond.—That the last mentioned town had been formally summoned by Gen. Phillips, to surrender; but that he had received a very spirited negative from the Marquis de la Fayette, who is posted there with 1200 Continental infantry, a detachment of Col. Lamb's regiment of artillery, and a body of Virginia militia, completely equipped, & determined to defend the place to the last extremity. It is also reported, that our friends have destroyed 20 sail of vessels in James River, which lay exposed to the enemy, to prevent their falling into their hands. We have a variety of other reports respecting the military operations in North Carolina and Virginia, but, at present they appear too vague to present to our readers.
CHATHAM, May 16.
The Captain of a vessel arrived at New-York, on Friday last, reports, that he saw a fleet of 68 sail of vessels at sea, and shortly after fell in with a Nantucket man, who spoke with the fleet, and informed him they were French, bound to America.
FISH KILL, May 24.
Concurring accounts from New York render it probable, that the British will soon evacuate that city.
HARTFORD, May 29.
On Sunday the 19th instant his Excellency Gen. WASHINGTON, accompanied by General KNOX, General Du PORTAIL, and their respective suits, arrived at Weathersfield; being escorted into town by a number of gentlemen from Hartford and Weathersfield. As he dismounted at his quarters he was saluted by the discharge of thirteen cannon, by the corps of artillery under the command of Capt. Frederick Bell.
On Monday the 21st instant his Excellency the Count De Rochambeau, commanding the Army of His Most Christian Majesty, at Newport, General Chattleau, and suits, arrived at Weathersfield. They were met at Hartford by his Excellency Gen. Washington, the officers of the army, and a num-
ber of gentlemen who accompanied them to Weathersfield, where they were saluted with the discharge of cannon.
NEW PORT, May 19.
A gentleman is arrived in town, who assures us that he left Gen. Green's camp before Camden, on the 27th ult. which place the General was in expectation of reducing in the course of a few days. The garrison consisted of about 400 British troops & some tories, under the command of Lord Rawdon. Near 300 disaffected persons, with a number of cattle, &c. destined for their masters the British were taken and brought into General Green's camp before our informant left it.
BOSTON, May 31.
Yesterday being general election, agreeable to the Constitution, His Excellency JOHN HANCOCK, Esq; was declared Governor and Commander in Chief of this Commonwealth, and his Honor THOMAS CUSHING, Esq; Lieut. Governor.—A list of the Hon. Council, Senate, and House of Representatives must be omitted this week.
Saturday last arrived at Cape Ann, the Starks Packet from Cadiz, by whom we hear that the garrison of Gibraltar was relieved by Admirals Digby and Derby, who arrived there with 20 sail of the line, and 200 transports with supplies for the garrison; they being superior to the Spanish fleet, landed the supplies without opposition.
Last Tuesday the British fleet, which for several days before had been laying in Gardner's bay, came to sail and stood out, supposed to be in consequence of signals thrown out by two frigates which appeared in the offing from sea. The French fleet were at New Port last Tuesday morning.
The line of conduct pursued by Cornwallis, Phillips and Arnold, to the southward, in plundering, burning and destroying all within their reach is an evidence that peace is not far distant. Gain evidently is their object. They are now like Clive, procuring the perquisites of knighthood—and, probably like him, when the cool moments of reflection succeed this hellish wantonness, practice phlebotomy on their jugular veins with a pair of razors. What St. John says of the devil, seems to apply with force to them: "Having great wrath, because he knoweth he hath but a short time."
Extract of a letter from Newbury Port, May 29, 1781.
"Yesterday arrived here the ship General Titcomb, Capt. Pearson, in 14 days from Gaudaloupe. The Capt. informs, that 5 days before he sailed, 25 ships of the line (all French and very heavy) besides frigates and a large convoy of transports and merchantmen, arrived in those seas. The British of 16 or 17 ships had laid for some time under the lee of Martinique, and before off St. Piers. The French fleet went in pursuit of the English, and had cut off their retreat to St. Lucia. The event was not known, as no intelligence was received from either party when Capt. Pearson sailed.
NEW-PORT, May 26.
Last Thursday night seven or eight prisoners made their escape from the prison-ship in this harbour, boarded a schooner of about 50 tons lying in the road ready to sail the next morning, and carried her off, without being discovered. Two young men belonging to this town, all the people then on board the schooner, were also carried off.

COPY of a LETTER from Admiral Rodney to the Marquis de Boullée. "I Received the different Letters which your Excellency did me the Honor of writing, and I am sorry to see a Person of so high Rank and Character as the Marquis de Boullée, should debase himself (as the Information he acknowledges to have received by indirect Means) so as to make use of Threats. British Admirals never fear nor make Use of any; they are responsible for their Actions only to their King and Country, and never have been reputed for having insulted a declared Enemy. But a perfidious People, wearing the Mark of Friendship, Traitors to their Country, and rebelling against their King, deserve no Favour of Consideration; & they never shall experience any at my Hands."
THE ANSWER of The Marquis de Boullée to Admiral Rodney. "I Am very sensible, that a British Admiral and a French General are responsible for their Conduct only to their King & Country: Retaliation during the War, however cruel it may become, is the Duty I owe to mine. By the Example you have given in Statia, I shall make a Point of following it strictly—Your Excellency undoubtedly forgot in your Letter, that you was writing to a French General, whom the Events of War have accustomed not to fear British Insolence. I had the Honor of mentioning to your Excellency that I would exchange no more Prisoners; they shall be all sent, without Exception, to France. I repeat to you, once more, that you may act as you think proper, in Regard to the Flags: To calm your Fears on that Head, I shall send you no more: We will, in future, settle all our Affairs a Coup de Cannon, and by that Means we may avoid those polemick, tedious Disputes, which are fitter for Ambassadors than Soldiers."
CHATHAM, May 16.
In the night of the 20th ult. a party of Indians, consisting of 25, with two tory pilots, crossed the river Delaware, opposite Minisink, the principal settlement of that country. At day break they proceeded to the house of T. Brink, whom they made prisoner, with his 2 little sons, then plundered & destroyed every thing of any value in the house. From thence they went to the widow Brink's, distant about 100 yards, robbed her of every valuable thing in the house, & destroyed all her provisions; then marched to a house near by, where lived two young men by the name of Westbrook and Job's; they entered the house while the family were asleep, the men waked in a surprise, sprung out of bed, and made all the resistance possible, but being greatly overpowered by numbers, fell a sacrifice to Savage Indians & Tories, & experienced that torture in death, which nothing but British & Savage cruelty could invent. At this house they made Job's wife, and a girl of about 13 years old, prisoners. They next proceeded to Capt. Shimer's, where they made three of his negroes prisoners; six rushed into a room next to where Captain Shimer lay, while the rest surrounded the house. An old negro woman ran to her master's bed side, and cried out the Indians are all around the house, and the next room is full of them. Upon which information he left his bed in a moment, seized his rifle, ran to the front door of the room, opened it, and saw about ten Indians before the piazza, when he presented his piece briskly from one to the other, which induced the whole to run to the rear of the house; he then, by the same stratagem, drove the whole out of the house. In the mean time two of his negroes got clear, whom he fixed at the two front doors of the house, with each an ax, with orders to defend them to the last extremity, then ran to the second story of the house and began to fire out of the windows, when he soon got the assistance of a man who lay in one of the upper bed rooms; they continued a brisk fire for near an hour, running from window to window, and making all the parade possible. The Indians continued a brisk fire upon the house during the whole time; but such was the unparelleled bravery
and good conduct of Capt. Shimer, that they despaired of effecting their accursed design, and began to retreat with their prisoners, plunder, &c. At this moment Capt. Shimer got a reinforcement of good marksmen, when he put on his Breeches & shoes, (having fought all the morning in his shirt) & pursued them to the river, about a mile from his house, and found that about half had crossed. He continued his pursuit with a brisk fire after the others, crying out, rush on my brave boys, we'll soon surround them; which so terrified the cowardly murderers, tho' double in number, that they ran into a swamp, leaving behind them their plunder, Mrs. Jobs, her little girl, & a negro man belonging to Capt. Shimer. They took Mr. Brink & his two boys over with the first party.—Captain Shimer, going into a back room to discharge his piece, providentially prevented his two daughters, one a young woman, the other Captain Bonnel's wife with a child in her arms, from jumping out of the window, as they were just lifting up the sash for that purpose, which was at least eighteen feet from the ground—The loss of the enemy we cannot ascertain. During the action they were seen to carry one off on a board, and several were carried away from the Pennsylvania shore; there was likewise a considerable quantity of blood seen where they passed.
PHILADELPHIA, May 19.
Since our last the ship Dove, Capt. Lyon, arrived at a safe port from the Havanna: Just before this vessel left the Havanna, (the 28th ult.) accounts were received from Pensacola, that six trading vessels, and one ship belonging to the King of England, were taken by the Spanish ships of war in Pensacola bay: That the forces under Gen. Galvez had reduced General Campbell, commanding the British garrison at Pensacola, to the necessity of sending a flag out, to request permission to surrender the place, and embark with his troops for England; but these terms were refused by the Spanish General, who expected very shortly to reduce his enemies to surrender at discretion, as by accounts from deserters, they were exceedingly straightened for provisions. The next vessels from the Havanna will probably bring us accounts of the surrender of Pensacola to his Most Catholic Majesty's arms.
A Gentleman in Copenhagen (Denmark) who is one of the King's Privy Council, writes to his Friend in Pennsylvania, "That the eyes of the whole world are fixed on AMERICA: That a great number of Danes incline to settle in this country; and he, for that purpose, begs to be informed of the best parts thereof, and of the price of land."
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, to the non-resident proprietors of unimproved land in the town of EFFINGHAM, in the County of Strafford, in the State of New-Hampshire, that so much of the following lots of land in the town of EFFINGHAM, and State aforesaid, as will pay the State and Continental TAX for the year 1780, with incidental charges, will be sold by Publick VENDUE, on the 13th Day of JUNE next, at the Dwelling House of Captain John Leavitt, Innholder in said Effingham. The Vendue will begin at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon, unless paid before said time.
   Names. No. Names. No.     Levi Dearborn 46 Jonathan Drake 66   Saml. Robie Fogg 81 Ezekiel Russel 33   Abraham Towle 85 Joshua Towle, jr. 82 & 41   John Wingate 34 Jonathan Wedgwood 29   David Wedgwood 57 James Wedgwood 19 & 57   Isaac Marston 4 David Marston 30   Thomas Marston 39 Sally and Mary 38   James Marston 48 Josiah Marston 61   Jedediah Prescott 68 John Ringe 3    Effingham, May 2d, 1781. Care Leavitt, Collector.
ALL Persons Indebted to, or that have Demands on the Estate of Ensign Samuel Jones, late of Madbury, deceased, are desired to bring in their Accounts to Elisabeth Jones, Widow of the deceased, Administratrix on said Estate, in order for a speedy settlement. Madbury, May 4, 1781.
LONDON Crown GLASS, and Putty, Linseed Oyl, White and Red Lead, Spanish Brown, Venetian and India Red, Vermillion, Stone and Spruce Yellow, European and American Lamp-Black, Ivory and Blue Black, Umber, Prussian Blue, White Copperas, Gold and Silver Leaf, India Ink, &c. Best White Paint, to join China, for Hard Money; Sold by JOHN SIMES in Portsmouth.
TO BE LETT, a convenient Dwelling House, situated at the North End of this Town: Enquire of Mary Shotridge on Spring Hill.
To be sold by public Auction, At 12 o'Clock on Thursday June 7th, On the Premises,
THE HOUSE in Stratham, built by Moses Boynton, and about four Acres of LAND thereto belonging, late the Estate of Benjamin Forsey, deceased. Any Person inclining to purchase, may view the Premises any Time before the Sale. Conditions to be known on the Day of Sale.
JOHN PEIRCE, Administrator.
STRAYED or Stolen a red MARE Colt from John Burnam of Nottingham, the 10th of May Instant, about Years old; she has a white Snip on her Forehead, and half of her Main cut off: the Main and Tail lighter than her Body.—Whoever takes up said Mare, & conveys her to Jacob Burnam aforesaid, shall receive 400 Dollars and necessary charges: Nottingham, May 22 1781.
THE Commissioners appointed by the Honorable Phillips White, Esq; Judge of Probate for the County of Rockingham, in the State of New-Hampshire, to receive and examine the claims of the several creditors to the Estate of Captain Thomas Pickering, late of Portsmouth, in the County aforesaid, Mariner give Notice, that they will attend said Business on the second Thursdays of August, September, and October next, from 4 to 6 Clock P. M. at the house of Mrs. Tilton, innholder at Portsmouth: May 10. 1781.
To be Sold a Silver Watch, For the Old Emission of Continental Money. Enquire at the Printing Office.
ALL Persons Indebted to, or have any Demands on the Estate of Alice Hight, Widow, late of Portsmouth, deceased, are hereby desired immediately to settle the same with Nathaniel Shannon, Administrator on said Estate. Portsmouth, May 4, 1781.
Clocks and Watches repaired and clean'd in the cheapest & best manner, by Nathaniel Sheafe Griffith, in Queen Street, just above where Woodbury Langdon, Esq; formerly lived.—If they dont answer the first mending, he will put them in Order again for nothing. He also has for sale Keys, Springs, Chains, Seals, Crystals, &c.
Wanted immediately, For the Use of the TROOPS raised by this STATE,
A QUANTITY of Yarn Stockings;—and Cotton or Cotton and Linnen for Shirting.—Also, Mens Neats Leather Shoes, made agreeable to an Act of the State.—Any Person inclining to contract for a Number of Pair, may know the Terms by applying at the War-Offices in this Town and Exeter, where Cash is paid for Shirting and Stockings. Portsmouth, April 21, 1781.
[NEW-DURHAM]
THE Proprietors of NEW-DURHAM, are hereby Notified, that the Meeting of said Proprietors, which was called to be held in said Town, on the 17th Day of April last, stands adjourned to Tuesday the 5th Day of JUNE next, to meet at the Meeting-House, at two o'clock P. M. May 8. 1781. Thomas Tash, Proprietor's Clerk.
SEVERAL LOTS of LAND to be sold in Wolfeborough. Enquire of the Printer