New-Hampshire gazette, or, State journal and general advertiser (Portsmouth, N.H.), 1779-08-31 00:00:00

Articles of Capitulation between
the Chevalier de Forlong du Romain, Lieutenant of his Most Christian Majesty, Commander in Chief of the French Troops, and his Excellency Valentine Morris, Esq; Captain General and Governor in Chief, in and over his Majesty's Island of St. Vincent, and its Dependencies, Chancellor, Ordinary, and Vice-Admiral of the same, &c. &c.
ARTICLE I.
G OVERNOR MORRIS demands, in the first place, that the Officer and Drummer sent by him yesterday to the Commander of the French troops be restored to him; the detaining these when sent as a flag of truce, and then continuing to march on, appearing to him to have been a great infringement of the laws of war. Granted.
ART. II. The Governor, and Staff Officers, officers of the troops and soldiers to march out with their colours flying, drums beating, a round a piece, with two brass field pieces; arms, baggage and all the honours of war. Granted.
ART. III. The regular troops, officers, soldiers, and artillery men, to be carried to the island of Antigua in good vessels sufficiently victualled at the expence of his most Christian Majesty, and there to be at liberty to do duty, the Governor engaging an equal number of equal qualities of French prisoners to be exchanged in their room.
The same for one officer of Engineers and an assistant Engineer.
The troops shall be exchanged at Antigua for an equal number of French prisoners.
ART. IV. The officers and others shall have liberty to carry their wives and families, and domestic slaves, to the English Islands by the shortest rout, and that they shall be furnished with good vessels and provisions for their passage. Granted.
ART. V. The inhabitants of the Island shall march out of their posts with the honours of war, their baggage, arms and colours, drums beating and lighted matches.
The inhabitants shall go freely to their homes.
ART. VI. The inhabitants of the Island shall continue to enjoy their civil government, their laws, usages, and ordinances; justice shall be administered, by the same persons that are now in office, and the inferior police of the island shall be settled between his Most Christian Majesty's Governor and the inhabitants; and in case the island be ceded to the King of France at the peace, the inhabitants shall be at liberty, either to preserve their political government, or accept that which is established in Martinico and the French islands. Granted.
ART. VII. The inhabitants, both secular and clergy, shall be maintained in the possession of their real and personal estates and enjoyment of their rights and privileges honours and immunities, and the free negroes and mulattoes in their freedom. Granted.
ART. VIII. That they shall pay no other duty to his most Christian Majesty than they pay to his Britannic Majesty, without any other tax or impost; the expence of the administration of justice, the salaries of ministers, and other extraordinary charges, shall be paid out of the revenues of his most Christian Majesty, in like manner as under the government of his Britannic Majesty.
Granted if it was granted at Dominica.
ART. IX. That the slaves, baggage, vessels, merchandise, and every thing else taken since the landing of the French troops, and during the attack of the island, shall be restored.
Granted as far as it possibly can be effected.
ART. X. The absent inhabitants and those in the service of his Britannic Majesty, shall be maintained in the enjoyment and possession of their estates and effects, which shall be managed by their attorneys. Granted.
ART. XI. The inhabitants shall not be compelled to furnish quarters or any thing else for the troops or slaves to work on the fortifications.
This article cannot be granted.
ART. XII. The ships, vessels, and droghers, belonging to the inhabitants of this island, shall remain their property. Granted.
ART. XIII. The widows and other inhabitants, who from sickness or other obstacles cannot sign the Capitulation, shall have a limited time to agree to it. Granted.
ART. XIV. The inhabitants and merchants of the island comprehended in the present capitulation, shall enjoy all the privileges of trade, on the same terms as
are granted to the subjects of his most Christian Majesty, throughout the extent of his dominions.
Granted.
ART. XV. The inhabitants shall observe a strict neutrality, and not be enforced to take up arms against his Britannic Majesty or other power. Granted.
ART. XVI. The inhabitants shall enjoy the free exercise of their religion, and the ministers their curacies. Granted.
ART. XVII. All the prisoners taken, or persons detained, since the landing of the French troops, shall be reciprocally restored. Granted.
ART. XVIII. Merchants of the island may receive ships to their address without being confiscated, dispose of their merchandize and carry on trade, and the port shall be entirely free on paying the same duties as in the French islands.
Agreed, provided they wear French colours after they arrive.
ART. XIX. The inhabitants shall keep their arms. Rejected.
ART. XX. No person but those resident on the island, or at present proprietors of lands and houses, shall hold any house or lands by purchase, or other wise, until the peace; but at the peace, if this island be ceded to the King of France, the inhabitants who decline being under the French government may then be at liberty to sell their estates, both real and personal, to whom they please, and to retire where they shall think proper, for which purpose a reasonable time be allowed them. Granted.
ART. XXI. The inhabitants of the island may send their children to be educated in England, as well as to send them back, and to make remittances for their maintenance while in England. Granted.
ART. XXII. The inhabitants shall be at liberty to sell their estates and effects to whom they think fit. Granted.
ART. XXIII. That the Court of Chancery shall be held by the members of the Council, and the proceedings be the same as are now used in Antigua, except that all writs and other process shall be granted by the President of the Council, and the great seal used in this island shall be given unto and remain in his custody for the purpose of sealing all writs, process and decrees, issuing out of and made by the said Court. Granted if it was granted at Dominica.
ART. XXIV. That the wives of such officers and others as are not in the island, may retire with their effects and the number of domestics according to their rank. Granted.
ART. XXV. There shall be delivered to the General of the French troops, all the artillery and stores in the colony of St. Vincent, belonging to the King of England, all the batteries on the coast and the respective posts, as well in the Caraib country as elsewhere in the island, shall be surrendered in the same state they were in when the island was attacked, such injury as they may have received in any attack excepted; all the arms belonging to the King of England's troops shall be delivered in like condition, excepting those of the officers of the troops and militia, no powder shall be delivered or carried out of the magazines, which shall be delivered by the Governor. Granted.
ART. XXVI. None of the Indians or Caraibs shall on any accounts be permitted to garrison or be quartered in any of the forts, posts, towns, or houses in the island, and the inhabitants demand and expect the protection of his most Christian Majesty's Commander, to preserve their persons and property inviolate, as long as they faithfully observe the present articles of capitulation.
Granted with the exception in the reference.
ART. XXVII. All negroes now absent or run away shall when taken and brought in, be delivered up to their proprietors, and if any such are harboured by the Indians, Caraibs, or free negroes, they shall thereupon be restored. Granted.
ART. XXVIII. Whatever the depredations the Caraibs have committed during, or since the attack of the island; they be compelled to instantly desist therefrom, and made to release and give up all slaves and effects which they have taken, and to be fully restrained from hereafter committing the least disorder on the persons and effects of the inhabitants.
As much justice as possible shall be rendered.
ART. XXIX. All the Caraibs now under arms, and who have joined the French troops, to be disarmed, dismissed and ordered to their respective homes; and
all others now in arms to be disarmed and also compelled to retire to their respective homes, and remain in their own district.
Granted with the exceptions in the reference.
ART. XXX. A safe conduct to be granted for all the papers at the Government House, and these not to be liable to any inspection, & Governor Morris to be at liberty to keep these there or to remove them. Granted.
ART. XXXI. The like to be granted for all papers and records in the respective offices of the customs, the Marshall, Secretary and Register, Receiver General, Treasurer, and Commissary, and of all public records and papers, to be left in the custody of their respective officers and not to be inspected. Granted.
ART. XXXII. Permission to send either to England or to some of his Majesty's Admirals or Governors, advice, to be forwarded to his Britannic Majesty of the present event.
Whenever the Governor thinks proper.
ART. XXXIII. Governor Morris to remain in the island some time, in order to settle his own private affairs; as also any of the King's officers, if required. Granted.
ART. XXXIV. Demanded by the French General.
The inhabitants shall not be obliged to pay any debts due to English persons not residing in this island, and who are not capitulants thereof, until the end of the war.
ART. XXXV. All vessels taken after the capitulation will be restored.
Granted with the exceptions in the reference.
ART. XXXVI. The colony shall be obliged to advance a sum of money to pay the troops, which will be discounted from the revenue.
We the commander in chief of the French troops; legally authorized in the King's name by the Count d'Estaing, and Valentine Morris, Esq; Governor in chief of the island of St. Vincent, have agreed to and signed three copies of the above thirty six articles.
Le Chevalier de Forlong du Romain.
Valentine Morris.
Par ordre, Dallan Westfield, Secretary.
REFERENCES.
I. As to the twenty ninth article, although Mr. Canonga had allowed it, it has been agreed that the Caraibs shall be sent to their homes, and these be restrained from doing any injury to the inhabitants and Red Caribes without disarming them.
II. Relative to the twenty sixth article, after the words in any of the forts, there shall be understood, except in cases of an attack.
III. The ships from Europe make an exception to the twenty fifth article.
Le Chevalier de Forlong du Romain.
Valentine Morris.
Par ordre, Dallan. Secretary.
By command, Robert Westfield, Secretary.
PARIS, April 26.
Copy of a letter from the King, to Monsieur the Admiral.
My COUZIN,
I AM informed that doubts have arisen respecting the precise time when hostilities in the present war commenced, & that from this uncertainty disputes may arise prejudicial to commerce: To prevent which, I have thought proper more particularly to explain what I signified to you in my letter of the 10th of July. I therefore command you to notify to all under your orders, that the insult offered to my flag by the English squadron, in seizing, on the 17th of June, 1778, my frigates the Licorne and the Pallas, laid me under the necessity of making reprisals: And accordingly that very day, the 17th June is to be considered, as the commencement of hostilities committed to my subjects by the King of England. Having nothing further to deliver to you, I pray God, my couzin, to take you into his holy protection.
DONE at Versailles, on the 5th day of the month of April 1779.
(Signed) LOUIS.
(And below) De Sartines

BOSTON, August 26. Saturday last arrived at Salem, the Salem Packet, Capt. Cook, in about 30 days from Bilboa.— We have been favoured with an English Paper which came in this vessel, containing the following PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE, respecting the Spanish Manifesto or Rescript delivered in by Count D'Almodovar, with some Debates which passed thereon.
L O N D O N,
HOUSE OF COMMONS, June 16.
T HE novelty of the Spanish Ambassador having declared in a Manifesto, i. e. a Declaration of war, (for no one expected it, and least of all the Minister himself) together with the expectation of the King's Message thereupon, a prodigious crowd of strangers blocked up the door, and filled up every avenue leading to the house; a little after two o'clock, under the most expressive impatience and anxiety for an introduction, while scarce a member came down without a friend or two, who had forestalled him the other side Westminister Hall.
Lord North having entered the house during the time the Speaker was attending the Lords on the King's commission, to give an assent to the bills, his Lordship, upon the Speaker's return, acquainted the house, that he had it in command from his Majesty, to lay before them a true translation of the manifesto delivered by the Spanish Ambassador, with a message from his Majesty respecting the same.
The very strong desire the public undoubtedly possess for the FULLEST information on this most important, and truly interesting subject, causes us to feel a very particular satisfaction that we are, thro' the most happy efforts for that purpose, enabled to lay before our readers, and that at so early a time, copies VERBATIM of the SPANISH MANIFESTO , and the KING'S MESSAGE thereupon.
SPANISH MANIFESTO. A LL the world has been witness to the noble impartiality of the King, in the midst of the disputes of the court of London with its American colonies and with France. Besides which, his Majesty having learned that his powerful mediation was desired, generally made an offer of it, which was accepted by the Belligerent Powers, and for this motive only a ship of war was sent on the part of his Britannic Majesty to one of the ports of Spain. The King has taken the most energetic steps, and such as ought to have produced the most happy effect, to bring those powers to an accommodation equally honorable to both parties: proposing for this end wise & expedients for smoothing difficulties, & preventing the calamities of war. But altho' his Majesty's propositions, & particularly those of his ultimatum, have been conformable to those which at other times the court of London itself had appeared to judge proper for an accommodation, & which were also quite as moderate, they have been rejected in a manner that fully proves the little desire which the British cabinet has to restore peace to Europe, and to preserve the King's friendship. In effect, the conduct of that cabinet, with regard to his Majesty, during the whole course of the negotiation, has had for its object, to prolong it for more than eight months, either by vain pretences, or by answers which could not be more inconclusive; whilst in this interval, the insults on the Spanish flag, and the violation of the King's territories were carried on to an incredible excess; prizes have been made, ships have been searched and plundered, and a great number of them have been fired upon, which have been obliged to defend themselves, the registers have been opened and torn in pieces, and even the packets of the court have been found on board the King's packet boats.
The dominions of the crown in America have been threatened, and they have gone to the dreadful extremity of raising Indians, called Chatcas, Cheroquies and Chicachas, against the innocent inhabitants of Louisiana, who would have been the victims of the rage of these barbarians, if the Chatcas themselves had not repented, and revealed all the English had planned. The sovereignty of his Majesty in the province of Darien, & on the coast
of Blas had been usurped; the Governor of Jamaica having granted to a rebel Indian, the commission of Captain General of those provinces.
In short, the territory of the Bay of Honduras has been recently violated by exercising acts of hostility, & other excesses against the Spaniards, who have been imprisoned, & whose houses have been invaded; besides which, the Court of London has hitherto neglected to accomplish what the 16th article of the last treaty of Paris stipulated relative to that coast.
Grievances so numerous, so weighty, and recent, have been at different times the object of complaints made in the King's name, and stated in memorials which were delivered either to the British Ministers at London, or transmitted to them through the channel of the English Ambassador at Madrid; but altho' the answers which were received have been friendly, his Majesty has hitherto obtained no other satisfaction than to see the insults repeated, which lately have amounted to the number of one hundred.
The King, proceeding with the sincerity and candor which characterize him, has formally declared to the Court of London, from the commencement of its disputes with France, that the conduct of England should be the rule of that which Spain would hold.
His Majesty likewise declared to that court, that at the time their differences with that of Paris might be accommodated, it would be absolutely necessary to regulate those which had arisen, or might still arise with Spain, and in the plan of mediation which was sent to the underwritten Ambassador the 28th of last September, and which was by him delivered to the British ministry in the beginning of October; a plan of which Lord Grantham was apprized, and of which he received a copy. His Majesty declared in positive terms to the belligerent powers, that in consideration of the insults which his subjects and dominions has suffered, and likewise of the attempts levelled against his rights, he should be under the necessity of taking his part, in case the negotiation, instead of being continued with sincerity, should be broken off, or should produce no effect.
The causes of complaint given by the court of London not having ceased, and that court shewing no disposition to give reparation for them, the King has resolved, and orders his Ambassador to declare, that the honor of his crown, the protection which he owes to his subjects, and his own personal dignity, do not permit him to suffer their insults to continue and to neglect any longer the reparation of those already received, and that in this view, notwithstanding the pacific dispositions of his Majesty, and even the particular inclination he has always had and expressed for cultivating the friendship of his Britannic Majesty, he finds himself under the disagreeable necessity of making use of all the means which the Almighty has intrusted him with, to obtain that justice which he has solicited by so many ways without being able to acquire: In confiding on the justice of his cause, his Majesty hopes that the consequences of this resolution will not be imputed to him before God or man, & that other nations will form a suitable idea of this resolution, by comparing it to the conduct which they themselves have experienced on the part of the British ministry.
Signed, Le Marquis D'Almodovar. London, 16 June, 1779.
At the Court of St. James's the 18th of June, 1779. PRESENT,
The King's Most Excellent Majesty in Council.
W Hereas the Ambassador of the King of Spain has, by order of his Court, delivered to Lord Viscount Weymouth a paper, in which it is declared, that his Catholic Majesty intends to have recourse to arms, under the groundless pretence of obtaining reparation for injuries supposed to have been received; and whereas the said Ambassador has received orders to retire from this kingdom without taking leave; His Majesty, being determined to take such measures
as are necessary for vindicating the honour of his crown, is pleased, by and with the advice of his Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, that general reprisals be granted against the ships, goods, and subjects of the King of Spain, so that as well his Majesty's fleet and ships, as also all other ships and vessels that shall be commissioned by letters of marque or general reprisals, or otherwise, by his Majesty's Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain, shall and may lawfully seize all ships, vessels and goods, belonging to the King of Spain, or his subjects, or others inhabitants within any the territories of the King of Spain, and bring the same to judgment in any of the Courts of Admiralty within his Majesty's dominions; and to the end, his Majesty's Advocate General, with the Advocate of the Admiralty, are forthwith to prepare the draught of a commission, and present the same to his Majesty at this Board, authorizing the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral, or any person or persons by them empowered and appointed, to issue forth and grant letters of marque & reprisal to any of his Majesty's subjects, or others whom the said Commissioners shall deem fittly qualified in that behalf, for the apprehending, seizing & taking the ships, vessels, and goods, belonging to Spain, and the vessels and subjects of the King of Spain, or any inhabiting within his countries, territories or dominions; and that such powers and clauses be inserted in the said commission as have been usual, and are according to former precedents: And his Majesty's said Advocate General, with the Advocate of the Admiralty, are also forthwith to prepare the draught of a commission, and present the same to his Majesty at this Board authorizing the said Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral, to will and require the High Court of Admiralty of Great Britain, and the Lieutenant and Judge of the said Court, his Surrogate or Surrogates, as also the several Courts of Admiralty within his Majesty's dominions to take cognizance of and judiciously proceed upon all and all manner of captures, seizures, prizes, and reprisals of all ships and goods that are or shall be taken, and to hear and determine the same; and according to the course of Admiralty, and the laws of nations, to adjudge and condemn all such ships, vessels, and goods as shall belong to Spain, or the vessels and subjects of the King of Spain, or to others inhabiting within any of his countries, territories and dominions; and that such powers and clauses be inserted in the said commission as have been usual and are according to former precedents; and they are likewise to prepare and lay before his Majesty at his Board, a draught of such instructions as may be proper to be sent to the Courts of Admiralty in his Majesty's foreign governments and plantations, for their guidance herein; as also another draught of instructions for such ships as shall be commissioned for the purposes aforementioned.
Twelve hundred Acres of the best UPLAND; and ONE HUNDRED ACRES of Intervail, in the Township of PERCY, at the Great Cobas, to be given to Ten good Settlers: Said Percy is esteemed equal to any Township in this State;— A River runs through it, in which a great Plenty of Salmon are caught, from June to October. Enquire of Joseph Power, Esq; of Northumberland, Capt. William Marshall, of Hampstead, or Jacob Treadwell of Portsmouth:
Thirty Dollars
Shall be given as a Reward to those who will inform of the Person or Persons who stole the two fore Shoes off a White Mare in Mr. Nathaniel Sherburne's Pasture within three Weeks last past so that he or they may be brought to justice. BENJA. DEAREORN. Portsm. u.h. August 23, 1779.

PORTSMOUTH.
By Captain Jones who arrived here last week from Dominico, we are favored with the Martinique-Gazette, from which we extract the following particulars of the taking of GRENADA, and the naval engagement between the French and English Fleets.—
The French Fleet appeared in sight of Grenada on the 2d of July; in the evening anchored in the bay of Molinier, and landed 1300 men, who immediately seiz'd the neighbouring heights. Count d'Estaing the same night, with a party of these troops, surrounded Hospital Hill, where the English had plac'd their principal strength and dependence.— Nature had rendered this hill almost inaccessible by reason of its steepness & large quarries of rough stone; the enemy besides had fortified it with Palisadoes at the bottom, & three intrenchments, one within another.— On the 3d Sir George Macartney, Governor of Grenada, was summoned to surrender; but refusing, the Count determined to storm this post the following night; and accordingly, having detached a number of his troops to make a false attack, divided the remainder into three divisions. About 2 o'clock the next morning the false attack begun on the side of St. John's River, and the three divisions pursued the several routs which had been pointed out. At the time of the attack, the Marquis de Vaudreuil cannonaded the battery, which produced a very favourable diversion. The York, an English ship which lay at the Careenage, discommoded the center division very much, which was obliged to pass within gun-shot of her. However, the troops cheerfully surmounted all difficulties, & having driven the enemy successively from every quarter, within an hour were masters of the ground. Governor Macartney, thinking this post impregnable, had conveyed there his most valuable effects; — and the principal officers in the Island had followed his example. As soon as it was light, the Count began to fire upon the fort which the hill commands—the Governor immediately sent an officer to capitulate, but his terms being rejected, he surrendered at discretion, and the troops took possession of the fort the next day. They have taken seven hundred Prisoners, two Colours, 102 pieces of Cannon of various sizes, and 16 Mortars, with the loss of about 35 killed, and seventy one wounded.
The French fleet continued at anchor in the bay of Molinier till the 6th, when the frigates which cruized to Windward made a signal that the English fleet were in sight. — Orders were immediately given for the fleet to get under sail, but before this could be effected Byron appeared in sight. — His fleet consisted of 19 ships of the line, besides frigates, and having formed them in line of battle, and taken advantage of the wind, he was coming under full sail towards the French fleet. — Those of the French ships which were yet at anchor, were ordered to cut their cables; and signal was made to form the line as soon as possible. Ten of the French ships fell so far to leeward that they could not form; the other 15 formed without regard to post or rank. At 7 o'clock signal was made to engage; the firing which was very brisk, continued till after twelve. — The English fleet kept to windward the remainder of the day, and under cover of the night thought it prudent to retreat. Five of their ships were exceedingly damaged. Count D'Estaing, being assured none of the enemy remained to fight him in the Latitude of Grenada, returned to his anchorage where he speedily repaired the little damage he had suffered.
Having established good order in the island he appointed Count de Durant Governor; — and dispatched the frigate La Diligence for France, on board of which Governor Macartney, and the Staff Officers as well as the civil Magistrates were embarked.
Count D'Estaing sail'd from Grenada on the fifteenth.
According to the last letters from St. Eustatia, Byron's fleet was at St Kitts the 12th. Eight sail of English line which engaged ours are in a deplorable situation, some have much water in their hold, and are in no condition
to return to a new engagement, without being repaired, which cannot be done in the Islands.
PORTSMOUTH.
Last Sunday Evening a Gentleman came to this Town from Boston, and says that an Express had arrived there from General Gates, to the Council, informing, that Admiral Lamotte Piquit had arrived at the Hook with eight Ships of the Line and four Frigates.
And that an Account was come from the French Court to the French Ambassador, informing him, that thirty thousand French Troops had landed in Ireland.
That 33 Line of French Battle Ships, 10 dit. of Spanish, besides Frigates, Fire Ships, &c. are with them, to protect the French Troops in Ireland.
BOSTON, August 26.
Tuesday last arrived here an Express, with the following agreeable and interesting intelligence, viz.
PROVIDENCE, August 23, 1779.
Extract of a letter from an officer of distinction, to the Honourable Major General Gates, dated Head Quarters, August 20, 1779, 10 o'Clock, A. M. (Received by express.)
"SIR;
"I am happy to have the pleasure to again congratulate you on the success of our arms. His Excellency having formed a plan to surprize the garrison at Powle's Hook it was accordingly, the night before last, carried into execution by Major Lee, who effectually surprized and took the garrison, consisting of 300 men. This party consisted of 300 Virginians and one troop of dismounted dragoons, with one company from the Maryland line. The particulars are not yet arrived."
Extract of a letter from Bilboa, dated
July 6, 1779.
"The Brest, Cadiz, and Ferrol fleets are all at sea to the number of 70 ships of the line, besides frigates, bombs, &c. to that a little time will discover their destination. — All English effects have been prohibited with the utmost severity."
Extract of a letter from Bilboa, dated July 8, to the Hon. Board of War of this State.
"His Catholic Majesty having thought proper to break off all intercourse with Great Britain, and to order his Ambassador to withdraw from that Court, the King of Great Britain has granted letters of marque and reprisal against the Spaniards, and eight or ten small vessels have been taken off this port. All British vessels were stoped in Spain by order from Court, the 27th ult. The fleet from Cadiz sailed the 21st ult, and it is here said they have invested Gibraltar, with 30 ships of the line and 12000 land forces. The 3d instant, Count d'Orvilliers, with 30 sail of the line, and 12 frigates were joined off Ferrol, by 10 sail of the line and three frigates, from that port. The English fleet, of thirty three sail of the line remain in the channel. A fleet is making up at Toulon, in order to lay siege to Minorca. — A very large number of transports are taken up in France, and a great body of land forces are marched to the coast of Brittany and Normandy, 'tis supposed a descent on the coast of England or Ireland is intended, should the fleet be tempted to leave the channel. The Deputy of this province, came to notify me (being the only American resident here) that they had orders from Court to furnish all American armed ships with whatever they may want, and to treat the Americans as friends. Every thing wears the most promising appearance in our favour here, and I believe this summer the English will have business enough on hand."
Extract of a letter to Major General Sullivan, dated Northumberland, Thursday, July 29, A. M.
"The enemy yesterday made themselves masters of the Freeland's fort on the West branch of the Susquehannah, upon terms of capitulation, viz. "The men to remain prisoners of war; the whole garrison to be plundered by the Indians, and the women to go free." The number of the enemy appearing before the fort about 250, one third British, the residue savages, together with a corps de reserve at some distance of 100 men; The whole under the command of Capt. M'Donald."
Extract of a Letter from Head Quarters, Fish Kill, dated August 17.
"Since my last, I have had the following important articles of intelligence from his Excellency General Washington, viz — that the French have given the English a most intolerable drubbing in the West Indies; that a considerable number of Admiral Byron's capital ships were so disabled as that they could be scarcely kept above water while they were towed into port, which at last was however effected, where they remain in a most miserable, shattered condition, while the French flag rides triumphant in these seas, the superiority of which many of the West India Islands have acknowledged. This his Excellency received officially from Congress. The following came from the French Ambassador to Gen. Washington, officially: The Count and King of France have ordered & sent twenty five thousand men to Ireland, to assist in effecting the Independence of that oppressed kingdom, and bring about an alliance between it and America. This is glorious news, and requires no comment, and may be depended upon as truth."
Saturday last arrived here the Continental Frigates Providence, Queen of France & Ranger; during their cruise they fell in with a Jamaica Fleet of upwards of 100 sail, under convoy of several Frigates. — This favourable opportunity they improved as well as circumstances would admit. — They picked out nine ships and one brig deeply laden with rum, sugar, &c. seven of which have arrived here, and one at Cape Ann.
LONDON, June 18.
Authentic letters from Cadiz, by yesterday's French mail, dated the 25th of last month, mention the sailing of the Spanish fleet under the command of Don Cordova, consisting of 32 ships of the line, six frigates, and two fire ships, which were to be joined by nine ships of the line from Ferrol. The French fleet is certainly gone to meet that formidable armament.
The ministry ought to be severely punished, was it only for not sending out our fleet to block up the Brest fleet, to prevent their joining the Spaniards; as the ministry, according to Lord North's expression, LONG LOOKED FOR THE SPANISH DECLARATION.
TO BE SOLD,
By JOHN LANGDON, Sherry, Madeira, Port and Claret Wine. Cask and Bottle Porter. Molasses, Raisins, Almonds, And sundry other Articles.
JAMES DIMAN,
Has for Sale at his Shop in Portsmouth, Rum and Molasses by the Barrel or single Gallon — Sugar, Coffee, Capers, Olives, Indigo, large and small Shot — Powder Blue, Chintz, Broad-Cloths, Shalloons, Everlasting, Serges, Backgammon, Corded Dimity, Linen shirts ready made, Lining Silk, white Tickling, Doyles, Mohair, check'd Linen, embroidered Waistcoats, Wafers, Sealing Wax, Padlocks, German Steel, &c. — All which he will sell as low as can be purchased at any Store in the State, without Exception.

Admiral Byron's account of his naval engagement with Count D'Estaing, taken from the St. Christopher's Gazette.
BASSETTERRE, July 17.
ON Thursday morning last arrived here Admiral Byron, with the ships under his command.
On Tuesday the sixth of July instant, at six in the morning, Admiral Byron engaged M. d'Estaing's fleet off Grenada.
The Monarch engaged a French rear Admiral for three hours, made her sheer off; a second rear Admiral engaged and sought her some time; the Boyne came up to her support, at which time eight French ships of the line were firing on her and the Boyne. Admiral Barrington then came up and kept a continual fire on the French ships, seven or eight of which were firing on him. The Grafton then came up with the Vigilant, Sterling Castle, Albion, Cornwall, Magnificent; the Lion bore away, and the Sultan came up and kept a smart fire, on which the French stood away from the English fleet as fast as possible.
The fleet engaged the French from six to twelve o'clock, and drove them into Grenada; the Lion & Monmouth were very much disabled; but the Prince of Wales, Grafton, and some others did wonders, fighting some times eight to one. Count d'Estaing had 26 sail of the line and ten frigates, four of them taken to be forty gun ships.
When the British fleet arrived at Grenada, it consisted of twenty one sail of the line and the Ariadne, three of which the Admiral was obliged to leave as a guard to his convoy, and kept the Ariadne to repeat signals. With eighteen sail of the line the Admiral determined to attack, and the Count weighed to receive him. Notwithstanding the great disparity of force in the two fleets, the British Admiral far from being intimidated, though the odds were almost two ships for one, made the signal for a general chase, and immediately after the signal for a close engagement, and found it necessary to call in to his assistance the ships he left to guard the transports, the preservation of which engrossed a great part of his intention. The Admiral singled out the Languedoc for himself, for which purpose he gave orders to be laid close along side the French Admiral; but here he was disappointed, for Admiral Barrington, in the Prince of Wales, ranged up with the Languedoc, here Admiral Barrington seemed to swim in liquid fire.
We cannot undertake to assert positively the numbers killed and wounded in the different ships, but the loss is estimated at about three hundred killed and wounded. Lieut. Hutchings of the Grafton, formerly commander of the ship London Merchant of Nevis was killed, and the third Lieut. of the same ship is dangerously wounded.
This action, upon the whole, may be considered in the following point of view: The Admiral was deceived as to the strength of the enemy; he had a convoy which he must protect; he never could bring the enemy to a close fight, as they edged away from him as they bore down several of his capital ships never came into action, which was the reason the ships engaged received so much damage, being obliged (in the general chase) to run by so many of the enemy's ships whom they beat out of the line, the ships are now refitting, and are determined to seek the foe as soon as repaired.
Admiral Byron who was obliged to keep a strict watch on his convoy of transports, with troops, which was a great hindrance to his operations, lay some time exposed to a heavy fire from three of their capital ships, notwithstanding which his damage is but trifling, having but three men killed, & two wounded.
In this desperate attack Admiral Barrington received a wound in the lower part of his right arm, by a splinter.
Bets run twenty to one in St. Eustatia, that this island will be in the hands of the French in the space of three or four weeks.
It is reported there that the French had failed for Barbados, with five sail of the line and some frigates.
[The public will take notice, that the St. Christopher's Gazette, from which the foregoing
going account is taken, is published under the immediate inspection of the British commander in chief of that island.]
PROVIDENCE, August 19.
Extract of a Letter, dated Camp, Salem,
(State of New-York, August 11.
"The enemy have lately contracted their lines, and are fortifying Governors island and the Narrows."
Another letter from the same place says, "We have accounts that the enemy are fortifying the Narrows, near Sandy Hook: They have drawn their main army over Kingsbridge, to Seven Mile Stone."
Head Quarters of the American grand army is at West Point. The right wing is commanded by Major General Putnam; the left by Major General Heath. The army enjoys the greatest degree of health and is in high spirits.
LONDON, May 7.
The Prince of Nassau having assembled at St. Maloes 1500 of his volunteers, and having immediately embarked them on board a sufficient number of flat bottomed boats, &c. with some field pieces and mortars, came out under convoy of two frigates of 36 guns, and four cutters. On Friday the 30th of April this fleet appeared off the island of Jersey; on Sunday morning a part of the troops landed, and were immediately repulsed; but the reinforcement arriving seasonably, the disembarkation of the troops was general. The Lieut. Governor Corbet at the approach of the French having dispatched an armed ship to give information of the invasion to the Governor of Portsmouth, this ship met Admiral Arbuthnot, who immediately ordered the merchant fleet under his convoy to go back to Torbay, and stood with his ships of force, and the troops bound to New York, for Jersey. The advice ship having continued her course, and arrived at Portsmouth, Sir T. Pye, dispatched for Jersey, under the orders of Captain Ford, the frigates Unicorn and Rawleigh, the sloops Cygnet, Beaver, Fortune, Ranger, Cabot, and the armed vessels Leith and Heart of Oak; since which an additional force has been sent, the frigate Licorne, and the cutters, Swallow, Rattlesnake, and Kite. Whether France will succeed or not, in this enterprize, is a question: But there can be no doubt she has made by it, a very happy diversion in favor of America. Admiral Arbuthnot may save Jersey, but he cannot at the same time fulfil the object of his commission at New York. He cannot now arrive there before the Month of August; this will be too late; we shall have another lame campaign this year, notwithstanding all our expence for troops, transports, provisions, &c. &c.
April 27. Letters from Constantinople of the 24th of March, announce, that on the 21st of that month, the Siewr de Slachiefs, Minister Plenipotentiary of Russia, had signed with the Ottoman Plenipotentiary in presence of the Count de Saint Priest, Ambassador of France, whom the Divan and Minister of Russia had invited for this purpose, a convention that effectually prevents the war, which it was feared would have again been lighted up between these two powers.
M. de Clonard, commander of one of the King's cutters, has taken an English packet boat, going from Holland, having on board in specie, 21,000. sterling.
The Count de Saint Priest having received an invitation to visit the Porte, the Grand Vizar spoke to him first, to thank him for his care and good offices through the course of the negotiation, which had happily ended in a treaty between the Porte
and Russia, that gave the highest satisfaction to all parties, and the conclusion of which was received with public acclamation.
"A letter from Gosport, dated May 26, says, His Majesty's ship Greyhound, Capt. Dickson, is under sailing orders, bound for America, to carry over the general officers: she is to wait for no other ship, but proceed by herself."
"Guns have been heard to fire rapidly from 12 o'clock this morning till past two, and from four o'clock till 5, from the back of the island; from which it is supposed there has been an engagement between some French and English small ships."
"A proper convoy for New York is not appointed for the foreign troops; many more ships, consisting of merchantmen and store ships, are expected to assemble and will make one fleet."
Sweedland, April 11. Our monarch is determined to insist upon and maintain the full rights of neutrality, respecting the conduct of all his subjects. He has accordingly, besides the ships before put into commission, given orders to equip another naval armament of ten ships of the line and six frigates; which are in proper divisions to take under their convoy the merchant vessels of this kingdom, not only through the Baltic, but the Mediterranean, and the coasts of Spain and Portugal, and to attend them in their whole voyage back to the Swedish ports. These convoys are to be ready precisely on a day to be notified before hand, and no unnecessary delay given to the trade. His Majesty, however, has been graciously pleased to grant liberty to the merchant vessels, to sail without such protection when and where they please, as also to part from the convoy at sea, according to their own discretion.
State of New Hampshire, June 25th, 1779. PETITIONS having been preferred to the General assembly of this State, by Joseph Whipple Esq; and others, in behalf of the Inhabitants of Northumberland and Strafford, in the County of Grafton, setting forth, that said Inhabitants labour under many Difficulties and inconveniences, on account of their not being incorporated - And prayed that Acts might be passed to invest them with the privileges and Immunities that other Towns incorporated in this State hold and enjoy: Whereupon the General Assembly ordered, that said Petitions should be heard before them on the second Wednesday of their next Session, at which Time any Person or Persons may have opportunity to show why the Prayer thereof may not be granted.
Ateeth, E. THOMPSON, Sec'y:
Strayed or Stolen, last Saturday Night from my Pasture at Bass Cove, a large dark colour'd MARE with a Star in her forehead, short Main, Long Tail, Trotts & Paces, and is a little hip'd. Whoever will take up said Mare and conveys her to me the Subscriber shall have Twenty Dollars reward and all necessary charges paid by me.
JONATHAN DEXTER. Old-York, August 20th, 1779.
Whereas Hannah Davis,
Wife of me Jabez Davis of Barrington, absents herself from me at Times, and I have Reason to think she contracts Debts without my Knowledge, therefore I forbid any Person or Persons crediting her on my Account, as I will not pay any Debts of her contracting from the Date hereof. Jabez Davis. Barrington, August 17. 1779.
Samuel Place,
MAKES, and has for Sale, at his Shop, a large Assortment of Silver Buckles, Stone Buttons, and Gold Rings, Gold Necklaces, &c. To be Sold cheaper for Cash than is sold in Boston or elsewhere. Portsmouth, August 7, 1779
ALL Persons Indebted to, or that have any Demands against the Estate of John Odiorne, late of Little Harbour, Husbandman, deceased, are desired to bring in their Accounts to Benjamin Odiorne, Administrator to said Estate, in order for speedy settlement. New-Castle, Aug. 23, 1779. Benjamin Odiorne