New-Hampshire gazette, or, State journal and general advertiser (Portsmouth, N.H.), 1780-12-25 00:00:00

THE NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE; OR, STATE JOURNAL, and GENERAL ADVERTISER.
[Vol. XXIV.]
MONDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1780.
[No. 1261]
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 5.
Extract of a letter from Major-General Gates to Congress, dated Nov. 14, 1780.
HIS instant Major Brue- late Aid-de-camp to Major- General Sullivan arrived in camp, and acquaints me that Gen. Sumpter, in consequence of orders I gave him at Hill- borough to act upon the west side of the Wa- teree, had, after a severe contest with Major Wemyss, defeated him and his whole com- mand, having wounded and taken the Ma- jor prisoner, with 25 of his party; many were left dead on the ground, and a con- siderable number of fine horses and arms fell also into the hands of General Sumpter. In the pocket of Major Wemyss was found a list of the whigs houses he had burnt upon Pedee, which, with all his papers, as soon as I receive them, shall be transmitted to Congress. The enemy do not possess a sin- gle post east of George-town, or north of Campden; while Colonel Marian and Ge- neral Harrington command the country east of the Santee, and are continually interrupt- ing the enemy's craft upon this river."
Published by order of Congress, CHARLES THOMSON, Secretary.
Wednesday last arrived here the brigan- tine Duke of Leinster, Capt. Souder, from L'Orient. By this vessel we learn, that the Court of Portugal had acceded to the Fam- ily Compact, and forbid the sale, in any of their ports, of prizes to British vessels, and also directed them to depart within a lim- ited period.
The following paragraph is taken from the Virginia Gazette of Nov. 26— "Last Wednesday about 10 o'clock the whole of the enemy's fleet weighed anchor and fell down the capes, where they met two ves- sels coming in (supposed to be the two dis- patched from the fleet a few days after they arrived here) when they all came in again. After staying a while the whole got under sail, and were yesterday quite out of sight."
T R E N T O N, December 6.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in St. Croix, dated Oct. 12, 1780, to his friend in this town.
A Liverpool man last week was obliged to pay two thousand one hundred and eigh- ty nine pieces of eight for firing at two Americans under the guns of the fort, where he chased them.—A good round sum! He really caught a Scotch prize—A very good refreshment for Captain Levenburg. Un- fortunately for the British vessel, it was calm so that she could not get away from the fort."
By this account it appears the Danish go- vernment will not suffer the English to in- sult their flag with impunity.
B A L T I M O R E, Nov. 21.
We are informed that on the 16th or 17th of October ult. seven Spanish ships of the line, four frigates & near one hundred trans- ports, with 4000 troops on board sailed for Havanna, on an expedition against West- Florida to which province Pensacola is the capital—D. Bernard de Galvez, gover- nor of Louisiana, commands the land forces on this enterprise—General Campbell commands the British troops in West Florida.
N E W - Y O R K, December 2.
On Thursday last arrived his Majesty's ship Medea, Captain H. Duncan, from En- gland, which she left on the 28th of October.
The public may be assured that the follow- ing regiments were under orders for imme- diate embarkation when the Medea left England, and will be conveyed by a very strong naval force, viz.
1st Battalion of the Royal, 2d, or Queen's, 18th, or Royal Irish, 29th, or General Sherrard's, From England.
Five Regiments from Ireland,
And three regiments of Light Dragoons dismounted, these to be mounted on the plan of Colonel Tarleton's Legion.
The gentlemen in opposition upon a re- view of the returned members for a Parlia- ment, allow a large majority of votes appear, in favour of Government.
His Majesty having dissolved the fourteenth Parliament, writs are issued returnable on the 7th of November for a new one. Most of the elections were over at the sailing of the Medea, & it was expected the two houses of Parliament would meet about the 28th of the month.
N E W - Y O R K, Dec. 11.
Extract of letter from a gentleman of dis- tinction, dated London, Octo. 3, 1780.
Lord Cornwallis must be reinforced by troops from this country. We can spare 20,000 more troops from this kingdom; 3000 are nearly ready for embarkation; but for what place is not yet publickly known.— The rebels have been too successful in cap- turing our packets; but let them know that we can take packets too. You may tell them, and it will make their ears tingle to hear it that we have lately taken one from South- America, to Spain, and another from Con- gress with all its papers, with H. Laurens who was entrusted with them, and who is now a prisoner in England.
The elections are now mostly over, and have turned out favourable to Administration. The Patriots are not a little mortified. Hartley, Temple, Lutterel, T. Pownall, General Howe, and many others have been flung out. Burke has been rejected at Bristol, Sir William Meredith has given up; and Mr. Gascoine, a high government man succeeds him for Liverpool; Even Saw- bridge failed for the city of London."
N E W - L O N D O N, December 12.
By the Western post we learn, that two brigades of Continental Troops, one of which was commanded by the brave Ge- neral Stark, lately marched to Kingsbridge, where they remained two or three days, without Opposition from the Enemy, and brought off about 1000 Tons of hay, besides other Forage, also a large Quantity of live Stock. Such of the Inhabitants of their Vi- cinity as chose to remain with the enemy were permitted to go to New-York, the others were brought off.
We hear that part of a fleet of victual- lers from Corke, arrived at New-York a fortnight ago; six or eight of the fleet which came out with them being missing.
B O S T O N, December 21.
All accounts from our judicious friends in Europe agree, that Britain is determin- ed still to prosecute the war. She cannot, they say, bear the thought of giving Inde- pendence to those States. She will not en- dure to hear of a peace dictated by France and grounded upon the basis of the treaty of Paris. The ministry have taken great
pains in getting a Parliament to their mind. The acquisition of Charleston they con- sider as a pledge of the success of their measures, and are determined still to perse- vere in exerting every nerve to bring us to their feet. The United States can expect no peace while a British army possess any part of their territories. Every thing calls upon us to put our own army on a more per- manent footing than ever it has yet been. A good army during the war, is, under pro- vidence, our only security. We have been too dilatory in a matter of such vast impor- tance. Nothing rouses us but destruction at the very door.
It is said that accounts were brought to New York by the ship Medea, that 12 sail of the line, and 13000 troops had sailed from France before she left England, bound to Rhode Island, and that 12 sail of British ships of the line, were immediately to follow.
The embarkation lately taken place at New York, is said to consist of 4000 men, under command of the infamous traitor Ar- nold, destined for Connecticut; where, we are assured, preparations are making for his reception. Justice cries aloud for destruction to so abandoned a villain.
Our last advices from New-York men- tion that a new embarkation of troops was going forward in that place; their numbers said to be large and their destination un- certain.
The paper currency has lately kept from depreciation for a longer time than can be remembered since it began to fall. This is attributed, in a great measure, to the hard money brought over in the French fleet, and now circulating among us, and to the bills drawn for the supply of the forces at Rhode Island. This is one very impor- tant advantage we derive from our good Allies.
Saturday Morning last an Express arrived here from Rhode to his Excellency General Rochambeau with an account of the death of Admiral Ternay, Commander of his most Christian Majesty's fleet at that post; when his Excellency immediately set off for that place.
W A N T E D,
A stout, active B O Y, of the age of 13 or 14, to serve at the Printing Business.
The Feast of St. John the
Evangelist, is to be celebrated by the ancient and honorable Society of free and accepted Masons on the 27th of December 1780, at the House of Bro- ther George Homans, by order of the Worshipful Master Oliver Whipple, Esq; Master of St. Patrick's Lodge, in Portsmouth, New-Hampshire—which the Brethren are desired to take Notice of.
By order of the Master and Wardens,
George S. Homans, Secretary.
N. B. Dinner precisely at two o'clock.
Portsmouth, December 15, 1780
TO BE SOLD at PUBLIC VENDUE,
At the Printing Office in Portsmouth, on Wednesday the 27th Instant, at 11 o'clock before noon, 120 acres of good Land in the town of Barrington, No. 254, Edward Wells the original proprietor.
WANTED immediately, 60 or 70 cwt weight of good FEATHERS; for which Cash or West- India Goods will be given. Enquire of the Printer at Portsmouth.
December 16, 1780.

From the ANTIGUA GAZETTE EXTRACT- DINARY, November 7, 1780. BRIDGE-TOWN, (Barbadoes) October 28. Crudelis ubique
Luctus ubique pavor, & blerima mortis imago. To give a full description of the late terrible storm, is not only entirely out of our power, but is we believe beyond the abilities of any human being; we shall therefore, for the information of those on a more happy spot, give a short account of it, as every inhabitant of this little community is already too well informed.
On Tuesday the 10th instant, soon after day-break, the wind began to blow very fresh and continued to do so until about 10 o'clock, when it blew very hard, and increased in its violence 'till about 4 o'clock next morning; about noon on Tuesday many of the vessels in Carlisle bay parted their cables, and about 3 P. M. all those which till then remained at anchor except a few sloops and schooners which were afterwards driven on shore and wrecked together with those which had drifted in the forenoon, were blown out to sea: Several houses were blown out to sea; the gale still encreased, and about 9 at night became a most tremendous hurricane, which lasted without intermission or abatement 'till past 3 the next morning, when its fury began a little to subside, although it may be said the storm was not entirely over at five on Wednesday evening. As we have already observed, to give any adequate description of the accumulated horrors of the night, is impossible, but the roaring of the tempest, the noise occasioned by the fall of whole houses and the roofs of others, the terrible shrieks, cries, and groans of the wounded, who were hurt by, and buried under the ruins, the incessant flashes of lightning and unabating torrent of rain, formed together such a scene of terror as has, we believe, seldom been equalled in any part of the world. Nor did the return of day light which had been anxiously wished for, bring with it any consolation, as it served but to present to us a spectacle of the most melancholy nature. The metropolis, which but a few hours before had been one of the best towns in the West-Indies, converted into little better than one confused heap of ruins, and the country all around laid waste, much more than it could have been by the ravages of the most cruel enemy.
The Mole head, a work of the utmost utility, and which had cost this country upwards of twenty thousand pounds sterling, entirely destroyed, and the basin almost filled up with sand, stones, and pieces of timber, in such a manner, as is much to be feared, will render it totally useless. The castle, forts, and batteries all destroyed; one wing and a great part of the other, of that large and magnificent building, the Government house are thrown down, and the center unroofed; that valuable building the Court house and Prison, which was not to be equalled in any part of the West India Islands, is now little better than a heap of rubbish, as there remains but a small part of the walls; nor have the houses of individuals in general, shared a much better fate, as there was not above thirty dwelling-houses, stores, &c. in the town which have escaped without considerable damage, and of the remainder, much the greater number are entirely thrown down, or left in such a situation as not to be repaired, but among all the buildings that were in this place, there is none that strikes the spectator so forcibly as that once noble structure, St. MICHAEL'S church! to see all in ruins, a building dedicated to the service of God, which not more than twenty eight years ago, had been rebuilt, and finished with elegance, a building of 100 feet in length and 60 wide, within the walls, exclusive of a very large chancel, and which had often contained more than 3000 souls at one time, in which was an organ in complete order, worthy of a place in the largest church in the world, a steeple (which contained an excellent clock and peal of eight bells) whose height from the foundation was one hundred and twenty four feet; to behold all this tumbled in a heap, and in many places levelled with the ground, seems to fill the Christian soul with a sorrow that it can bear, and of 11 parish churches and two chapels, there remain no more than St. Peter's church, the chapel about three miles to windward of it, and the church of St. Andrew's in Scotland; we are informed that most of the others are down to their foundations or in such a situation as to be entirely useless. The other towns, viz. Ostons and the Hole-Town, are much the same with this; Speight's Town, indeed, we apprehend, has many of its buildings standing entire, and many others but little damaged, few being totally destroyed. From the best information we have been able to obtain respecting the country, its situation if possible, is worse; small plantations, all the buildings, the sugar mills excepted, are laid level with the earth, and that there is not a single estate in the Island which has entirely escaped the violence of the tempest, and what adds to their distress is the total loss of the ground provisions which before had a promising appearance; the sugar mills in general having their points lowered at finishing of the last crop, are preserved, except the light covering over their round
houses, which was carried away; feathered fock of all kinds, with which this country abounded are now hardly to be seen, and the working cattle, &c. in many estates have suffered very much, some plantations having lost by the fall of the buildings, and continued rain, thirty head, some more, some less, and in several estates many of the negroes perished in the same manner. To ascertain the loss of the whole number of people is at present impossible, as in and about this town and parish, whole families have either been crushed to death in the ruins, or swept by the torrent into the sea; many were dug out of the rubbish four or five days after, and many more thrown on the beach by the tide. Some who have taken great pains to be informed, say upwards of three thousand have perished, others say more, but to speak with certainty cannot as yet be done. It is generally believed, that this vast devastation did not entirely proceed from the storm alone, but must have been accompanied by an earthquake, of which several gentlemen of great veracity declare that they felt three distinct shocks, and which declare that they were followed, by the sea having risen on that night to an extraordinary height, all along the sea coast although the wind during the greatest part of the hurricane, blew from the N. E. quarter, and never shifted farther to the southward than S. E.
One gentleman Mr. T. Skeete of St. Joseph's, informs us, that not more than 30 yards from his dwelling house, the earth is opened 50 feet wide, and in a direct line for 150 feet long, and of a depth not less than ten fathom; that there is a large bank of earth thrown up, and the chasm forms a kind of an angle, and nearly of the same dimensions of the former. Some gentlemen now here, and who were at Lisbon a few days after the earthquake, declare, that this town, in proportion to its size, has suffered more from the late calamity than Lisbon did at that time. We are informed, that the public records of the island have been all preserved, or at most but little damaged, & people in general have been so fortunate as to save their books and most valuable papers. One thing more we must observe, which is, that another calamity is staring us in the face, and without the divine assistance, must soon follow the last—the want of common necessaries of life. The small quantities of all kind of provisions in the hands of the merchants (who have not increased the price of any one article) a great deal of which is damaged, the total loss of our native produce already reaped, the destruction of what was growing in the earth, without any prospect of an immediate supply from abroad, so that the vast number of poor, as also many negroes, throughout the whole island, must perish for want of food, and should we have seasons for the earth to bring forth her increase, thousands must fail for lack of a place to shelter themselves. No provisions in our ruins—no habitations to abide in—no lumber to erect houses with—nor no workmen should we have lumber sent us:—What a dreadful situation! Had we abilities to describe, and time to publish, it is not for a newspaper to contain the dreadful story—it would fill a volume. Let us then one and all, implore that gracious GOD, who hath thus visited us with his avenging hand, mercifully to look down upon, and to forgive us for those things which have occasioned him to pour down his fury upon us, and that he will avert the impending calamity.
We learn from St. Lucia, that the Ajax, Captain Simmons, looked into Martinico since the tempest, and declares, that no tree of the height of four feet could be seen standing.
L O N D O N, August 17.
Extract of a letter from Deal, August 22.
"This day at noon arrived in the Downs, thirteen sail of Russian men of war, which, with the six lying here before, are the whole of the three divisions."
"They are come to anchor off St. Margaret's Bay and are going down the Channel for Portsmouth."
"The 5 men of war & a frigate remain as before."
The Russian fleet lately arrived in the Downs, are not anchored immediately off Deal, but lie near Ramsgate; the first two days of their arrival they lay at Ragie anchor, but on the third they moored, as if with an intent to be there some time.
Two of the Russian men of war sprung a leak 2 days before they got into the Downs, which will detain them some time to repair.
Orders have been transmitted from the Admiralty to Admiral Drake, who commands in the Downs, to render the Russian Admiral every assistance he may stand in need of.
A very strong memorial was dispatched yesterday to Peterburgh, to be presented, without a moment's delay, to the Empress, in consequence of the present hostile appearance of the Russian flag in the British channel.
The Allegator privateer, from London, Capt. Cragg, has taken and brought into Falmouth, the Liberty, a Russian snow, from Riga to Nantz, with 220 bales of hemp, and 550 bars of iron. This is the first Russian vessel, that we know of, that the English have captured. The above is taken from a Holland paper.
ALL Persons (within the State of New Hampshire) who are indebted to JOHN EMERY, of Exeter, by Account or Note, are desired to come and settle the same with his Attorney NOAH EMERY, of Exeter, as soon as may be, to prevent further Trouble. Exeter, Nov. 30, 1780.
State of New Hampshire, Strafford ss. NOTICE is hereby given to the proprietors of Middleton, in said State and County, that a proprietors meeting of said proprietors is to be held in said Middleton on Tuesday the 9th of January next, at the house of Francis Mather's at two o'clock in the afternoon of said day, then and there to act on the following articles, viz. 1st, To choose a moderator to regulate said meeting. 2d, To see if the proprietors at said meeting will vote to make good the Rev. Mr. Ordway's settlement and salary, as the money has greatly depreciated, and if the said proprietors do not at said meeting vote to make good said settlement & salary, then to see if the said proprietors will vote to join with Mr. Ordway in calling a Council for his discharge; and to act any thing relating to the above, as the then convened proprietors shall think proper. All concerned are desired to attend at time and place aforesaid. By order of the Committee, JOHN GAGE, Proprietors Clerk. Dover, December 7th, 1780.
NOTICE is hereby given, to the non-resident owners of lands in the Township of Pembroke, that unless they pay the sums annexed to their names, as taxes, so much of their lands as will pay the same with incidental charges, will be sold at public vendue, at the house of Richard Bartlet, Esq; innholder in said town, on Tuesday the ninth day of January next, at one o'clock in the afternoon. The original proprietors names are as follows.
   Lot No. l. s. d. q.     10 Thomas Piper 1 12 1 3   16 Nathan Taylor 1 12 1 3   15 Benjamin Palmer 1 12 1 3   15 Joseph Rawlings 1 12 3 1   15 Broadstreet Wiggins 2 12 1 3   17 Ebenezer Weare 2 12 1 3  
STEPHEN BARTLET, Constable.
Pembroke, December 20, 1780.
To be sold at public Vendue on the second Tuesday in January next, at the house of Enoch Cossin, Esq; innholder in Epping:
A valuable piece of LAND, lying on the Easterly side of Bald Hill, so called, in Newmarket, containing about 26 acres, with a considerable quantity of Wood on the same. The above Land will be sold for hard Money. Conditions to be known at the Time and Place of sale. Newmarket, Dec. 1780.
ALL Persons indebted to, or that have any Demands on the Estate of JOSEPH ATKINSON, late of Durham, deceased, intestate, are desired to settle the same with EBENEZER THOMPSON, Esq; of said Durham, Administrator on said Estate. Durham, Dec. 16, 1780.
All Persons indebted to, or that have any demands on the estate of Ebenezer Brown, late of Kensington, deceased, are desired to bring in their accounts to Lieut. Richard Brown, of Hampton Falls, in order for a speedy settlement. Hampton-Falls Dec. 6, 1780
To be sold at public Vendue on the Premises, on Tuesday the second Day of January next, at ten o'clock, A. M.
A HOUSE with LAND adjoining, sufficient for three House Lots, being about eighty Feet on the Street leading from the Swing Bridge, to Pickering's Mills, and about One Hundred and Twenty Feet on the Lane leading from the said Street down to Capt. Nichols's; the lots will be set up separately. Conditions to be known at the Time and Place of sale. Portsmouth, Dec. 5, 1780.
State of New Hampshire, Rockingham, ss. TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
NOTICE is hereby given, that a Libel is filed before me, in behalf of Benjamin Bradford and others, against the sloop Polly, burthen about 60 tons, her tackle and appurtenances; which vessel is said to be captured in the harbour at Majorbagaduce, in the night of the 16th day of November last, and brought into the port of Piscataqua—For the trial of the justice of said capture, a Maritime Court for the state aforesaid, will be held at the State House in Portsmouth the 10th day of January next, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon, when and where any persons concerned, may appear and show cause (if any they have) why the same should not be condemned, and be decreed forfeited. JOSHUA BRACKETT, Judge of said Court. Portsmouth, November 11, 1780.