Fowle's New-Hampshire gazette and general advertiser ([Portsmouth, N.H.]), 1786-05-25 00:00:00

Richard Pitton & Barth FOWLE'S NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE,
A N D GENERAL
T H E ADVERTISER.
T H U R S D A Y,
M A Y 25, 1786.
P O R T S M O U T H: By J O H N M E L C H E R,
PRINTED AND PUBLISHED IN PAVED-STREET.
VOL. XXX.]
"OPEN TO ALL PARTIES—INFLUENCED BY NONE:—WE AIM ONLY TO BE JUST." No. 1544.
Miscellanies.
For the NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE.
T HE inhabitants of this State, seeing in the public prints, that some of the richest States in the union, are now rejoicing in the happy fruits of a paper medium, without the least depreciation, and that others are preparing to adopt the same measures, and they are labouring under every discouragement themselves with no prospect of relief, and only the certainty of death and taxes before them, murmur and repine at the situation of their public affairs, and have made a great change in the Representative body for the approaching session, in hopes that at length, they may be happy enough to find men of such firmness as to withstand the brow-beating, stale and worn out arguments of those who are against the adopting any public measures which may militate with their own private interest. It is the established opinion of several worthy characters in the public service of this State, that a paper medium MUST be made, and that though they really knew of its depreciation, yet as it would be funded on real security, they would be content to suffer in common with others, as well judging they were born for society, and not for themselves alone. The state of Rhode Island has wisely laid a tax on all the luxuries of life, such as coaches, chariots, phaetons, chaises, sulkeys, horses, dogs, and billiard tables, also on wines, lemons, teas and imported loaf sugar, &c. &c. and why should not the same be introduced in this state? the tax would operate only against the luxurious;—besides a regulation must be made in the public offices, and that established salaries should be given to every gentleman in office, and all the fees, emoluments and perquisites should be exactly and faithfully accounted for upon solemn oath. We shall then know upon what footing we are, and the many impositions now practised upon the poor and ignorant of the people will be prevented, and at the same time those who wish to receive the public honors and employments, will be gratified with decent salaries, equal to their merits, and the circumstances of the people, more than which they have no right to desire or expect, and if some will not accept upon these terms, many may be found equally qualified, who will; we must not suppose the state to be so barren of honest and judicious men, that only those now employed are to be found suitable for their offices: The perquisites of offices are greater than is generally known, or conceived of, and one or two years trial will evince the proof of it, in short the people have a constitutional right to petition for a redress of grievances, and to instruct their Representatives; a convention of delegates from many towns is laid to be intended to meet at Concord, to take the general sense of the people, who have made choice of such to represent them as will pursue the public good, and whatever may appear to be the general desires of the people; we hope to be blessed with such rulers as will ever be attentive to hear, and impatient to gratify them, and who will nobly disdain to be purchased with commissions, civil or military, promises or any other derogatory means to abuse the confidence reposed in them. The wiles and artifices of courtiers are now too well known by an enlightened people, to be practised without discovery, and happy will it be for us, when we can see such vile stratagems and manœuvrings as have been used, punished with disgrace, and the higher in rank the persons are who practise any such abuses, the lower should be his abatement.
R U S T I C U S.
Newcastle.
Mr. PRINTER,
T HE late publications in the Newbury newspaper, respecting a conference of three persons at Bristol, in Portsmouth, under the disguise of a dream, must be considered as libelous to the highest degree, if not true, and if so, astonishingly impious and blasphemous, some strictures on the same hath been lately in your paper, whereby we understand that the worthy General Sullivan had been mentioned as one of the three persons; every one who knows that gentleman can testify to his established principles of religion, I should have rather thought him to be knowing to the dreamers publication; the better to expose the three persons, who all lodged in one room during the session of the late Assembly in Portsmouth.
This affair is so odious in its nature, that I hope the persons may be brought to light, especially, if they are in any public offices in this State. The mode of inquiry by the Court at their next session is summary, 1st, to inquire whether there were three men who kept one chamber at Bristol during their late session at Portsmouth, and to procure their names, then to find out by the ministers of the parishes to which they respectively belong, their reputations and public religious sentiments, and if they are established to the satisfaction of the Court, then an application should be made to the Government of the Massachusetts, to oblige the printer to give up the name of the supposed dreamer, who must either maliciously asperse some persons, or conscientiously intended to discover them; but why should all this be done, when it must be known to Mr. B——, that there was three persons who occupied one chamber during the session, and of course those persons ought to consider themselves intended by the dreamer, and should exert themselves to discover him, and if they do not do it, they must be supposed guilty of the charge, and if it could be proved that there were three such deistical monsters within this State, let them be banished, as unworthy members of this community.
G R O T I U S.
The BIBLE is the BOOK of KNOWLEDGE.
I T is observed by travellers, that no people in the world read the Bible so much as the inhabitants of New England; and that they are in general far superior to the people of other countries in knowledge. The former observation naturally accounts for the latter; the Bible came from the fountain of wisdom, and therefore is a compendium of all knowledge, consequently they who study it with a good disposition and proper attention, will thereby gain spiritual and political wisdom. Whoever wishes well to mankind will promote the study of the Bible, for this will form the statesman as well as the divine; this opens a boundless field of knowledge; enlarges, animates and exalts the human mind; it at once forms the christian and the friend to liberty—But an angel's pen will fail to display the advantages of a temporal, as well as spiritual nature, which flow from this divine spring of knowledge.
I observe with pleasure, that the public reading of the scriptures in the religious assemblies in country towns, is more generally practised than it was some years ago; and I ardently wish for many important reasons, that it may become universal. It is doing honor to the word of God to read it in public, and sets pious examples; it teaches the more ignorant how to read the difficult passages with propriety; and as it requires so little time to read a chapter before sermon, and the advantages are numerous and great, I hope no assembly who meet to worship God will omit to read his word.
A PATRIOT.
REFLECTIONS on GENEROSITY.
A GENEROUS mind may be justly considered as the noblest work of the Creator; and we may assure ourselves, that wherever it resides, no real merit can be wanting. It is, perhaps, the most singular of all the moral endowments: I am sure at least, it is often imputed where it cannot justly be claimed. The meanest self-love, under some refined disguise, frequently passes upon common observers for this god-like principle; and I have known many a popular action attributed to this motive, when it flowed from no higher source than the suggestions of concealed vanity. Good-nature, as it has many features in common with this virtue, is usually mistaken for it; the former, however, is but the effect possibly of a happy disposition of the animal structure, or, as Dryden somewhere calls it, of a certain milkiness of blood; whereas the latter is seated in the mind, and can never subsist where good sense and enlarged sentiments have no existence. It is entirely founded indeed, upon justice of thought; which, perhaps, is the reason this virtue is so little the characteristic of mankind in general. A man, whose mind is warped by the selfish passions, or contracted by the narrow prejudices of sects or parties; if he does not want honesty, must undoubtedly want understanding. The same clouds that darken the intellectual views, obstruct his moral ones; and his generosity is extremely circumscribed, because his reason is exceedingly limited.
It is the distinguishing pre-eminence of the christian system, that it cherishes this elevated principle in one of its noblest exertions. Forgiveness of injuries; I confess indeed, has been inculcated by several of the heathen moralists; but it never entered into the established ordinances of any religion, 'till it had the sanction of the great Author of ours. I have often, however wondered at the ancients, who raised so many virtues and affections of the mind into divinities, should never have given a place in temples to generosity; unless, perhaps they included it under the notion of FIDES or HONOS. But surely they might reasonably have claimed a separate altar, and superior rites. A principle of honor may restrain a man from counteracting the social ties, who yet has nothing of that active flame of generosity, which is too powerful to be confined within the humbler boundaries of mere negative duties. True generosity rises above the ordinary rules of social conduct, and flows with much too full a stream to be comprehended within the precise marks of formal precepts. It is a vigorous principle in the soul, which opens and expands all her virtues far beyond those which are only the forced and unnatural productions of a timid obedience. The man who is influenced singly by motives of the latter kind, aims to higher than at certain and ornamental standards, without ever attempting to reach those glorious elevations, which constitute the only true heroism of the social character. Religion without this sovereign principle, degenerates into slavish fear, and wisdom into specious cunning; learning is but the avarice of the mind, and wit its more pleasing kind of madness. In a word, generosity sanctifies every passion, and adds grace to every acquisition of the soul; and if it does not necessarily include, at least it reflects a lustre upon the whole circle of moral and intellectual qualities.
A genteel Fallback Chaise, TO BE SOLD CHEAP FOR English or West-India GOODS, OR Part C E R T I F I C A T E S. Enquire of the Printer.

By the brigantine Favourite , Capt. Mussey , in 34 days from Bristol; the brigantine Polly and Nancy , Capt. Cushing , in 31 days from London, and the ship Boston Packet , Capt. Lyde , in 28 days, we have received papers to the 8th of April, from which we have extracted the following
European Intelligence.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Feb. 6.
There are daily conferences between the English and Prussian ministers, and our Reis Effendi, on the subject of an alliance against a triple powerful confederacy, in order to prevent the execution of certain projects designed against the Electorate of Bavaria.
ALCANTARA (in Spain) Feb. 10. On Friday the 3d of this month a fire broke out in the Convent of the Minorities, which has destroyed the greatest part of the Edifice.—In clearing away the rubbish, five most horrid dungeons were discovered filled with dead bodies of miserable wretches, who had been confined there.
YPRES , Feb. 25. By letters from Szigeah we are informed, that a scarcity of all the necessaries of life prevails in that district to a very alarming degree, and that the populace have committed many acts of violence.
L O N D O N, March 24.
The late address from the Roman Catholics of the county of Roscommon, must give satisfaction to every well-wisher to his countrymen;—it proves to demonstration, that the late relaxations of the Popery laws have had the desired effect for attaching the bulk of the community of Ireland (for such the Catholics are) to the present establishment. Persecution and oppression for religious tenets, have ever produced animosity and resistance to government. While the rest of the world, and particularly the German Empire, are persuaded of the happy effects of toleration, the eyes of Ireland are but half opened, and see as yet but partially and through a mist of prejudice its happy effects.
Letters from Rome, dated February 26, mentions, that the Pope had repealed that part of the decree against the Society of Free Masons, or, as they are styled, the Assemblies De Liberi Muratori , passed at Rome in the year 1739; by which, if they were detected performing the rites of that secret art, they were not only excommunicated, but condemned to the galleys.—This is a fresh instance of the benevolence and toleration which distinguish the present Pontiff.
Within these few years most of the Italian Nobles and dignified Ecclesiastics have been made Free Masons,—they held their meetings generally in private houses, though they have established lodges, at Naples, Leghorn, Venice, Verona, Turin, Messina in the island of Sicily, Genoa, and Modena;—the members of which are exceedingly liberal to poor and distressed travellers of every country.
A very excellent book has appeared at Vienna, written in French, under the title of " Des Superstitions Populaires ," reprobating the various modes of superstition still prevalent in many parts of the world.—The Emperor has taken under his protection the author—who treats most elaborately and ingeniously on the rise and progress of superstitious opinions, from the time of the Romans to the present era.
The celebrated Mrs. M c Caulay Graham, after having visited several parts of America, and received many tokens of esteem from the principal characters in the United States, has now retired, on account of her health, to the South of France, and lives with her husband (the brother of the electrical Doctor) at a beautiful villa in the environs of Marseilles, where she is employed in writing a history of the American Revolution.
Last Friday, as one Mr. Haywood , an attorney, was coming to town from Huntingdon, he was stopped at Chestnut Wash by two footpads; one held a pistol to the servant's head; while the other went up to Mr. Haywood , and demanded his money. Mr. Haywood asked him, how he dare stop a lawyer? The fellow replied, it gave him pleasure to do that:—For do not you rob your clients? And therefore it is only one thief robs another. But, says the footpad, this is not a time to talk; your money immediately, or the contents of this pistol, which will spoil you for a lawyer; and robbed him of nine guineas, and his servant of two guineas, and then bid them ride on.
Extract of a letter from Gloucester, March 21.
"The merchants of France have come to the resolution of presenting a petition to their Monarch, requesting him to withdraw the prohibition on the importation of English manufactures. They alledge, with great sagacity, that without English goods, they are unable to make up their cargoes for foreign markets, and if these articles are not sent to the countries which require them, in French ships, the English themselves will find some other channel, and will probably establish a rivalry against those manufactures, in which the French take the lead."
So tenacious were our forefathers of their rights and liberties that the preamble to the Mutiny Act declares, that a standing army is unconstitutional and illegal; but so relaxed are their successors in principles of freedom, that Mr. Dundas ventures to stand forward and propose a statute, which declares that "arbitrary power is necessary to give energy, vigour, and dispatch to Government." Good Heaven! If the late Lord Chatham was alive, how the thunder of his eloquence would pour forth its whole powers against such proceedings.
The Ministerialists puff away their patrons, under an idea that part of the national debt is to be paid off this year; but if that should be the case, what relief would the country receive, when the consequence must
be a loan exceeding the debt paid off.—This mode of relieving us, may be compared to two buckets in a draw-well, one of which empties while the other fills—both being set in motion by the same hand.
The surplus of above 900,000l. stated by the Committee of Finance, is the excess of the old taxes above the purposes to which they were appropriated;—but on the war taxes, there is a deficiency of one million three hundred and eighty thousand pounds; so on the whole revenue there is actually a deficiency of four hundred and sixty thousand pounds, which the year 1786 must be liable for.
The Court of Spain has not admitted an Envoy from America. Mr. Sayne , who acted during the war as an agent to the French Court, has been talked of, but without any other foundation than his going to the Continent as a travelling merchant, and not in quality of an Envoy.
A petition is daily expected from Jamaica, to open an intercourse between that island and America, on particular conditions.
Our letters from Italy give a very dreadful account of the earthquake, which on the 5th of February took place in the island of Corfu.—Part of the town is no more now than a heap of ruins, and the country about presents a melancholy scene. Above 100 people were buried under the ruins;—and the number of those who were dangerously wounded, is countless.—The Governor and his family had just time to reach the port, and get into a boat, before his house, a most noble edifice indeed, was completely swallowed up.—It is further added, that this terrible scourge had been felt in the Isles of St. Mause and Argos; both of which have sustained very considerable damage.
A letter from the Hague, dated March 14, says—"The 20th of this month is dreaded at Utrecht.—The burghers seem determined to force the Magistrate to keep the word he has given to revoke the regulation of 1674, and the Magistrate, on his side, is taking measures to refuse to yield to them. A civil war is ready to break in that unhappy city. Some hundreds of the Vry Corps from several places are gone there to support the burghers;—it is feared there will be some blood shed. The 20th is the day fixed for this great revolution."
Extract of a letter from Venice, Feb. 4.
"By the last advice from Dalmatia we are informed, that the Pacha of Scutari, at the head of a numerous army, had made himself master of several places in the province of Jana, as well as of Spug. The same letters adds, that the Eli Pacha, of Albassa, having taken the field by order of the Porte, had with the former several skirmishes, with various success on each side, but mostly favourable to the rebellious Pacha.—Our Senate are in the greatest apprehension for the safety of that part of the Republic's territories."
March 29. The principal object of the American Minister to this Court is reported to be a new regulation, for the admission of ships belonging to the United States, into the ports of Jamaica, and our other West-India Islands. But as Government, conformably to the dictates of sound policy, has wisely excluded the ships of aliens from carrying on our trade coast-wise, even to Guernsey and other circumjacent islands, 'tis scarcely probable he will succeed his negotiation. The coast trade, next to our internal traffic, merits the greatest encouragement; because the sailors employed in it are most within call, by returning frequently into domestic harbours; and, owing to the exclusion of foreigners, the ships, which were employed before the American revolution, in the coast trade, were to the ships engaged in the foreign commerce of England, as 220,000 tons are to 335,000, exclusive of repeated voyages.
Authentic advices from New-York, dated Feb. 4, mention, that a treaty had been for some time in agitation between His Most Christian Majesty and the United States, by which the former was, upon certain stipulations, to cede for ever to Congress one of the French West-India islands; a circumstance of great importance to the commercial interest of America.
March 30. Private advices from Leghorn import, that news had been brought there of the Chevalier Emo , the Venetian Admiral against the Tunisians, having ordered a feint attack upon a particular part of the place, he drew thither all the garrison, whilst, improving a favourable wind, which sprung up at the time, the Admiral entered the Goulette , where, having landed 1500 men, he levelled with the ground all the new fortifications erected by the besieged, during the truce formerly granted to the Dey; a strong castle was also taken by the Venetians, who spiked all the ordnance they found there, which consisted of several large pieces of artillery.
March 31. Government on Wednesday received further dispatches from Nova-Scotia, by the Industry , Capt. Berkley . The arrival of this ship has unravelled the whole mystery of the intelligence received some time since by the Brisk sloop of war, which Commodore Sawyer dispatched from Halifax in January last. The troubles in America are become so great, particularly at the two ends of the United States, that, to escape anarchy and confusion, the most wealthy and peaceable of the inhabitants are gradually removing where they can find an asylum. In particular a number of (Quakers chiefly) persons of property and commercial consideration from Nantucket have removed, with their families, effects, and property, into the King's province of Nova-Scotia, where they represented their melancholy prospects in their own country—and petitioned the Governor for permission to settle. These people were at first, in August last, but few;—but the succeeding months having been followed by many others, as they found their predecessors so well received by the English, they have come to Nova-Scotia with building materials, and begun to construct dwellings. Commodore Sawyer has therefore sent home for instructions, relative to those new settlers
who, as they are the most wealthy and respectable, and a people by nature and practice quiet and peaceable, deserve the fostering hand of the British government.
April 5. This day His Grace the Lord Lieutenant went in state to the House of Peers, with the usual solemnity, and the Commons being sent for, gave the royal assent to
An Act for facilitating the trade and intercourse between this kingdom and the United States of America.
We hear from Warsaw (via Paris) that 100,000 Tartars have taken possession of the defiles bordering on the Boristhenes, and that they also occupy the banks of that river.—If this intelligence be founded, it is probable that the Russians will for a time be deprived of the Crimea, Cuba, and the Isle of Taman. The politicians of Warsaw look on it as a certainty, that the Russians will one day or other find their graves in the Crimea.
Letters from Algiers, dated Jan. 6, inform us, that peace is at last concluded between the Regency and the Court of Madrid. The Dey at first insisted, that the latter should furnish the quantity of ammunition and naval stores demanded in kind; but the Comte D'Efply positively refused this, declaring that his Catholic Majesty could never consent to any thing more than paying the value of them in money; and at last the Dey consented to sign the treaty. The letters add, that the negotiations with his Faithful and with his Sicilian Majesty are also bringing to a conclusion.—In the mean time, the little fleet of 12 corsairs, which sailed some time since, has sent in there two prizes which they took from the Neapolitans.
Extract of a letter from Leghorn, March 8.
"This day a Maltese frigate put in here in a very shattered condition, having had an engagement with two Barbary Corsairs, one hour and twenty minutes, in which many of his men were either killed or wounded, and the Captain says, that he had pointed a gun down to sink the ship, rather than fall into the hands of the Barbarians, when a Portuguese bore down upon them, and the second broadside sunk one, and the other sheered off, but that the Portuguese was going in chase of her. The Maltese frigate has been examined and is found so much damaged, that she must undergo a thorough repair before she can be put to sea again.—The wounded men are sent to the Lazaretto, and surgeons are appointed by order of the Grand Duke to attend them."
The following singular circumstance, a correspondent assures us, took place a short time since at a house of fashionable resort in the parish of St. James's.—A young gentleman of distinction having lost a considerable sum of money at a Pharoah bank, was so exceedingly affected by it, that he, determined upon an act of suicide, in order to relieve himself from his distress. Filled with this idea, he put a case of pistols in his pocket, and proceeded to the above house, to which he was a subscriber, he ordered a room and a bottle of claret, with pen, ink, and paper. He then wrote a letter to an intimate friend, describing his unhappy state, which he declared himself unable any longer to bear; told him, that by the time the letter reached him he should be out of his misery, and concluded with some requests as a last proof of his friendship. Having dispatched his letter he laid his pistols on the table, and being exceedingly thirsty, and seeing the wine before him, he very naturally drank a glass. The refreshment this afforded him tempted him to repeat it; he took a third, and, in brief, four or five glasses gave such a happy turn to his thoughts by exhilaration, that he deferred his rash purpose, until his friend burst into the room with the utmost anxiety! Instead of finding the letter-writer weltering in his blood, he saw him sitting at the table musing with great composure. He instantly removed the pistols! they finished the bottle together, and the despairing man went home, reconciled to himself, and to that life which he had so recently determined to renounce.
State of New-Hampshire.
NOTICE is hereby given to the non-resident proprietors and owners of land in the town of Pittsfield, who have not paid their State taxes for the year 1784, that unless they pay the same to me the subscriber, on or before Monday the 19th day of June next, so much of their land as will pay the same, together with incidental charges, will be sold at public vendue, at ten o'clock, on said day, unless prevented by previous payment. The vendue will be held at the house of John Cram, Esq. innholder in said town.
   No. Range. Div. l. s. d.     46 John Sanborn 3 3 0 6   62 Stephen Page 5 3 0 6   70 Benjamin Gamblins 3 0 6 6   14 Stephen Cross 1 2 0 6   28 Jarvis Ring 2 2 0 6   10 Richard Gove 25 2 0 6   31 Richard Jennens 2 2 0 6  
JEREMIAH GARLAND, Collector.
Pittsfield May 12, 1786.
To be sold by virtue of an order
from the Honourable the Judge of Probate, so much as will pay the demands against the estate of JOHN HART, Esq. late of Newington, deceased, with incidental charges, on Monday the 5th of JUNE, Ten o'clock, North end, viz.
A HOUSE, WARE-HOUSE and WHARF Privileged at the North end of the town:—a strip of LAND round the North burying ground; a small lot of LAND near the Rope-Walks; about two and an half acres of LAND at Ishington Creek, so called;—Also, about thirteen acres of LAND near the Farm the deceased lived on at Newington.
Conditions known at time and place.
GEORGE HART, Administrator.

American Intelligence.
PHILADELPHIA, May 13.
Sunday last an express arrived in this city from the Western country, and brought dispatches which contain the following intelligence, viz. That in the night of the 29th March, the hostages from the Shawanese nation, together, with their interpreter and his family, privately withdrew from our fort at the mouth of the Miami; that several murders have been committed both above and below the fort, two very recently within four miles of it on the Kentucky shore; that, from threats and insinuations of unfriendly Indians, an attack on that garrison was apprehended—under this idea, a reinforcement is gone down from fort McIntosh; that the garrison is well supplied with provisions, and plenty of excellent water within the body of the work; that about twenty Indians were lately seen near fort McIntosh, but their intentions could not be devised; and that several of their Chiefs had been invited to a talk with Sir John Johnstone at Niagara.
On Monday last, two companies of the troops, raised for the defence of the posts on the western frontiers, under the command of that experienced officer, Col. Harmer, marched from this city for Fort-Pitt. They are well equipped, and make a very martial appearance, and will doubtless be considered as a formidable reinforcement to the companies already on that station. Captains Ferguson of the train of artillery, and M'Curdy of the infantry, command the above companies. We learn that the company from New-Jersey, under Captain Mercer, will also take up their march in a few days for the same quarter.
By recent letters from Spain we hear that the account of the cession of the Floridas to France is premature; but there was great reason to believe that something of the kind would take place between England and Spain, in exchange for the fortress of Gibraltar, which would besides be followed by a very favourable treaty of commerce. Should it take place, it may prove of a very alarming nature to the United States, both as neighbours, and as rivals in several important branches of trade.
NEW-LONDON, May 12.
A Creature of the amphibious kind, by the Indians called Oquao, is not the least remarkable among the innumerable curiosities with which this country abounds. This animal has two heads; a property which, perhaps, belongs not to any other in existence: His tail is fifteen feet long: Otherwise he in some measure resembles a Turtle. By day the Oquao is rarely seen, as then he lies close in his retreat, under water; but at night he wanders abroad to satisfy his hunger; the Deer are his favourite game, and his manner of taking them is invidious and cruel. He places himself in the deer-path, where, without motion, and having the appearance of a stump more than of an animal, he waits the approach of his unsuspecting prey. The Deer strides heedlessly over his destroyer, who throws out his tail, entwines him in a moment, drags him in spite of all his resistance to the next creek, and there drowns and devours him. One of these uncommon animals was discovered last week by a soldier early in the morning, as he was dragging off the booty of the night: Several gentlemen who were near, went immediately in quest of him; and as these creatures are far from being swift, he was soon overtaken. With great difficulty, after having born the strokes of a dozen clubs for near half an hour, he was killed; happily for us he held his prey to the last, otherwise our attempt might have been attended with some danger: His eyes had such a malignant keenness, that I could not help regarding the very sight of him as being truly horrid. We released the Deer, which was already dead, from his fatal gripe, brought him home, and weighed him (the Oquao) and found his weight four hundred and forty-four pounds."
NEW-YORK, May 9.
Notwithstanding the repeated accounts of the depredations of the Barbary Corsairs upon the American trade, there is reason to think the far greater part of the intelligence is fabricated by our old well-wishers in England and elsewhere for purposes sufficiently obvious—the story of the Turkish cruisers in the West-India seas, is probably of equal authority with the rest, and calculated to operate upon the credulous and uninformed of this country, who think nothing safe except in British bottoms.
Very considerable numbers of the British and Irish emigrants to this country since 1782, it is said, have returned to their respective homes, giving most deplorable accounts of the situation and distress of these states. The truth of the matter is, most people of this description while at home, imbibe an idea that riches are to be acquired here without either labour or attention on their part, and thus it happens that he who has been perhaps 15, 20 or 30 years scratching in a Scotch kale yard, or digging one quarter of an acre of potatoe ground, faints at the prospect of clearing and cultivating a tract of only 2 or 300 acres, which, after four or five years honest industry would make him a happy and independent man.
Extract of a letter from Charleston, April 13. "Military regulations, in regard to shipping and
craft entering this harbour, are observed here with great strictness. Upon any vessel's attempting to pass fort Johnson without heaving to and sending her boat on shore, she is saluted by the discharge of a six pounder; and in case of obstinacy, after that with round shot in abundance, at four dollars pr. shot. Upon arriving on shore at the fort a great number of questions are to be answered, and a great deal sworn to—Be the weather ever so bad, there is not the least relaxation of these rigorous laws; the boat must be hoisted out, and sent to the fort, although your people should perish in the experiment, and your vessel be wrecked on the rocks and sands which abound thereabouts. All this would be well enough in time of war, as the situation of the place would seem to demand a good look out to be kept;—but impositions of this kind, I will be bold to say, are no ways becoming an American commercial town in time of peace."
BOSTON, May 22.
The negotiations carried on in France the last winter, for the purpose of reviving the trade of America with that kingdom, by establishing an interchange of commodities, to the reciprocal benefit of both countries, were attended with the most flattering prospects of success. Proposals were received with pleasure, and engagements for carrying them into effect were freely and with confidence made on their part, by some of the most opulent and extensive merchants in the kingdom, under the best countenance and encouragement of government; and that nothing is wanting to render them complete, and to give a spring to the dying commerce and navigation of this country, but a return of the same confidence on our part, with the spirited exertions of persons of property, and that enterprising activity which formerly gave both character and fortune to all orders of our citizens. The generous patronage and good offices of that excellent nobleman, and firm friend of America, the Marquis de la Fayette, on this, as on every other occasion, entitle him to our highest and most grateful respect.
Lord Cornwallis, the hero of Yorktown, has been lately appointed Governor-General of the British territories in India; whither he will be accompanied by Col. Tarleton, whose name is wrote, in bloody characters, on the memory of every American.
On Thursday last the ship Diana, Capt. Folger, arrived here, with a cargo of muscovado sugar, direct from France.—A new speculation!
We have authentic advice from London, of a very late date, that affairs there, as they respect America, bear a very unfavorable aspect, which is entirely owing to the delay or refusal of the States to vest Congress with the necessary powers of government, particularly for the regulation of Commerce. Our Ambassadors, it is said, are in a very disagreeable predicament; and, it is feared, will ere long be treated with contempt. Some proposals, however, have been lately made respecting a treaty of commerce, which are said, in some of our latest accounts, to have been under the consideration of the British Cabinet: but whether any thing will be effected, time only can determine.
We received an account, on Saturday last, from North-Carolina, that on the 11th instant a fire broke out in the town of Wilmington, in that state, by which upwards of 24 dwelling-houses, with many stores, &c. (said to amount to about one third of the buildings of which the town consisted) were entirely consumed, together with a large quantity of naval stores, and other property, to a very considerable value.
PORTSMOUTH, May 25.
Great animosities continue in Holland, between the partisans of the States and those of the Stadholder.—A dreadful massacre was expected on the 17th of March: a company of cavalry rushed upon a few of those termed the Orange party, sword in hand, seized one, and dispersed the remainder. Further outrages were expected the ensuing night, centinels were placed in different parts, and a triple guard ordered upon duty.
It may justly be observed that this country is not at present in a good situation, nor can it be, till we become more industrious, and restrain the importation of foreign luxuries, which make us tributary to other nations. Necessity has brought about that which political wisdom has neglected. We might have been a very flourishing country had not the love of luxury, the desire of engrossing land, the general disregard to virtue and moral obligation prevented. Liberty and mutual advantages signify nothing to those who want wisdom and virtue to improve them properly.
It is happy for the world, that improvements in agriculture and manufactures, and the extension of commerce, have become more the objects of nations, than the acquisition of additional territories—that they endeavour to rise superior to each other, by excelling in those arts which are useful to mankind, rather than to annihilate their rivals by the force of arms. War is the very bane of commerce; and it is evidently with reluctance the more enlightened powers engage in it. Ambition is, in a great measure, disarmed of its various pretences to encroach upon the rights of others, as the benefits resulting from a reciprocal intercourse of trade are inconceivably manifest.
NAVAL OFFICE,
PORT OF PISCATAQUA, May 25, 1786. ENTERED, From Brig Polly, Rice, Martinico. Brig Mary, Smalcorn, Cape Francois. Brig Irish Gimblet, Welch, Martinico. Ship Hero, Wardrobe, Tobago. CLEARED, For Schooner Fly, Twombly, West-Indies.
State of New-Hampshire. To the Proprietors of the town of Wolfborough, in the county of Strafford, in said State. YOU are hereby notified to meet at the dwelling house of Col. William Brewster, in Portsmouth, on Thursday the fifteenth day of June next, at three o'clock, P. M. then and there to transact the following matters, viz.
1st, To choose a Moderator. 2d, To see if the Proprietors will exchange the ten acre lot, designed to place a meeting house on, for one more convenient for that purpose. 3d, To see how much money is necessary to be raised to discharge the debts of the Proprietors, and to vote the same. 4th, To choose Assessors and Collector. 5th, To see whether the Proprietors will dispose of their common and undivided land; and to do any other matter, or thing for the benefit of the Proprietors.
JOHN PARKER, Proprietors Clerk. Portsmouth, May 21, 1786.
ALL persons indebted to, or that have claims against the estate of the Rev. DANIEL ROGERS, late of Exeter, deceased, are desired to settle the same with the subscriber, executor to his will. THOMAS ODIORNE. Exeter. May 20, 1786.
State of New-Hampshire. NOTICE is hereby given to the non-resident owners of land in the following towns, viz. Piermont from 1774 to 1786, Lyndborough, 1779, 1781, 1782 and 1785. Concord, alias Gunthwait, from 1774 to 1784, Unity, 1780, Conway, 1782, Pelham, 1781, 1782, 1783 and 1784. Protection, 1782 and 1785. Hollis 1783 and 1784. Dorchester, 1782 and 1785, Salisbury, 1783 and 1784, Canterbury, 1784 and 1785, Chichester, 1784 and 1785, New Chester, 1784 and 1785, Peterborough and Strafford, 1783, Raymond, 1783 and 1784 Moultonborough, 1781 and 1782, New Boston, 1784 and 1785, Deerfield, Fishersfield, Enfield, Middleton, the Gore and Acworth, Alstead, Dublin, Raby, Nottingham, Epsom, Pembroke Society, Cardia and Grafton for the year 1784, Offipe, Northumberland, New Ipswich, Packerfield, Sandwich, Marlborough, Hancock, Lempster, New London, Cambell's Gore, New-Bedford, Wakefield, Francisstown, Weare, Wolfborough, Gilmantown, Dearing, Northwood, Effingham and Tamworth, for 1785; that their lands in said towns are taxed for the years aforesaid, and if they are not paid within eight weeks from the first publication of this advertisement, either to the collectors or the subscriber, they will be advertised for sale.
THO. ODIORNE, Receiver of non residents taxes. Exeter, May 17, 1786.
TO be sold at public vendue, to the highest bidder, on Thursday the first day of June next, at ten o'clock forenoon, at the dwelling house of Lt. Joseph Smith, innholder in Windham, so much of the non resident land of Capt. Joseph Kelly, lying in said town, as may be sufficient to pay his tax in said Windham, for the year 1783, with incidental charges, if not prevented by previous payment. Lt. Joseph Smith £1 18 1 ROBERT MORRISON, Collector. Windham, April 21, 1786.
TO be sold at public vendue to the highest bidder, on Thursday the first day of June next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, at the dwelling house of Lt. Joseph Smith, innholder in Windham, in the county of Rockingham, so much of the non resident land of Capt. Joseph Kelly, lying in said town, as may be sufficient to discharge his tax in said town, for 1782, with incidental charges, if not prevented by previous payment. WILLIAM DINSMORE, Collector. Capt. Joseph Kelly £1 5 7 3 Windham, April 28 1786.
TO BE SOLD, THAT well known, large and very convenient DWELLING HOUSE, now in the occupation of Capt. Zechariah Foss, in Portsmouth, near the Court-House, which has been for a number of years improved as a public inn, for the entertainment of travellers by said Foss; it's situation is well calculated for any gentleman in the country, who may incline to remove into this town, with a view to accommodate his friends and others with lodgings and entertainment, especially during the sessions of the General Assembly, and other Courts. Such a person may now have a most favourable opportunity of purchasing a house for that purpose, accommodated with an uncommon number of well finished rooms. A generous credit will be given for part of the consideration money. It may be so divided as to suit two purchasers if more agreeable; such a building for the said purpose, on account of the situation and accommodations, is not to be got in this town, on the same terms of payment. An indisputable title will be given of the same. Inquire of JOHN WENDELL. Portsmouth, May 8, 1786.

Parnassian Spring.
Mr. FELCONER, the author of the SHIPWRECK, has pictured the dissolution of a vessel with such accuracy, that we cannot forbear giving an extract on the subject.—The ALBERT of the poem is the counter-portrait of the unfortunate Capt. Pierce, who perished in the Halfwell, on the rocks Purbeck.
EXTRACT.
IN vain the cords and axes were prepar'd, For now the audacious seas insult the yard; High o'er her burst, in terrible cascade, Uplifted on the surge, to heaven she flies, Her shatter'd top half buried in the skies, Then headlong plunging, thunders on the ground. Earth groans! Air trembles! & the Deep's resound! Her giant bulk the dread confusion feels, And quivering with the wound, in torment rebels! —Again she plunges! —Hark! a second shock Tars her strong bottom on the marble rock! Down on the vale of death, with dismal cries, The fatal victims shudd'ring roll their eyes, In wild despair; —while yet another stroke, With deep convulsion, rends the solid oak. At length asunder torn, her frame divides, And crashing spreads in ruin o'er the tides! But O, unhappy CHIEF! th' eternal doom Of Heaven decreed thee to the briny tomb! What scenes of misery torment thy view! What painful struggles of the dying crew! —Ah! with his helpless Children to the last, Sad refuge! —ALBERT hugs the floating mast; His soul could yet sustain the mortal blow, But droops, alas! beneath superior woe! For now soft nature's sympathetick chain Tugs his yearning heart with powerful strain; His faithful wife, forever doom'd to mourn For him alas! who never shall return! All faint to Heaven, he throws his dying eyes, "My children, and my wife protect!" he cries. "The gushing streams roll back th' unfinish'd sound; He grasps! he dies! he seeks the deep profound!
ALL persons indebted to, or that have any demands upon the estate of John Elliot, late of Portsmouth, glazier, deceased, are desired to bring in their accounts for settlement, to Hannah Elliot, executrix to his last will and testament. Portsmouth, May 19, 1786.
State of New-Hampshire.
NOTICE is hereby given to the non resident owners of land in Antrim, who have not paid their state and meeting house taxes for the year 1785, that so much of their lands will be sold at public vendue, on Thursday, the fifteenth day of June next, at my dwelling-house in said town, at three o'clock in the afternoon, as will pay the taxes and charges, unless prevented by previous payment. State and Meeting-house.
   s. d. l. s. d.     William Boyd 4 6 0 16 8   Samuel Vose 3 4 0 12 6   John Patten 0 3 0 1 1   David Clark 0 8 0 2 3   John Wallace 5 1 0 10 0   Peter Wheeler 2 6 0 9 2   John McAlvain 1 8 0 6 3   William McAlvain 1 8 0 6 3   Joseph Ardway 1 2 0 4 2   Richard Emerion 1 2 0 4 7   John Moore 4 6 0 11 8   Robert Moore's heirs, half 6 9 1 5 4   Page 2 10 0 10 5   William Dunlap 1 3 0 4 6   Abijah Hadley 1 2 0 4 2   Joseph Clark's heirs 2 3 0 8 4  
THOMAS STUART, Collector.
Antrim, May 2, 1786.
State of New Hampshire.
WHEREAS the proprietors of Marlborough, at a legal meeting held in said town, the first day of February 1786, voted, To raise one penny per acre on each proprietor's right, in order to pay the proprietors debts; this is therefore to give notice to the proprietors or owners of land in said town, that unless the same is paid before the first day of June next, their lands will be advertised for sale, as the law directs.
DANIEL CUTTING, Proprietors Collector. Marlborough, April 24, 1786.
ALL Persons indebted to, or who have claims against the estate of JOSEPH PURINGTON, late of Pittsfield, deceased, are desired to settle the same with the subscriber, executor of his Will. JAMES PURINGTON.
Pittsfield, April 27, 1786.
WHEREAS the proprietors of Coventry in the county of Grafton, and State of New-Hampshire, have been legally notified to pay me a tax of NINE POUNDS lawful money on each original right or proprietors share, assessed by a vote of said proprietors, at a meeting lawfully warned, and held the third day of August, A. D. 1782, yet many of said proprietors have neglected to make payment of the same. Notice is hereby given to said delinquents, that unless the said tax, with incidental charges, is paid to me at my house, in Boscawen, in the county of Hillsborough, and state aforesaid, before the first Friday of June next, so much of their respective shares as will pay said tax and charges, will be sold at public auction, the sale to begin at the dwelling-house of Amos Sawyer, innholder in Plaftow, in the county of Rockingham, and state aforesaid, on Friday the 2d day of June next, at 10 o'clock before noon, and the sale to be continued from time to time, until enough is sold to satisfy their taxes as aforesaid. The names of the original grantees of the delinquent proprietors respective rights or shares are as follows, viz. Theophilus Fitch, Esq. John Fannier, Eliphalet Sealy, James Banks, Daniel Stevens, Amos Weed, Isaac Weed, Peter Weed, Ebenezer Hoit, Hezekiah Weed, Josiah Waterbury, Joseph Davenport, Gideon Leads, Samuel Crissey, Obadiah Sealy, Deodate Davenport, Ebenezer Scofield, Isaac Amidell, Samuel Belding, Ephraim Smith, James Smith, John Bettes, Jesse Smith, Peter Husted, Samuel Bowton, Ithiel Bowton, Zebulon Husted, David St. Johns, Joseph Ambler, Charles Smith, John Bettes, Abraham Weed, Reuben Weed, Nathaniel Lounsbury, Admer Stephens, Obediah Stephens, jr. Nathaniel Weed, Eleazer Sealy jr. Wix Sealy, Sylvanus Sealy, Silas Hoit, William Fannier, Daniel Benedict, Nathaniel Hoit, Enos Weed, Theophilus Hontford, Hezekiah Davenport, Nathaniel Waterbury, James Scofield, James Bates, Thomas Saymore, John Fannier, jr. Sylvanus Weed, Matthew Fountain, Joseph Lockwood, Adonijah Brown, Hon. John Temple, Esq. Theodore Atkinson, Esq. Theodore Atkinson jr. Esq. Samuel Weed, His Excellency Benning Wentworth, Esq. two shares.
SAMUEL ATKINSON, Proprietors Collector. Boscawen, February 2, 1786.
ALL persons that have any demands on the estate of Mayhew Clark, late of Wakefield, deceased, are desired to exhibit the same to Mary Clark, of Wakefield, aforesaid, administratrix on said estate, and all persons indebted to said estate are desired to make speedy payment to
MARY CLARK.
Wakefield, May 11, 1786.
To the FREEMEN of NEW-HAMPSHIRE.
GENTLEMEN,
AN address having been made you in last week's Gazette, signed by General Sullivan, which has a manifest tendency to prepossess your minds in the dispute between the heirs of Allen, and the Masonian Propriety, I must beg your indulgence to offer a few remarks upon it.
The honorable General has informed you of his motives in making this ingenious address. That he was induced by many false and malicious insinuations respecting this dispute: these, in all probability, are phantoms, having existence only in the warm imaginations of the Heirs and Assigns of Allen. The Masonian Proprietors have propagated no insinuations false or malicious, respecting their title.
He undertakes to state some facts respecting the Masonian Title, but in his partial statement, whether from misinformation, or from whatever other cause, he has most egregiously misrepresented some, and omitted others of as great moment as any he has alluded to.
The General says, "That the first Capt. John Mason devised the premises to his two sons, John and Robert"—This is not true. He says that in the year 1691, the said John and Robert, sold the same to Samuel Allen, Esq.—This is not true. He says Allen's son Thomas, kept up the claims and obtained several decisions in favour of the title he set up—Here again the General is mistaken.—He says a number of persons (meaning the Masonian propriety) purchased for seven hundred and fifty pounds, old tenor, of a descendant of Capt. Mason, his right in the patent.—This is not true, as "every person acquainted in the smallest degree with the history of New-Hampshire, must be sensible." These are the principal facts in the General's address, and records will give flat contradiction to each of them; but he has cautiously omitted many important ones, which the
Masonian Proprietors in proper time and place, will clearly substantiate. But as this is merely a question of right between two parties, in which the public, (although they will eventually determine it) are not immediately concerned, it would be highly improper to lay before them any evidence respecting the title, and therefore I forbear.
That the proceedings of the Masonian Propriety have ever been conducted on principles of honor—That they have very greatly contributed to the settlement and cultivation of a wilderness, and have at great expence caused a large part of it to become a fruitful field—That they have during the late revolution, paid enormous taxes to the support of government, and they have prevailed against the attacks of their most powerful and inveterate foes, are facts too stubborn to be successfully confronted by newspaper publications.
The General further assures us, that Allen's heirs and claimants will petition the Legislature, to fix and establish the head line of the patent by a new survey. If such a petition should come before the Legislature, there can be no doubt it will meet the disapprobation of every well wisher to the State.
This line has been fixed many years since, by order and authority of the then supreme executive power, by eminent surveyors and good chainmen under oath: The towns on both sides of the line are bounded by it: Should a new survey extend or narrow its limits, the very idea of the tumult and distraction it would occasion in the State, the endless disputes and controversies between those towns, must strike every feeling mind with horror. And what can be the advantage of a new survey? Is not the line as well fixed as it ever can be? Can the Masonian Propriety be materially affected by it? And can it benefit any others than a few factious individuals, who would sacrifice the peace and happiness of the whole State to their own interest.
We understand by the address under consideration, that these claimants engaged their council in Massachusetts three years ago, and that the General was retained in the cause.—He relates some part of the conversation that passed between him and his clients upon this subject, the great tenderness and compassion he felt for many of you, as honest deluded men, who had purchased under the Masonian Propriety, and his wishes to give you a good title—such are your obligations, and such the bounty of the generous heirs and assigns aforesaid, that you are encouraged that you shall not be compelled to abandon the hard-earned fruits of your toils; the lands purchased with your money, and improved and watered with the sweat of your brows; but then it seems expected; and what can you do less, in return, than cast a favourable eye on your benefactors, that they may obtain "the small crumbs that may yet fall from the table," of the Masonian Propriety.
In an attack made with much confidence by powerful confederated forces, against a body said to be themselves "conscious of their want of title," while their opponents are "perfectly satisfied that they have not even a colour of title." By what wonder does it happen, that the boldest of the formidable phalanx, supported, as they would have you believe, by law in their front, and justice in their rear have never dared to bring the controversy to a decision in the open field of law. —If victory were so certain, what need of being forever recruiting, or beating up for volunteers.
To sum up all, Gentlemen, for to trouble you longer would be unpardonable, we shall not condescend to notice any thing further they may offer on this subject through the channel of newspapers; confident assertions from them, without proof, and direct contradictions from us, can only astonish and mislead the minds of those who have not time or ability to examine for themselves. —If these claimants are desirous to establish their claim, the courts are open to them, let them bring their action and obtain a legal decision on it (if this has not been done often enough already)—on this ground we are already to meet them, and are happy to reflect, that our right will not be decided by news paper writers of whatever signature, but by an unprejudiced impartial Court, and verdict of a jury consisting of twelve good and lawful men, being in the neighbourhood, who are our country, the equals of both parties, yet without favour or affection to either, and whose judgment will receive no other bias than that imposed by the law of the land, and the evidence before them.—Upon this issue the Masonian Proprietors are ready, with the fullest confidence, to submit the cause, and, with chearful acquiescence, await their decision.
A MASONIAN PROPRIETOR.
Portsmouth, May 18, 1786.
SUBSCRIPTIONS for this Paper, at Four shillings and six pence for six Months (exclusive of Postage) are taken in at this Office, and at the Printing-Office in Exeter, where Advertisements are received, the Favours of Correspondents, and all Orders in the Art of Printing attended to with Punctuality and Dispatch.