The Freeman's journal, or, New-Hampshire gazette (Portsmouth, N.H.), 1777-03-22 00:00:00

Greene's Journal
OR
New-Hampshire Gazette.
[ Vol. I. ]
SATURDAY, March 22. 1777.
[ No. 44. ]
LONDON, November 5. SUBSTANCE of the PROCEEDINGS of the HOUSE of COMMONS, Yesterday.
T HE Speaker being returned from attending the king in the house of lords, read the speech twice to the house, when Mr. Neville rose, and moved "for an humble address to be presented to his majesty." The substance of the address was read, and the motion made for presenting it, and seconded by Mr. Hutton.
Lord John Cavendish opposed the motion, recapitulating the old grounds of opposition on the American subject, censuring the war itself as unjust, and the conduct of it as ineffectual and inhuman. His lordship produced amendment to the address, which the speaker read to the house. It chiefly turned "upon a censure of the ministry, a desire that his majesty would order an enquiry into their conduct, and begged that the success of the war might be used moderately and prudently."
Governor Johnstone, arraigned the conduct of administration, not only blaming them for commencing the present war, but endeavouring to prove that they had as yet had no success, and that even the affair of Long-Island was no matter of triumph, as that island was a mere out-post to New-York, as New-York was an out-post to America, and that it would have been wrong for the provincials to have attempted to maintain it. The governor paid general Howe and his brother very great compliments on their manœuvres in the capture of the island.
The governor complained of the defenceless state of the kingdom, and urged the danger of an immediate war with France and Spain. The minister's speech, which they had just heard, he declared to be a compound of—hypocrisy. It talked of peace at the moment, when not only all Europe but this kingdom gave the most evident appearances of preparation for war. That part of it which talked of giving the Americans law and liberty, he conceived to be a mere turn of wit and humour, which would not bear a serious interpretation.
The governor spoke loudly of the falsehood of France, and the little reliance that was to be put on her professions, instancing a circumstance which happened while cardinal Mazarine was minister, when the Portuguese and Spaniards were at war together, and the latter had received repeated assurances of the pacific intentions of France, altho' that kingdom had actually lent Portugal troops, cloathed them, paid them, and officered them.
The governor said, he was far from being pleased with the Americans for their declarations in favour of independency, but he saw clearly that they were driven to the measure by our vigorous persecution of them. We had hired foreign troops to fight against them, and they had no other way of putting themselves on a footing with us, than by throwing off the yoke, declaring themselves independent, & inviting foreign aid to defend them. They had, he said, taken every possible means to avoid such a measure; they had sent a most
humble petition to government, praying relief, and couched their prayer in the strongest terms of duty and allegiance; government had rejected their petition. The mode of their declaring for independency was to be sure in some measure indefensible.
The governor censured the late using of press-warrants, and declared that he was not only convinced a better mode of manning the navy might be found out, but that he was informed the late press was carried on with irregularity and cruelty. He stated the list of killed and wounded to the house, declaring that one of a press gang was killed on board a merchantman, through the temerity of the officer of the gang; that many, both seamen and men attempted to be pressed, were wounded, and fourteen persons drowned.
After having condemned the ministry, and painted the speech as ill-timed and fallacious, the governor gave his assent to the amendment proposed by Lord John Cavendish.
Mr. Wombwell rose to contradict the governor's assertions relative to the conduct of the press, and the death of the sailor shot; he declared that he was well instructed to declare, the mercantile part of the city in general condemned the person who shot him, and were unanimously of opinion that there never was a press better conducted than the present, nor more obtained with less blood and tumult.
Mr. Wombwell spoke much in favour of government. He dissented from the proposed amendment.
Mr. Wilkes condemned the present war as one of the most unnatural and unjust that time had ever produced, and agreed to the proposed amendment.
Mr. Temple Luttrell spoke next, and from a great variety of historical precedents, proved, that in former times, in similar situations with the present state of our dispute with America, it had always been held politic to treat with the opponent parties, whether they were rebels or not.
Mr. Thomas Townsend entered on the subjects of the address, pronouncing it a farrago of deceit & hypocrisy. He said, we were on the point of a war with France, and were altogether in a defenceless state. That our army in England, and our army in Ireland, contemptibly weak in point of numbers. That the serviceable part of our fleet, the frigates and small ships, were all on the coast of America; therefore, if we were attack'd, we were in a deplorable situation.
He attacked the treasury-bench with great asperity, and (observing that Lord North had quitted the House) he took occasion to observe, that parliament was now treated by that minister with the utmost contempt; that the first man in office considered a debate on the most serious and important subject as a matter unworthy his consideration, and was better pleased in closeting a member in the morning, or whispering with a friend in the lobby in the evening, than in attending his parliamentary duty.
He said the ministry had been most illiberal in encouraging their dependants aspersing
the officers who conducted the attack on Sullivan's Island, and after speaking much in favour of Sir Peter Parker, he said that general Clinton was the officer who had most reason to clear himself, for that he was informed that general was himself nineteen days trying the sword, and that at last it turned out; he could not in all that time discover whether the sword was eighteen inches or seven feet deep.
Speaking of the capture of Long-Island, he described the turning of the flank of an enemy's army, as an ordinary military manœuvrre, known to every man qualified in the art of war; and spoke of the slaughter of the provincials in cold blood, as an act of the most savage barbarity.
Seeing lord North came back to his seat, he returned to his attack on the treasury-bench and said, it had ever been the plan of the members, who filled that seat, to conceal, as much as possible intelligence from parliament; that they kept that house continually in the dark, that even on that day, when it was usual for the house to consider it as a day of inquiry, and when it was expected that the minister would give some satisfaction on such questions, as the members might think it necessary to put to him, the first man in office had with the utmost carelessness walked out of the house, and (as he till that moment imagined) being certain of a majority, had left business of the nation to his clerks, supposing they had only to count and report the numbers. Mr. Townsend concluded giving his assent to the amendment.
Col. Barre next rose, and said that he had a question to put, of the first consequence, of the most serious importance, to which the minister, (Lord North) had wholly neglected to speak. In order to give him an opportunity of speaking to it, he would therefore then put it, and sit down, without proceeding further, that the minister might give the house that satisfaction which he doubted not, many of them wished to receive. The question was, "What powers were general and lord Howe invested with, as his majesty's commissioners, to treat with America."
Lord North immediately said, that their commission had lately been published in the Gazette, and that nothing relative to the business had been concealed. His lordship read part of the commission, and said he knew of nothing more, unless indeed some directions relative to prisoners.
Colonel Barre, pulling a paper out of his pocket, declared, he had in his hand, an account of what passed at the conference between General Washington and lieutenant-colonel Patterson when colonel Patterson was dispatched with general and lord Howe's letter; that the account was printed in America, but that it bore evident marks of authenticity, although indeed it did not come directly to him, and sent from America, ever reach'd him. He then proceeded to comment on the account in his hand, declaring his high esteem for col. Patterson, with whom he had the happiness to be acquainted, and asserting, that he was a man of the first honour in the service.

He said, the account he was going to read did not. Patterson infinite-credit. The account was extracted from an American paper, printed at Pennsylvania on the 27th of July last, & stated, that colonel Patterson was received by General Washington, on the 20th of the same month, with the greatest politeness. That the colonel addressed Mr. WASHINGTON, with the title of Excellency.—That he expressed general and lord Howe's concern, that there should have been any deficiency in point of respect and punctilio; that no affront was intended by the general; who begged his Excellency to recollect, that he had received a letter from his Excellency about the treatment of the prisoners in Boston, subscribed, "To the honorable William Howe, Esq;" and that the general then took no offence; that both general and lord Howe, had the highest personal regard for Mr. WASHINGTON; that they had now sent a letter directed for "GEORGE WASHINGTON, Esq; &c. &c. &c." and that they hoped all difficulties were removed, as the three et ceteras might be understood to comprehend all his Excellency's titles; and that he begged leave to inform his Excellency, that the letter he now brought, was the same as his majesty's commissioners had sent before, but which had been returned, on account of the deficiency of the subscription, respecting his Excellency's titles.
It appeared further, from the account the colonel read, that colonel Patterson laid down the letter on a table; that Mr. WASHINGTON declined to accept it, asking what powers the general and lord Howe were invested with, declaring that he had read the last act of parliament, relative to America, and found by that, that they were merely empowered to grant pardons; that he then said, "the Americans had done no wrong, and therefore wanted no pardons;" that General Washington declared, he had reported to the Congress, his return of the letter at first sent, with his reasons for so doing; that they had approved of his conduct, he could not therefore enter into a fresh treaty without fresh authority; besides, though it was true that the three et ceteras now added to the subscription of the letter, might mean every thing, it was also true that they might mean any thing. After more conversation, in which colonel Patterson exculpated general Howe from the charge of having treated the prisoners he had taken with inhumanity; and General Washington also declared, that he had used such as fell under his cognizance with every possible indulgence, the account stated that the conference ended; that General Washington invited the colonel to partake of a collation, which he had provided; that the colonel declined it, urging his having but lately breakfasted, and the impatience of general and lord Howe, to receive an answer to their letter.
The colonel then pronounced like an eagle on the tremendous part of his subject, the appearance of a war in Europe, and told the house, that a war of the most serious kind threatened this country, a war from the united powers of France and Spain. That the attack would shortly be made, and made within the hearing of those who sat within the walls that then encircled the house (this created a general laugh, which seemed to hurt the colonel much, and he instantly said, gentlemen you may laugh, but I dare aver, that those who laugh now, will in the moment of danger be lying in tears on their backs, like cowards.) He then declared, that France was full two months before-hand with us in preparation; that we were in fact defenceless, unable to make any resistance should the soon begin; Lord North shifted his ground so often that there was no dependance on his information; that even now he had said, he relied on the present assurances of the pacific intentions of France, but that he did not know how soon they might alter her intention.
This called up lord North, who repeated what he had said in this part of the subject of his speech, and again declared, that he firmly believed the assurances of the court of Versailles, but as he was no prophet, he would not say positively that France might not hereafter change her intention. Lord North complained of having his words watched and thrown perpetually in his teeth.
Colonel Barré seemed, not to like a re-
petition of the matter of fact of his assertion, and declared he ever would watch the minister; that it was extraordinary indeed if the noble lord high in office, and the ostensible minister, expected his words would not be watched; he protested he would continue to watch him, and report his words on every occasion; but he promised to do it always like a gentleman and a man of honour, with truth and accuracy; that the day was not yet come when an enquiry must be made into the cause of the AMERICAN WAR; that, he was sorry to tell the noble lord, if matters did not then appear satisfactory, his head would be laid on the block, that the situation of affairs were tremendous; that this country seemed to be near the crisis of her fate; he advised the treasury bench therefore to look about them as there was one question which demanded an immediate answer, he would then put it: "Had the king's ministers information of a particular species of armament preparing by the French in those parts of France which were immediately opposite, & nearest to this kingdom?"
The question, he trusted was clear & comprehensive. If it was not answered, the silence of the ministry would operate in his mind as fully as any answer they could give; if they had not the necessary information, they were not fit for their posts, and ought to hold them no longer.
Upon the whole, the colonel made it out, that we were by no means a match for the united force of France and Spain; he therefore desired the ministry would at any rate make up matters with America. "Recal, therefore (says he) your fleets and armies from AMERICA and leave the BRAVE COLONISTS to the enjoyment of their liberty." (This created a second laugh, which the colonel took worse than the first, and was by it roused to fresh warmth.)
He arraigned the want of manners of the treasury-bench, & declared, he thought professed courtiers had been better bred; he then again denounced vengeance, & bid the ministry appoint proper officers; the fleet, he said, ought to be commanded by a brave man then in the house, an admiral who had once already saved his country; the admiral he meant was his honourable friend near him admiral Keppel; he said he knew he was out of order in naming a member, but on such an occasion he thought himself justified in mentioning so brave an officer.
At length, having held up a most tremendous picture of impending mischief to his country, he repeated his question to the treasury bench, and sat down, deploring the infatuation of government, and asserting, that a majority of votes in that house, would never conquer France and Spain, however they might procure the minister a momentary triumph and make him a welcome guest at St. James's.
Admiral Keppel merely shewed the defenceless state of the kingdom from her unprepared navy.
LIST of the Forces with which his Majesty intends to open the next year's campaign in America.
   British troops now in America 7000   Hessians 12000   Brunswickers 8000   O' Hannault 1500   Waldeckers 3000   Ax Men 7000   Negroes 5000   Tories 6470   Light Horse 1500   To be reinforced by foreign auxiliaries   Laplander 4500   Persia A chers 3500   Japenese 12000   Moors 13000   Rikamaus 4700   Hussars 2000   Pandours 2000   Croats 1500   Total 91670  
With this terrific and horrendous armament, in conjunction with a most tremendous and irresistible fleet, his Majesty is resolved to terminate this unnatural war the next summer, as it will be impossible for the rebels to bring an equal number into the field. His Majesty has also the strongest assurances that France will co-operate with him in humbling his seditious subjects; and as his Admiral and Generals are still extending the arms of mercy for the gracious reception of those who will yet return to their duty and allegiance; for Heaven's sake ,
ye poor deluded, misguided, bewildered, captivated and base-bowled wretches! ye dumb founded insinuated back-bitten children, nose lead about, priest ridden, demagogue belacked and Congress-becrafted INDEPENDENTS, fly, fly, ob fly for protection to the royal standard, or ye will be swept from the face of the earth with the bosom of destruction, and cannonaded in a moment into nothing and non entities, and no mortal can tell into what other kind of qualities and quiddities.
From the LONDON GAZETTE, October, 10.
RAN-AWAY from St. James's an old servant, called Common Sense and Horesty, formerly belonging to his late M ty George II. and by him imported from Hant. He served the old king faithfully, and was of great service in procuring him the esteem and affection of all his subjects, but being constantly made a laughing stock by the lords Bute and Mansfield since his Majesty's demise, he took the resolution, suddenly to absent himself from Court. His present owner, it is said, is very indifferent who has him ever returns or not, having by the arts and misrepresentations of those noble men, and others, taken a prejudice against him; but some of the People who knew the old King and the regard he had for his useful servant, have authorised the printer to promise Five Thousand pounds reward, to any person who shall bring him back, to the Palace, and prevail upon him to continue only one month longer in his Majesty's service.
It was currently reported last week that the King and Queen were both with child; but upon strict inquiry into the matter, by a jury of matrons, of which his Grace, the Archbishop of Canterbury was foreman, it was found to be true only with respect to her Majesty and as to our most gracious sovereign, detestable falsehood is discovered to have been invented by the more of 1 and greedily swallowed by the weaker and more credulous abettors of the American rebellion, who fondly wished his most sacred person pregnant, and undoubtedly with twins, from the malicious hopes of his expiring in childbirth.
[The following Petition, in Manuscript, was brought from Ireland in the Prize Schooner taken by Captain Chomplin, which was drove ashore at Narraganset, as has been mentioned: The Petition has 132 Signers.]
To the KING's most Excellent Majesty. The humble petition of the Freemen, Freeholders, Citizens, Merchants, Traders and protestant Inhabitants of the City of Cork.
WE, Your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects the freemen, freeholders, merchants, traders, and protestant inhabitants of the city of Cork, beg leave to approach your Majesty with a state of our feelings on the present crisis of our foreign & domestic affairs, conscious that however dubious the success, and whatever the event, it is the privilege and duty of a loyal, and manly, and free people to conduct truth to the foot of the throne, where her voice may be distinguished from those of Corruption, interest and adulation. We think ourselves particularly called upon, at this time, to declare our sentiment, least your Majesty should be influenced by an address now surreptitiously preparing here, purporting to be the act of this corporation, and affecting to convey the real sense of this ancient, loyal and opulent city.
The present unnatural dispute with America, originally grounded on the most arbitrary claims of former ministers, progressively sustained by the usurpations of succeeding administrations, and most impolitically carried on by the present, cannot but fill us with the most gloomy and alarming apprehensions—in the pursuit of an expedient, unnecessary, and perhaps illegal power of taxation, over a bold, numerous, experienced, free and distant people. We have seen our armies defeated, our fame tarnished, our American trade totally destroyed, which formed the broadest basis of British wealth and prosperity; our West India trade, dependent on America for supplies of provisions and lumber, mouldering into ruin, and our African commerce, intimately connected with that of the West Indies, almost totally annihilated; our national honour lowering to the dust by an introduction of foreign mercenaries to fight our domestic quarrels, on the most unequitable & disadvantageous terms, and the glory of the British arms forever sullied by the newly adopted mode of piratical War, which in the destruction of many unoffending maritime cities of America, displays a spirit of dark revenge, and gloomy depredation, unprecedented in the annals of any enlightened age or polished nation.

Whatever may be the event of this expensive and dreadful contest, it must be alike fatal in the victor and the vanquished; nothing can remain to either but poverty, ruin, and desolation. As members of your Majesty's widely extended dominions we must share in this general mass of public calamity; as members of this opulent and commercial city, and natives of this maritime and lately rising kingdom, we find ourselves more particularly interested.
Our linen trade, the great support of the nation, is in imminent danger thro' the want of its usual marts, and the extreme dearth of Flaxseed, now no longer supplied from the colonies, but with great difficulty and at a prodigious expence scantily imported from the northern ports of Europe.
The lumber trade, which enabled us to carry on the export of provisions to our southern provinces, is almost entirely ruined—Commerce, is a mighty chain, in which the weakness of a single link destroys the union & strength of the whole. Thus have all the other parts of our commerce sensibly declined by their connection with those already enumerated.
We cannot pass in silence the state of this now defenceless kingdom, deprived of almost all its stipulated Force, and left an easy prey to the first invader. When we throw eyes on the continent, & behold the prodigious power & warlike preparations of our most dangerous neighbours and usual enemies, we cannot but shudder at the humiliating comparison.
We thus, Sire, have presumed to submit to your royal and benignant consideration, a small part of the many grievances under which we labor. One of the great axioms of our law places an easy remedy in your Majesty's hands to be employed for the national interest, without any injury to the prerogative or any diminution of your Majesty's personal honour.——
"The King can do no wrong," is that great rule we allude to, which preserving the sovereign dignity from insult, consults the right of freedom without the danger of anarchy; and by transferring faults from the supreme executive power, to those officially employed in administration, determining a mode of responsibility, which has ever proved the surest safeguard of this often threatened constitution. Under new Ministers new Measures may best be adopted, without inconsistency, and with the utmost attention to every just and lawful prerogative; the state may thus be, as it often hath been, saved by the intelligent, the incorrupt, and the intrepid, from that destruction into which it is plunged, by the dastardly, the venal, and the ignorant.
In your Majesty's paternal attention to your people's welfare, in your wisdom, justice and clemency, we place the utmost confidence, and now most humbly supplicate your Majesty to remove those evils of which we complain—so direct that the sword may be sheathed, that our commerce may be restored and that economy, union, and Liberty may be permanently re-established, thro' all parts of the Empire.
CHARLESTOWN, (S. C.) Feb. 20.
Last night capt. Cockrin, in the armed brigantine Notre Dame , arrived here from France, with a valuable cargo, after a passage of 7 weeks.
Admiral Keppel is appointed to the command of a fleet of observation.——The following ships were in commission at Plymouth: Royal George 100 guns; Ocean 90, Queen 90, Foudroyant 84, Prince of Wales 74, Albion 74, Torbay 74, Hercules 74, Yarmouth 74, Shrewsbury 74, Kent 74, Conqueror 74, Boyne 70, Bellisle 70, Somer-set 70, Fame 70, Monmouth 64, Intrepid 64, Prudent 64, Bienfaisant 64, Nonsuch 64, Raisonable 64, Burford 64, Apollo 32, Southampton 32,——Befides the above, the following ships were also put into commission; Invincible 74, Ardent 64, Rippen 60, Mars 74, Ramillies 74, Prince George 90, Augusta 64, Sterling Castle 64, Cornwall 64, Trent 64,——Lord Bristol is appointed to a Flag.
Feb. 27. Since our last two more prizes, a
ship and a snow both from Honduras, with Adahogany and Logwood , have been sent in here by captain Allen.
On Friday last John Jacobs was executed here, pursuant to his Sentence, for issuing counterfeit money, knowing it to be counterfeit.
PROVIDENCE, March 15.
Capt. Potter, who arrived last week at a neighbouring port from Teneriff, informs, that while he lay at that island, a Spanish fleet passed by, having on board a large body of land forces, said to be destined for the Havannah: The fleet consisted of about 150 sail, among which were 12 ships of the line, a number of frigates, bombs, fire ships, &c.
The Solebay frigate of 28 guns, has been cruising in the eastern sound for some days past.
A few days since, a number of the enemy's vessels sailed from Newport, having on board, it is said, about 18,000 troops, and are supposed to be gone on a sheep stealing expedition, as they have been for some time past much distressed for want of provisions.
We hear that the enemy's force in the neighbourhood of Newport, consists at present of about 22,000 men, including five companies on Connecticut: the greater part of them are Hessians, who are much dissatisfied with the service. The whole of the enemy's artillery, except one company, has been sent to New York and from thence to the Jerseys.
F I S H K I L L, March 13.
Extract of a Letter from Morris Town, March 9. "Any news you may receive by my letters, you may depend is by me received from the best authority. Yesterday a number of cows and sheep, which were taken from the Tories, close by the enemy's lines were sold at vendue. This morning we received an account of a skirmish with the out posts of the Phillistine army, near Brunswick; a small party of our men attacked and drove them, killed three, wounded 13, and took 4 prisoners, also a waggon load with baggage, &c.——Our troops are in high spirits."
Extract of a Letter from Amsterdam, October 23. Nothing transpires from the English court in regard to America; but 'tis reported there, that Long-Island, also New-York, were taken; and that before the last, the Americans lost 1,000 men. The English play the master at sea, taking the Dutch vessels, and bringing to England, as they did lately the ship of Captain Henry Ter Horst, which ship they sold; she has bound to St. Eustatia, entirely loaded on Dutch account, which has provoked the Dutch very much. Sir Joseph Yorke, the English Ambassador at the Hague, uses his utmost endeavours to lull the States asleep, but notwithstanding, they had given orders to fit out immediately twelve ships of war, for protecting their trade in the West Indies."
H A R T F O R D, March 19. Thursday last the Superior Court ended their sessions in this place:——During the session the infamous Elisha Wadsworth was convicted of treasonable practices against the State, for attempting to rescue Moses Dunbar, under sentence of death; said Wadsworth was ordered to pay a fine of forty pounds; to suffer one year's imprisonment, and pay costs of prosecution.
A molatto girl, belonging to Waterfield, was also tried by said court, on an indictment for murder, and acquitted.
Gordon Whitmore who had been found guilty of high treason, by the jury, moved an arrest of judgment, and the verdict was for sides. He is now held for trial on another indictment for high handed misdemeanors.
Next Wednesday is the day appointed for the execution of Moses Dunbar. A sermon will be preached at the goal, to the prisoner, by the Rev. Mr. Jarvis, of Middletown. Afternoon will also be preached in the North Meeting-House, to the spectators, by the Rev. Mr. Strong, of this town.
N E W L O N D O N, March 14.
Saturday morning last, 11 sail of men of war & transports, being part of the British fleet from Rhode Island, appeared in the Offing, just without the west end of Fisher's Island, standing to the westward, but the wind being small and tide unfavourable, they drifted back to the point and came to anchor.
On Sunday they made sail, & about noon anchored north side of the Island, where they continued till Tuesday morning, when the whole came to sail and stood to the eastward.
The appearance of this fleet so near us, occasioned the militia, from the neighbouring towns, to be ordered in, for defence of the harbour, &c. Among whom was the Norwich light-infantry company, commanded by Col. Christopher Lefingwell, who made a genteel & martial appearance, being nearly dressed in uniform.
After the departure of the above fleet, Col. Lefingwell went to Fisher's Island, accompanied by several boats, to make what discoveries they could; where they procured the following memorandum from Mr. Brown, who lives on the island, viz. That the fleet took off the Island 106 sheep, 8 oxen, 11 cows, 60 yearlings, 26 swine, 24 turkeys, 4 dozen fowls, 133 bushels of corn, 100 bushels potatoes, 3 and half tons pressed hay, and 3 cords of wood; they also took a parcel of pork out of the cellar, & some bed-covering; they also took a number of sheep Mr. Brown had no account of.
B O S T O N, March 20, 1777. The Honourable Major-General Heath, is appointed Commander in Chief of all the American Troops, raised or to be raised in this State, in the Room of the Honourable Major-General Ward, who has resigned.
We learn, that the Court of France, have remonstrated to the Court of Britain, against their sending over the Russians to America, and are determined to oppose them, should they attempt the Enterprise.
By a Gentleman of undoubted Veracity, who arrived in Town last Sunday, from Martha's Vineyard, we learn that the British Pirate Ship, called the Ambulade , of 38 Guns, commanded by a certain M c Carty, lay at anchor in Holman's Cove a——The
who told M c Carty, had sent several Wags on shore, begging that his Crew might be supplied, by the Inhabitants, with fresh Provisions, and requesting an Interview with the Committee of that Place; but that he was refused, receiving for Answer, that they had no Traitors there, nor should they be provided with any Things, but what they got at the Point of the Bayonet, and the Mouth of the Cannon.
A letter from a gentleman of distinction, in the Continental army, dated Morris Town, March 9, says, Lieut. Desaguliers, who married Miss Hatch, was out with a party reconnoitering, about ten days ago, and endeavouring to ride off, was shot by our people, & sailing from his horse, was made prisoner. He was thought to be totally out of danger but an Hemorrhage taking place, he died very suddenly. He was son to General Desaguliers. The enemy remain very quiet, but, from all accounts, they are preparing to open the campaign, and Philadelphia is the obj t of their destination.
PORTSMOUTH, March 21.
On Monday the 17th instant arrived here a French ship of about 350 tons, called the Mercury , commanded by Captain John Heraud, in 40 days from Nantes, having the following very valuable cargo on board, viz. 11,987 stand of arms, 1000 barrels of gunpowder, containing 50 ton weight, 11,000 flints; 57 bales, 4 cases, and 2 boxes woollens, linens, &c. on account of the United States of America.——
The captain & passengers (among whom is a brigadier general, & captain of artillery) gives us the following most agreeable account of the situation of affairs there, which they say might be relied on, viz. That 40 sail of the line, including frigates, were then lying at Brest, all ready to proceed for sea; that the greatest preparations for War were making at every other port in the Kingdom; that Doctor FRANKLIN was most graciously received by His Majesty and the Nobility in general; on which occasion great rejoicings were made, such as bonfires, &c. which so disgusted Lord Stormont, that he was preparing to leave Paris.——They also assert, that it was generally believ'd in France the Russians would not come out to America but if they attempted it, they would be intercepted by the French Fleet.——Many other vessels had sail'd (and many more preparing) for America, with military and ordnance stores, as well as large quantities of cloathing.——The dispatches which came by this vessel, were sent off per express to Congress on her arrival.
The Hon. Major-General SULLIVAN, we hear, is at Durham.
Last Saturday arrived in a safe port at the eastward, a prize ship, laden with bale goods, &c. taken by captain Harden, in the Sloop privateer Lady Washington , fitted out at New Port. The ship was from London, bound to St. Kitts.
A Card of Complements.
PERSONS employed in the army and navy, present their complements to humane country Farmers, acquainting them, they have not cottonwool or coffee to exchange for provisions, therefore they and their Families must be starved—This they think is an unjust reward for risking their lives in the defence of this country and those very provisions they are denied to taste of—and all this they must suffer, because the Congress has ordered their wages to be paid in bills of credit, not in coffee and molasses, &c.——Is this just dealing? March 21.
TO BE SOLD,
A Large Dwelling House, Barn & Orchard, with upwards of 40 acres of mowing, planting and pasturing land, well watered, adjoining the country road, leading from Kittery Ferry to Old York, and also adjoining on Piscataqua River, being part of the estate of John Newmarch, Esq; late of Portsmouth, in the state of New Hampshire, deceas'd. Enquire of Mrs. Hannah Newmarch, of Portsmouth, aforesaid, sole Executrix to said Estate.

B LUSH, Britain's, blush! at thine inglorious War, This civil Contest, this ignoble Jar: Think how unjustly you've begun the Fray, With cruel Measures rouz'd America To Arms; each Swain must leave the peaceful field, And 'gainst his Brethren lift the Sword and Shield: Their spacious Commerce now in Ruin lies; And thro' their Land the hostile Standard flies.
Britain, what Laurel can'st thou hope to gain? Can any Action give an Hero Fame? In Brother's Blood our Soldiers Hands imbru'd, And barb'rous Hostiles by our Chiefs pursu'd, Afflicting Britain, thus to spoil thy Name, Defeat's a Scandal, Conquest but a Shame. Our Senators all lost in dire Excess, Lovers of Pleasure, Luxury and Dress.
Almighty RULER, stretch thy potent Hand, And o'er Britannia wave the Olive Wand, Preserve our Nation from th' impending Fate, Drive Clouds of S---hmen from the British State: Fair Peace descend with all thy prosp'rous Train, And spread thy Blessings o'er our spacious Plain.
An ACCOUNT of the INHUMAN CRUEL-TIES to Prisoners in NEW-YORK: Taken From the New-Haven News-Paper of Jan 30.
Messieurs GREENS,
I have been waiting for some time, in expectation that some able hand would give an account of the sufferings of our poor men, prisoners in New-York: But my expectation being hitherto disappointed, if you have nothing better offered upon the subject, you may if you please, publish what I herewith send you, which is the account which the prisoners themselves give.
A S soon as they were taken, they were robbed of all their baggage, of whatever money they had, tho' it were paper, and could be of no advantage to the enemy, of their silver shoe buckles, knee buckles, &c. and many were stripped almost naked of clothes. Especially those who had good clothes, were stript at once, being told that such clothes were too good for rebels. Thus deprived of their cloths and baggage, they were unable to shift even their linnen, and were obliged to wear the same shirts for three or four months together, whereby they necessarily became extremely nasty and lousy; and this itself had been sufficient to bring on them many mortal diseases.
After they were taken, they were in the first place put on board the ships, and thrust down, into the hold, where not a breath of fresh air could be obtained, and they were nearly suffocated for want of air. Particularly some who were taken at Fort-Washington, were first in this manner thrust down into the holds of vessels in such numbers, that even at the coldest season of November, they could scarcely bear any cloaths on them, being kept in a constant sweat. Yet these same persons, after lying in this situation for a while, till the pores of their bodies were as perfectly opened as possible, were of a sudden taken out, and put into some of the churches in New-York, without covering or a spark of fire, where they suffered as much by the cold as they did by the sweating stagnation of the air in the other situation; and the consequence was that they took such colds as brought on the most fatal diseases, and swept them off almost beyond conception.
Besides these things, they suffered extremely for the want of provisions, and even water. The commissary pretended to allow them half a pound of bread, and four ounces of pork, per day; but of this pittance they were much cut short. What was given them for three days, was not enough for one day, and in some instances they went for three days, without a single mouthfull of food of any kind. They were pinched to that degree, that some on board the ships would pick up and eat the salt which happened to be scattered there; others gathered up the bran which the light horse wasted, and ate that mixed with dirt and filth as it was. Nor was this all; both the bread and pork which they did allow them, were extremely bad. For the bread, some of it, was made out of the bran which they brought over to feed their light horse, and the rest of it was so mouldy, and the pork so damnified, being soaked in bilge-water, in the transportation from Europe, that they were not fit to be eaten by human creatures; and when they were eaten, were very unwholesome. Such bread and pork, as they would not pretend to give to their own men, they gave to our poor, sick, dying prisoners.
Nor were they, in this doleful situation, allowed a sufficiency of water. One would have tho't that water is so plenty and cheap, an element, that they would not have grudged them that. But there are, it seems, no bounds to their cruelty. The water allowed them, was so brackish, and withal nasty, that they could not drink it, till reduced to extremity. Nor did they let them have a sufficiency even of such water as this.
When winter came on, our poor people suffered extremely for want of fire and clothes to keep them warm. They were confined in churches, where there were no fire-places, that they could make fires, even if they had wood. But wood was allowed them only for cooking their pittance of victuals; and for that purpose very sparingly. They had none to keep them warm, even in the extremest of the weather, although they were almost naked, & the few clothes they had on them, were thin summer clothes. Nor had they
a single blanket, nor any bedding, not even straw, allowed them, till a little before Christmas. But during all the summer & the cold weather in the fall, &c. they were wholly destitute of these necessary articles.
At the time that these were taken on Long Island, a considerable part of them were sick of the dysentery, and with this distemper on them were crowded, first on board of the ships, afterwards into the churches in New-York, three, four or five hundred together, without any blankets, or any thing for even the sick to lie upon, but the bare floors or pavements. In this situation that contagious distemper soon communicated from the sick to the well, and who probably would have remained so, had they not been in this manner thrust in together, without regard to sick, or well, or to the sultry, or unwholesome season, it being then the heat of summer. Of this distemper numbers died daily, and many others by their confinement, and the sultry season, contracted fevers, and died of them — During their sickness with these and other diseases, they had no medicine, nothing soothing or comfortable for sick people, and were not so much as once visited by any physician by the month together.
Nor ought we to omit the insults which the humane Britons offered to our people, nor the artifices which they used to induce them to enlist into their service and fight against their country. It seems that one end of their starving our people, was to bring them by dint of necessity, to turn rebels to their own country, their own consciences, and their GOD. For while thus famishing, they would come and say to them, "This is the just punishment of your rebellion. Nay, you are treated too well for rebels; you have not yet received half you deserve, nor half you shall receive: But if you will enlist into his majesty's service, you shall have victuals and clothes enough."
As to insults, the British officers; besides continually cursing & swearing at them as rebels, often threatened to hang them all; & at a particular time ordered a number to choose each man his halter, out of a parcel offered, wherewith to be hanged; and even went so far as to cause a gallows to be erected before the prison, as if they were immediately to be executed. They further threatened to send them all into the East-Indies and sell them there for slaves. In these & numberless other ways did the British officers seem to rack their inventions, to insult, terrify & vex the poor prisoners. The meanest, upstart officers among them would insult and abuse our Colonels and Chie: Officers.
In this situation, without clothes, without victuals or drink, and even water, or with those which were so base and unwholesome; without fire; a number of them sick at first with a contagious and nauſeous distemper; these with others crowded by hundreds into close confinement, at the most unwholesome season of the year, and continued there for four months; without blankets, bedding or straw; without linnen to shift, or clothes to cover their bodies; no wonder they all became sickly, and having at the same time no medicine, no help of physicians, nothing to refresh or support nature; no wonder they died by scores in a night. And those who were so far gone, as to be unable to help themselves, the workings of their distemper passing thro' them, as they lay, could not be cleansed, for want of change of clothes: So that many lay for six, seven or eight days in all the filth of nature and of the dysentery, till death, more kind than Britons, put an end to their misery.
By these means, and in this way, above fifteen hundred brave Americans, who had nobly gone forth in the defence of their injured, oppressed country, but whom the chance of war had cast into the hands of our enemies, died in New-York; many of whom were very amiable, promising youths, of good families, the flower of our land. And of those who lived to come out of prison, the greatest part, so far as I can learn, are dead & dying. Their constitutions are broken, the stamina of nature are worn out, they cannot recover, they die.—Even the few that might have survived are dying of the small-pox. For it seems that our enemies, determined that even those, whom a good constitution and a kind providence had carried thro' unexampled sufferings, should not at last escape death, just before their release from imprisonment, infected them with that fatal distemper.
To these circumstances, I shall subjoin the manner in which they buried those of our people who died. They dragged them out of their prisons by one leg or by one arm; piled them up without doors; there let them be, till a sufficient number were dead, to make a cart load; then loaded them up in a cart; drove the cart thus loaded out to the ditches made by our people when fortifying New-York, there they would tip the cart; tumble the corpses together into the ditch and afterwards slightly cover them with dirt.
By these things we learn the temper of our enemies. As Britons they boast of their politeness, humanity and compassion. And now we see what reason they have to boast of these virtues. Their politeness leads them to insult and vex the distressed, the disarmed who have not the means of liberty or redress, yea even the sick and dying. Their humanity and compassion lead them in cool blood to murder by hundreds and thousands, their fellow-men, who had submitted to their power. And not barely to murder them, but to murder them by inches, to starve them to death, to treat them ten times more cruelly than if they had hung them all, the day they took them. Where were savages ever found in the wild
of America, more cruel, more murderous, more blood-thirsty, more brutal, more destitute of every human virtue? Where in all history can we find an instance of more horrid treatment of prisoners? Even the famous instance of Calcutta is not to be compared with this. That respected a few, only 140; this more than three thousand. That was finished in one night; this was continued for four or five months. In that was expressed cruelty in one way only, in this it is expressed many ways. That appears to have been the fault of either inconsideration, or sudden heat of passion; this must have been the effect of cool reflection, and a preconceived system. And which of the two is the worst, which is the most diabolical, admits of no dispute.
While our poor prisoners have been thus treated by our foes, the prisoners we have taken from them, have enjoyed liberty to walk and ride about within large limits, at their pleasure; have been fully supplied with every necessary, & have even lived on the fat of the land: so that none have been so healthy, so merry, so plump and well fed as they. And this generous treatment, it is said, they could not but remember. For when they were returned in the exchange of prisoners, and saw the miserable, famished, dying state of our prisoners conscious of the treatment they had received, they could not refrain from tears.
This doleful tale needs no comment or painting. The bare narration maketh both the ears to tingle, and is more affecting than all the figures of rhetoric. I shall not therefore enlarge further; but only add, that this teaches us what spirit our enemies are of, and what we are to expect from them, if we either submit to be taken, or to be pardoned by them. For cruelty runs thro' a man's whole conduct, and he that is so cruel in one part of his conduct, will be cruel throughout. And as I am persuaded that the indignation of that merciful Being, who hath no pleasure in the death even of the wicked, is raised against the authors of this barbarity; so the indignation of every friend to right, to mercy, and to mankind, ought to be raised hereby, together with a determinate resolution to resist to the last, such barbarous murderers, who delight in tortures and blood; and not to let the blood of so many of our famished, tortured, murdered fellow citizens to cry for vengeance in vain.
MISERECORS.
T HE Creditors to the estate of Samuel Griffith, late of Portsmouth, merchant, deceas'd, represented insolvent, are hereby notified, that two months from the 14th instant, is further allowed for receiving and adjusting their claims, & that the commissioners will attend that service on the first monday in April, & the second monday in May next, from 6 o'clock P. M. at the dwelling house of Nathaniel Folsom, innholder in said Portsmouth.—Portsmouth, March 17, 1777.
S TRAYED or stolen from me the subscriber, on or about the 20th of Feb. past, a dark Roan MARE, eleven years old, 14 hands high, and well built, paces & trots well; imagined to be with foal. Whoever will inform me of her, that I may have her again, shall be well rewarded; or discover the thief, if stolen, so that he may be brought to justice, shall have twenty shillings reward and all necessary charges paid by me, York, March 15. 1777. | Joseph Nowell.
Want to hire 4 or 5 young Men to work at Farming Business and clearing Land. Enquire at the Printing Office.
TO BE SOLD, By SAMUEL HILL, North End, Portsmouth, G ARDEN SEEDS of all sorts, warranted to be good, and of last year's growth.—Also for sale at the same place, the following articles, viz. Gun POWDER, Paper Hangings,—Hard Ware,—Sugar, Rice, Chocolate, Raisons, Oatmeal, Nutmegs, Cinnamon, Mace, Cloves, Allspice; Ginger, Brimstone, Coperas, Alum, Redwood, Logwood, Men's Hatts, Leaf, Roll, and Pigtail Tobacco,—Linnens, and many other articles.
A LL persons indebted to, or that have demands on the estate of Joseph Drew, late of Durham, yeoman, deceas'd, are desired to bring in their accounts to Elizabeth Drew, of Durham, administratrix to said estate, in order for a speedy settlement.