The Freeman's journal, or, New-Hampshire gazette (Portsmouth, N.H.), 1777-05-31 00:00:00

GREEN'S JOURNAL
OR New-Hampshire Gazette.
[ Vol. I. ]
SATURDAY, May 31. 1777.
[ ]
As the Customers of this Paper will not be charg'd for it this Week, 'tis desir'd, as many as conveniently can, would send in their Names with one Dollar, to the Printing Office in Portsmouth, which will entitle them to 26 Papers from the 7th of June, as has been already mention'd. Those who should neglect or forget this Notice, will not take it amiss, if their Papers are detain'd at the Office 'till further Orders. Those who are so curious as to preserve their Papers to the End of the present unnatural War, may be assur'd such Transactions will be recorded as will not only astonish the present, but future Generations, to behold, not only the Depravity, but Cruelty and Barbarity of our Enemies in this enlightened Age.
To the PUBLIC.
IT is now notorious, that this State, nay each upon the continent, are seeing the Evil, we injudiciously suffered our Enemies among us to spread through these States, they have counterfeited our Paper Currency, the principal Aid in our glorious Cause, they have attempted; & in some Measure have succeeded; to communicate a pestilential Disorder in the Land, & thereby endeavoured to throw us into the utmost Confusion and Distress, & all this for Want of our taking the necessary Steps, in Order to distinguish our Enemies from our Friends, so that the former might be excluded the Opportunity of putting their base, and treacherous Machinations into Execution; the number of our internal Enemies have constantly exceeded our Imaginations; perhaps it is owing to that Candor we wish to display to our deluded Fellow Creatures; but let us consider that the Law of God and nature, requires of us, to take every justifiable Measure, for the Security of our own & Posterities Lives, and Properties, and for this Purpose was Government introduced into this depraved World. It is almost impossible to procure a just Idea of the great Advantage, the Enemy avail themselves of, by our suffering their Friends to remain indiscriminately among us; there are no Auxiliaries upon Earth so peculiarly accomplished for their purposes, as these Tories are; they have such a Variety of Means, and Ways, whereby they can assist them, that every Friend to these States must see the great Utility and absolute Necessity, of putting a Stop to their further Proceedings; and to apprehend, and send them to the British Troops, at this particular Time, will not answer our Purpose so well, as to secure them, (if practicable) in the States, and why may they not be taken up, sent, and kept under a strong Guard, (at their own expence, so far as their Estates will go) in some of the New Townships, there, to continue during the War.—It's to be la-
mented, that more Attention was not paid to the securing, in the most effectual Manner, the Persons apprehended for counterfeiting Money, that they were suffered to converse with each other, and with People in general, that small Bail should be taken in such a high Crime of the Persons, whose Evidence is of the greatest Importance in the measure, that when one of the first Rate of them trade his Escape, so little Expedition was used to apprehend him; to what Cause shall we attribute these Things? Time will unrole;—at this Period the Crime of counterfeiting Money, is vastly greater than it ever was in common, in that the Salvation of America depends much upon it's existence in a State of Purity, therefore the greatest Pains ought to be taken, and no Laws can be made too severe, to reclaim Men capable of Committing so great an Evil.
Exeter, May 18. 1777.
IN COMMITTEE of SAFETY.
WHEREAS the GENERAL COURT of this STATE stands adjourned
Wednesday the fourth Day of June, it is earnestly requested, that the Members would punctually attend on said there being Business of great Importance to be taken under their Consideration the of their Session.
Per Order of the Committee, JOSIAH BARTLETT, Chairman, P.T.
---Public Sales---
ON Tuesday the 3d June next will be sold at a Crane Warehouse on Spring Hill, the Prize Snow Tuit & her Cargo. And also the Prize Brig Rebecca and her Cargo, consisting of Beef, Pork, Herrings, Butter, Tallow, Soap, Candles, Groats, Ship Bread, Oats, Beans, &c. &c. Also the Prize Hannah , and a Number of empty Butts, Hhds. &c. &c. The above Vessels are prime Sailers, well found, and from 150 to 200 Tons burthen.
The Sale will continue from Day to Day (Sundays excepted) 'till the whole is sold.
JOHN PARKER, Sheriff.
Portsmouth, May 24, 1777.
TO BE SOLD, about One Thousand Acres of choice Land in the Town of Chester, 28 miles from Portsmouth, part of which lays in the Parishes of Raymond and Candia. For particulars, enquire at the Printing Office in Portsmouth.
NEW-LONDON, May 16.
A private letter from a gentleman in Point-à-Petre, Guadalupe, to his brother in this town, dated 20th March, says, four prizes have been carried in there by American privateers, worth five millions of livres, (near 200,000l. this currency).
YORK, May 13 1777.
Last Sabbath eve died at his house in York, in the prime of life, and this day was interred under arms, amidst a greater concourse of lamenting friends than has been known here at any other period, upon such an occasion, the active, benevolent, virtuous & patriotick JONATHAN MOULTON, Esq. Sheriff of the county of York, and Brigadier-General of the same County. His knowledge of men and things, his sagacity and sound judgment, his philanthropy and hospitality, rendered him well qualified for the important stations he sustained; and the unexceptionable manner in which he discharged the duties of the same, obtained him the confidence and affection of his extensive acquaintance, almost beyond example. In his death, his Consort laments the loss of an affectionate and tender husband; his children a kind, indulgent parent; his aged parents a dutiful beloved son; his friends an agreeable and social companion; the poor a generous benefactor; the country an able, judicious officer, both in the civil and military departments; and the public a man of large and most valuable abilities.
F I S H K I L L. May 22.
Extract of a letter from Morristown, May 17, 1777.
Last week we had a smart engagement with the enemy, near Piscataway, we drove them in, and killed some, when immediately they were reinforced, and advanced a second time, but were again repulsed. I have been informed that, in the two actions, we killed, wounded and took prisoners, near two hundred; our loss was about twenty or twenty five missing. Three deserters came over to us next day, & all say the above accounts is very near what they lost. I think Head Quarters will be moved to a place within three miles of Bound-Brook; and then for a slap at the Philistines.
We are informed that 200 waggons have lately been sent from Long Island to the enemy's head quarters at Brunswick, in order, it is supposed, to assist in removing their baggage, &c. from that place.
PORTSMOUTH
Monday last arrived at a safe port at the eastward, a prize brig taken by the privateer brig freedom , from Boston, John Clifton commander:—She was from Liverpool bound to the coast of Africa, laden with arms, ammunition, silks, woollens, linnens, &c. &c.
HARTFORD, May 26.
A few days since one Martin, a well known itinerant preacher, was apprehended at Providence and committed to close keeping, being charged with attempting to retail commissions for Gen. Howe in this state: He has since been brought to Windham goal.
THE UNITED STATES LOTTERY TICKETS to be sold at Portsmouth, by JOSHUA BRACKETT.
PROVIDENCE, May 24.
Since our last several persons have been apprehended at West-Greenwich, and brought here for trial, for passing counterfeit 48s. Bills, dated November, 1776, in imitation of those distinguished by the name of Massachusetts sword money.

Copy of a Letter from Lord CORNWALLIS to General WASHINGTON, dated Brunswick, April 3, 1777.
SIR.
I inclose to you a paper which Lieutenant-Colonel Walcott delivered yesterday to Lieutenant-Colonel Harrison, and which Lieutenant-Colonel Harrison did not then think proper to receive. I am, Sir, with due respect, your most obedient humble servant, CORNWALLIS, General Washington, &c. &c. &c. (Copy.)
Demand &c. by Lieutenant-Colonel Walcott, April 2, 1777, of RETURN OF PRISONERS.
WHEREAS General Washington did, in his letter to General Howe, bearing date the 30th day of June, 1776, declare that he was authorised to propose, and he did in said letter accordingly propose a general exchange of all prisoners of war, in the manner and upon the terms following, viz. "officers for officers of equal rank, soldier for soldier, and citizen for citizen." To which proposal his Excellency Gen. Sir William Howe did, in his answer of the first of August following, acceded and agree. And whereas, in pursuance of this agreement, General Sir William Howe, relying upon the honour & good faith of Gen. Washington, for the due and punctual performance thereof on his part, hath, at several times, sent and delivered over to Gen. Washington, as will fully appear from the lists with them transmitted, a number of officers on their parole, and upwards of two thousand two hundred privates, of the enemy his prisoners; & who, as well officers as privates, are still to be considered as such until they shall be regularly exchanged, officers for officers of equal rank, and the privates by a like number of those now in the possession of General Washington; some of whom, having been taken before, or about the time of concluding the agreement, have, in direct violation thereof, been detained as prisoners for full eight months, and others, taken in the latter end of December and in the beginning of January last, have been in the like condition of prisoners for three months; none, or very few of whom, hath hitherto been sent in, in return or exchange of the number of prisoners sent by Gen. Howe to Gen. Washington. I, Lieut. Colonel William Walcott, vested with full powers for this among other purposes, do therefore in the most positive and peremptory manner, require and demand of General Washington, the full & due performance of the agreement above recited; & the immediate release of all
constrained to observe, that this illiberal performance of Col. Walcott is obviously calculated to answer a less generous purpose than that of merely affecting an exchange, contains a gross misrepresentation of facts, and is a palpable deviation from that delicate line, which I expected would mark his conduct as a man of candor and ingenuity.
That gentleman has censured two articles insisted on by me thro' Lieut. Col. Harrison, at their meeting on the 10th ult. as groundless, unprecedented, and inconsistent with any degree of reason or common sense, though founded, as I conceive, in the clearest principles of equity and justice— Not contenting himself with this, which would have given me no concern, he has assumed the privilege of mutilating and mistating those articles, in such a manner as to change their meaning, and to adopt them to the unfair conclusions he wished to establish.
Having premised these things, and being charged in direct and positive terms by Col. Walcott, who acted under your authority, with a violation of the agreement made between us for the exchange of prisoners, and called upon for a performance of the same, I think it necessary to explain the motives of my conduct, and the grounds on which those articles or objections stand.
By respect to the first, I freely repeat, that I do not hold myself bound either by the spirit of the agreement, or by the principles of justice, to account for those prisoners, who, from the rigour and severity of their treatment, were in so emaciated and languishing state at the time they came out, as to render their death almost certain and inevitable, and which, in many instances, happened while they were returning to their homes, and in many others after their arrival. You must be sensible that our engagement, as well as all others of the kind, though in letter it expresses only an equality of rank and number, the rule of exchange, yet it necessarily implies a regard to the general principles of mutual compensation and advantage. This inherent in its nature, is the voice of reason, stipulation, as to the condition in which prisoners should be returned, was re-
Humanity dictated, that their treatment should be such as their health and comfort demanded, and where her laws have been duly respected, their condition has been generally good.—Nor is this the language of humanity alone—justice declares the same. The object of every cartel, or similar agreement, is the benefit of the prisoners themselves, and that of the contending powers—on this footing, it equally exacts, that they should be well treated, as that they should be exchanged: The reverse is therefore an evident infraction, and ought to subject the party, on whom it is chargeable, to all the damage and ill consequences resulting from it. Nor can it be expected, that those unfitted for future service by acts of severity, in direct violation of a compact, are proper subjects for an exchange. In such a case, to return others not in the same predicament, would be to give without receiving an equivalent, and would afford the greatest encouragement to cruelty and inhumanity. The argument drawn from the mere circumstance of the prisoners having been received, is of no validity. Though from their wretched situation, they could not at that time be deemed proper for an exchange, our humanity required that they should be permitted to return amongst us. It may perhaps be fairly doubted, whether an apprehension of their death, or that of a great part of them, did not contribute some what to their being sent out when they were. Such an event, whilst they remained with you, would have been truly interesting, because it would have destroyed every shadow of claim for the return
of the prisoners in your hands, and therefore policy, concurring with humanity, dictated that the measure should be adopted. Happy had it been, if the expedient had been thought of before these ill-fated men were reduced to such extremity. It is confessed however on all sides, that after their delivery they still continued your prisoners, and would be so, till regularly exchanged. I acknowledge that I should be, and I have been, always willing, notwithstanding this concession, to account for every man who was in a proper condition, and fit to be exchanged at the time they came out, so far as the proportion of prisoners with us would extend. With what propriety, or upon what foundation of justice, can more be demanded? This has been proposed, or what is the same, was most clearly implied in the first article, or objection, made by Lieut. Col. Harrison, and illiberally rejected since inconsistent with any degree of reason or common sense. Painful as it is, I am compelled to consider it as a fact not to be questioned, that the usage of our prisoners whilst in your possession, the privates at least, was such as could not be justified. This was proclaimed by the concurrent testimony of all who came out. their appearance sanctified the assertion,— and melancholy experience, in the speedy death of a large part of them stamped it with infallible certainty.
In respect to the second article insisted on,—Your discriminating Major Gen. Lee from other captive officers belonging to the American army demanded my particular attention. I was authorized to conclude from your laying him under particular restraints, and from your letter of the 23d of January last, that you considered him in a singular point of view, and meant to exclude him from the common right of exchange, stipulated for all officers in general terms. This distinction, the more injurious and unwarrantable as you never excepted him, though you knew him to be an officer in our army at the time, and long before, the agreement was entered into, made it my duty to assert his right in an explicit manner, and to endeavour to put the matter on so unequivocal a footing as to ensure his enlargement whenever an officer of equal rank, belonging to your army, should be in our power. This was attempted by the article, and nothing more—nor is any other inference to be drawn from it.—It is true a proposition was made since his captivity, to give a certain number of officers of inferior rank in exchange for him, but it was not claimed as a matter of right.—What name then does that proceeding merit, by which it is suggested that the immediate release of Gen. Lee had been demanded, without having an officer of equal rank to give for him? The suggestion cannot be supported by the most tortured exposition, nor will it have credit where candor is deemed a virtue, and words preserve their form and meaning.
As to the charge of delay in not returning the prisoners in our hands—the dispersed situation of those taken at a more early period of the war, thro' the different States, arising from the circumstances of their captivity, and a regard to their better accomodation, made their detention for a considerable time unavoidable. When the agreement subsisting between us took place, the speediest directions were given to have them collected, that an exchange might be effected. This was done in part, and at a Juncture when motives of policy apposed the measure, but were made to yield to rigid maxims of good faith. We were pursuing the exchange, and continued our exertions to accomplish it, till the miserable appearance indicating an approaching catastrophe, of those sent out by you, made it improper. For seeing that a
chered on the part of Gen. Washington, by Lieut. Col. Harrison, cannot with any degree of reason, or consistently with common sense, be allowed or admitted as obstacles. The one, that "the whole of the prisoners contained in the Commissary's lists, & delivered over to General Washington, should not be accounted for, because many of them died on their return to the place of their destination, and many immediately after their arrival." Posterior therefore confessedly, from the objection itself as stated, to their being delivered over to Gen. Washington. All of whom therefore must be, and all of whom, this objection notwithstanding, I do again require & demand to be exchanged, according to the express terms of the agreement, "soldier for soldier," for every man delivered to the person who received them for and in the behalf of Gen. Washington: The other, "The case of Lieut. Col. Lee," whose release Gen. Washington might with greater propriety demand, whenever, within the terms of the said agreement, "officers for officers of equal rank," he shall have in his possession an officer of rank equal to the reputed rank of the gentleman in question; but until that appear, the demand and objection upon this subject are at least premature. I do moreover expect and demand, that an immediate and categorical answer shall be given to these just and reasonable requisitions & demands. Given at the house of the Rev. Mr. Beech, in the township of Hillsborough, the second day of April, one thousand seven-hundred seventy and seven.
W. WALCOTT, Lieut. Colonel. To General WASHINGTON, &c. &c. (Copy.)
General Washington's Answer to the foregoing Letter.
SIR, Morristown April 9, 1777.
I take the liberty of transmitting you a copy of a paper addressed to me by Lieut. Col. Walcott of your army, which came inclosed in a letter from Lieut. Gen. Lord Cornwallis. It is with peculiar regret I am

difficulty might arise, and that it might be expected that I should account for the whole of them, which I by no means thought equitable, it became necessary that the matter should be adjusted, and the due proportion settled, for which I ought to be responsible, before any thing farther could be done on my part. Upon this ground stands also the detention of those who have been since captured.
Added to these considerations—the discrimination set up in the instance of General Lee, is to be regarded as utterly irreconcilable to the tenor of our agreement, and an insurmountable obstacle to a compliance with your demands.
Thus, Sir, have I explained the motives of my conduct, and, I trust, vindicated myself in the eye of impartiality, from the improper and groundless charge which you, and the gentleman acting by your authority have been pleased to alledge against me
If in doing this I have departed in the smallest degree from that delicacy which I always wished should form a part of my character, you will remember I have been forced into recrimination, and that it has become an act of necessary justice.
I shall now declare it to be my ardent wish, that a general exchange may take place on generous & liberal principles, as far as it can be effected, and that the agreement subsisting between us for that purpose should be inviolably observed, and I call upon you, by every obligation of good faith, to remove all impediments on your part to the accomplishment of it. If, however, you do not, I console myself with a hope that those unfortunate men, whose lot it is to be your prisoners, will bear their sufferings with becoming fortitude and magnanimity. I am, Sir, with due respect, your most obedient humble servant, G. WASHINGTON. His Excellency Gen. Sir WILLIAM HOWE.
(Copy.)
Publish'd by order of Congress, CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary.
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.
Madrid Dec. 3. 1776.
WE have accounts from Cadiz that a Squadron of Evolution under Don Gaston, which sailed from this port on the 13th of last August, is come back again. This squadron has been cruising between the islands of Teneriffe and the Madeiras, where they searched all the foreign vessels, but did not detain any, not even the Portuguese. We are assured, that a second squadron is to be fitted out as soon as possible, composed of 16 ships of the line, 20 frigates, 10 brigantines, several Xebecs, and 4 bomb-ketches. The admiral's ship will be the Royal, of 120 guns and 1000 men.
Paris, December 11. Dr. Franklin has brought two of his grand children with him, whom he means to have educated in this capital.
The day before yesterday all the masters of coffee-houses in this city received orders from the police not to suffer any conversation in their houses relative to the pretended succours which, it is said, this kingdom means to send to the American colonies.
Paris, Dec. 20. The conjectures formed here on the arrival of Dr. Franklin are greatly changed, as it appears certain that the doctor, after having waited on the English ambassador, has been to Versailles, to ask leave of the French ministry to continue at Paris with his family, promising not to trouble himself with any public business, and declaring that he is entirely devoted to the king of England, as well as his son, the governor of New York.
LONDON, December 31, and Jan. 1.
Letters from Gibraltar mention, that an American privateer of 16 guns besides swivels, is taken and carried in there, and that another had been lately seen near that place, which a frigate was gone in pursuit of.
The last letters from Bilboa mention, that two American privateers had stopped there, and taken in a fresh supply of provisions & water, having been out from Philadelphia three months, in which time they had taken twelve prizes, and sent them all to America, but these letters did not mention their names. The privateers were both fully manned, & said they were going on another cruise.
Extract of a letter from Madrid, Dec. 3.
“Government has given orders to raise 25000 men, without any distinction being paid to the privileges of the nobility, or others, or without any trifling defects in persons, or a year or two above or below the stated age, from 18 to 40, being of any consequence. These orders engage the attention of every body, particularly as the motive of this armament is not publickly known.
By advices of authenticity from the Hague, we learn that Sir Joseph Yorke is indefatigable in his endeavours to destroy the illicit commerce of the Dutch with the Americans, and that he had occasioned no less than thirty-two vessels to be stopped at the different ports of Holland since the proclamation of the states was issued.
Extract of a letter from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Nov. 9.
“The 4th inst. a privateer brig, of 18 guns, called the True Briton, and fitted out by some merchants at Barbadoes, was spoke with 30 leagues from this place; she had four American vessels in company with her, which she had taken after an obstinate engagement with the largest of them, which is a provincial ship of 22 guns. The True Briton, with her prize, is gone to Carlisle Bay.
The Antelope, on board of which admiral Geary's Flag is hoisted at Jamaica, being out on a cruise, without the admiral, after the American privateers and other vessels of the rebels, and having some information of vessels belonging to them being among some of the small Islands in the windward passage, hoisted out her long boat, rigged, armed, & manned her, and sent a lieutenant on board to command her in search of these vessels; a hard gale of wind coming on, they were separated from their ship, and obliged to take shelter in Cape Francois, in Hispaniola, where the Governor (for reasons best known to himself) made them prisoners, and hauled the Long-boat dry on shore. The captain of the Antelope had given over all thoughts of seeing his Long boat, expecting she might have bore away for Jamaica; and upon his returning to Port Royal, from his cruise, he had good information of the Transaction, & Crom-well like, took a French Guarda Costa, the first vessel belonging to that nation that fell in his way. The admiral was well pleased with the conduct of the captain, and said it was the best way of procuring a restoration of his officer, people & boat. The French Governor consented immediately to the exchange, and the matter is left to the determination of the two courts.
THOSE Persons who incline to engage for this Paper six Months from the first Saturday in June, are desir'd to enter their Names by that Time, and send one Dollar each, exclusive of Postage.
ALL PERSONS Indebted to, or that have any Demands on the Estate of Jacob Elwell, late of Meduncook, in the County of Lincoln, in the State of the Massachusetts-Bay, deceas'd, are desired to bring in their Accounts to James Morton of Meduncook, in said County, Administrator to said Estate, in order for a speedy Settlement.
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
One Hundred Dollars Reward.
In Committee of Safety, Exeter, May 3. 1777. LAST Evening escaped from the Goal in this Town, Colonel STEPHEN HOLLAND, of Londonderry, who was confined on Suspicion of counterfeiting the Bills of Credit of this State. It is supposed he will endeavour to get to the British Army. He was born in Ireland, is of a middle Stature, rather fleshy, of a ruddy comely Countenance, and about forty-five Years of Age.
Whoever will apprehend and secure said HOLLAND, in any of the Goals of the United States shall receive ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD, from this State.
By Order of the Committee, E. THOMPSON, CHAIRMAN.
THIS is to acquaint the Public, that it is proposed to open a private School for the Instruction of BOYS in reading English, Writing and Arithmetic. The School will be opened the ensuing Week if a sufficient Number presents, at the House opposite George King, Esq; where all due Attention will be paid to the Childrens Education, to the best Capacity of the Public's humble Servant,
ALFORD BUTLER.
TOBACCO.
CHOICE sweet scented Virginia leaf TOBACCO, Providence, and Connecticut ditto. excellent fine pigtail cutt, & all other sorts of Tobacco,—SOLD by Neal M'Intyer on spring hill, Portsmouth.
Wanted, 4 or 6 Hhhs of good CYDER, for which a good Price will be given, if offered within ten Days. Enquire at the Printing Office.
ALL Persons Indebted to, or that have Demands on the Estate of Mr. Joshua Crummetts, late of Durham, deceased, are desired to bring in their accounts to Thomas Crummetts, sole Executor to the Estate of said deceased, in order for a speedy settlement.
State of New Hampshire, Grafton, ss.
Conway, April 25. 1777.
TO THOMAS MERRILL Esq; Clerk for the Proprietors of Conway: We the Subscribers, Proprietors and Owners of more than one sixteenth Part of said Township, desire you to notify and warn the Proprietors of said Township, to meet at the Dwelling-House of Capt. Joshua Heath, Inn-holder in said Conway, on the first Tuesday in June next, at Ten o'Clock in the Forenoon, then & there, when met, to act on the following Articles. 1. To chuse a Moderator. 2. To see if the Proprietors will vote to have the Meeting-House raised on, or near the Place where the Timber is provided for that Use, and lays, or whether they will vote to have the Timber moved, and the Meeting-House erected in some other Place in said Town. 3. To see if the Proprietors will vote to sell or exchange the Lott or Lots laid out for the Minister's Right, and purchase one (or more) that may be more convenient to the Meeting-House, on the same side of the River the Meeting-House shall stand. 4. To chuse a Committee to settle with the Collector, to know whether he has collected what Money has been formerly voted for all public Uses, or for the Use of the Propriety; and if not collected, to give him farther Orders to collect the same. Also, to chuse a Committee, & give them Power to inspect into & prosecute all Trespasses on the common or undivided Land in said Town. 5. To see how much Money the Proprietors will raise to clear & Bridge the Roads through said Town, which is lately ordered to be done by the GENERAL COURT of said State, and other Roads that is wanting in said Town. 6. To chuse Assessors, and a Collector to collect the same. 7. To chuse a Committee to clear and bridge said Roads, &c.
Thomas Merrill, junr. Enoch Merrill, Joshua Heath, Seth Spring, Thomas Russell, John Osgood, Abner Eastman, Benjamin Osgood, David Page, Richard Eastman.
GRAFTON, A.
Agreeable to the aforesaid Application, I do hereby Notify said Proprietors of Conway, to meet at the aforesaid Time and Place for the Purposes in the aforesaid Application, &c.
Given under my Hand at Conway this twenty-ninth Day of April, 1777. THOMAS MERRILL, Proprietors Clerk.

The following Advices are taken from the Whitehaven Advertiser of March 25, found on board the Bark _____ , taken by the Tyrannicide Privateer, as mentioned in our last, viz.
MADRID, Feb. 10. Our warlike preparations, both by sea and land go on with the same activity as before. The troops on the frontiers of this Kingdom are daily reinforcing, and orders have been sent to Caribagena to arm with all possible expedition one ship of 80 guns, and two of 70; four regiments will embark on board these ships to go to our settlements in America, where the public tranquility seems to be in some danger of being disturbed by the people of the cantons, particularly since they have been armed and put on a military footing. Besides the troops now on foot, and the embodied militia, a general militia is going to be raised, in this capital; and that they may not want men, orders are given to enlist all they can get, even if they are 3 inches shorter than the usual height.
MADRID, Feb. 11. Throughout the whole Kingdom such amazing warlike preparations are making, that every one thinks we must certainly be at the eve of a war.
PARIS, March 3. They still continue with the utmost diligence in all our ports putting the marine on a respectable footing. At Toulon there are 3 men of war ready to sail. And they write from Brest, that the ship St. Louis , of 100 guns, and the St. Esprit and les Etats de Bretagne of 84 guns, have joined the squadron under Mr. Duchafault; and that three more ships are sailing out for the same purpose; so that the squadron will be composed of 19 ships of the first rate, who are to take on board six months provision. We are assured, that towards next spring there will be at Brest, Rochfort, and Toulon, 60 ships and frigates, all armed and ready to sail on the shortest notice.
PARIS, March 5. Altho' it is known that before the end of next April we shall have 50 ships of the line ready to sail, yet it is hoped the King will not give up his design of keeping peace. It is said that the Court d'Artois is to make a tour to England soon.
LONDON, Feb. 14. The Asia , Capt. Vandeput, is arrived off Plymouth, and Gen. Clinton came passenger in her.
A letter from Capt. Flynn on the Sovereign , dated at Rhode Island the 4th ult. says that the Kingfisher sloop had arrived there two days before from New York, by which they were informed that our army were within a day's march of Philadelphia; that 800 of the Hessians had been taken prisoners and rescued by a party of our soldiers, who, in return, took 7 or 800 of the rebels.
MARCH 12. Yesterday at noon Lord North was so much better, as to go out to take the air.
By all the late accounts from America it appears, that few of the provincials have paid any regard to General Howe's proclamation, except such as were apprehensive their estates would be ruined by the British troops. It is therefore evident to every man of common sense, that he who is an advocate for the measures of the Congress, is an advocate for the independency of the Americans, and therefore cannot be a friend to Britain.
Previous to the departure of General Burgoyne for Canada, we are informed that he will be invested with the Chief command of a separate body of troops, which are to be employed as occasion may require.
Extract of a letter from Portsmouth, March 10. "This day, at eight minutes before one o'clock, was executed on the common, opposite Cock lane, for setting fire to the Portsmouth Dock Yard John the Pointer, as he is called, on a gibbet near 60 foot high, which I believe is the highest ever erected in England; it was the mizen mast of the Arrebus man of war."
HARTFORD, May 26. Extract of a Letter from Brigadier Gen. PARSONS, to his Honor Governor TRUMBULL, dated New-Haven, 25th May, 1777.
"I sincerely congratulate your honor on the success of our arms on Long-Island:—Col. Meigs left Sachem's Head on Friday at one o'clock in the afternoon, with a detachment of 160 men, officers included, and landed within three miles of Sagg-Harbour, at about one the night following; & having made the proper dispositions for attacking the enemy in five different places, proceeded with the greatest order and silence till within twenty rods of the enemy, when they rushed on with fixed bayonets upon the different barracks, guards & quarters of the enemy; whilst Capt. Troop, with a party under his command, at the same time took possession of the wharves and vessels lying there. The alarm soon became general, and an incessant fire of grape & round shot was kept up from an armed Schooner of 12 guns, which lay within 150 yards of the wharves for near an hour; notwithstanding which the party burnt all the vessels at the wharves, killed and captivated all the men belonging to them, destroyed about 100 tons of hay, large quantities of grain, 10 hogsheads of rum, and other West India goods, & secured all the soldiers who were there stationed. The prisoners are about 90 in number, among which are one Capt. two Commissaries, Mr. Chew, and Mr. Bill."
"I have the satisfaction to be informed, that the officers and men without exception, behaved with the greatest order and bravery; and had not a man either killed or wounded on our side."
The Perseus , an English man of war, has taken a French vessel mounting 20 guns and carried her into Dominico.
Yesterday the Hon. Gen. LAUNDRY lately from France, passed through this town on his way to Head Quarters at Morris Town.
By advices from London as late as the 23 rd of March, we are informed, that true accounts of the battles of Trenton and Princeton had been transmitted to the Ministry, which much chagrined them, and that the German Princes were very backward in supplying the troops agreed for. Poor Old England!
BOSTON, May 29.
Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in Hartford, to his Friend in this Town, May 18. 1777.
"I have a letter of the first instant from Philadelphia, which mentions Burgoyne's coming out with 10,000 Germans and 3,000 English troops, but where destin'd is uncertain— Last evening arrived in town a gentleman from head-quarters, who says, there had been a skirmish between our and the enemy's forces, yesterday week, (Saturday) our people drove them back into their intrenchments, they left 140 dead upon the field, our loss was 60."
Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman at the Camp at Morristown, May 16, 1777.
"Our army has been so small and the posts we have to defend are so many, that we could not carry on those offensive operations against the enemy which every good man wishes for; but our army now increases fast, & I trust by the blessing of Heaven, we shall give the Tyrant Murderers a knock before very long. Our troops have frequent skirmishes with them and generally drive them. Last week a party from General Maxwell's division attacked the enemy, and killed a Scotch major and 40 or 50 Highlanders; also a party from General Lincoln's division attacked them and killed a number. The enemy keep very close in their lines, and do not venture far out least we should catch them. I am inclined to think the enemy intend to go up the North River, if they should, the campaign will probably be spent in that quarter this summer. I think our prospect is good, and that by the blessing of God, we shall give a good account of the British Savages this year. A number of Tory traitors have been hanged in these States southward of New England, and I think we are in good way to clear the land of such pests to human society."
Yesterday being the Anniversary Election of Councillors for this State, the General Assembly met at the State House in this Town from whence they were escorted to the Old Brick Meeting-House (where a Sermon very suitable to the Occasion was preached by the Rev. Mr. Webster, of New-Haven) by the Company of Independents, commanded by Henry Jackson, Esq.; & from thence they proceeded to Faneuil Hall, where an elegant Entertainment was provided— But the List of Representatives can't be late for this Week.
The Trustees, appointed by the late Hon. PAUL DUDLEY Esq., have made Choice of the Rev. Professor WIGGINS WORTH, to preach the next annual Lecture—the Subject is against Popery.
Peter Pickman Fry, who was sentenced to be shot
on Thursday last, for Desertion, was reprieved to the 12th of June.
Last Tuesday se'nnight, 18 Ships, 2 Schooners and 7 Sloops, having on board, 'tis said, 2,000 Troops, left Rhode Island & stood up the Sound. Next Day they were seen passing Montauk, standing to the Southward.
Last Sunday se'nnight, a large Number of Men of War and Transports, with a Number of flat-bottomed Boats, were seen off Huntington and Oyster Bay. In the Afternoon they went into Huntington, to anchor. On Tuesday following 3 Boats left the above Fleet, & stood off Westerly Shore. From which Movements, 'tis conjectured, they intend making another Attack upon some Part of Connecticut.
An intercepted Letter from a Tory at New-York, to his Wife in the Jerseys, says, "You must not expect to see me this Summer, as the Plan of going to Philadelphia is laid aside for this Campaign."
We hear that Congress, have promoted Col. Jedediah Huntington, and Col. Joseph Reed, to the Rank of Brigadiers-General in the Continental Army.
Also that Thomas Conway, Esq., Knight of the Order of St. Louis, and Colonel in the Irish Brigades, in the Service of the King of France, is appointed to the same Rank.
That by Intelligence from sundry Persons who have deserted, been taken Prisoners and made their Escape from the Enemy since the late Expedition to Danbury, Howe's Army have suffered in that Affair from five to nine Hundred in killed, wounded and missing.
That of ours 18 were killed and 60 wounded, of whom seven are dead, and the rest like to recover.
That of the saved Meat which was attempted to be destroyed, more than one Third has been preserved; and that the Medicines and Hospital Store are chiefly saved.
Major Andrew Brown is appointed Deputy-Muster Master for the Baller Department of the Army of the United States of America.
DESERTED from Old York, one John White, a Scotchman, belonging to Col. Francis's Battalion, 23 Years of Age, five Feet five Inches high, well set, light Complexion, light blue Eyes, pock-broken, — Had on a Toe Brock, Moose skin Breeches. Whoever takes up said Deserter, and secures him in any of the Continental Goals, shall receive five Dollars Reward and necessary Charges paid By Lieut. JOSIAH PARSONS, of Old York.
N. B. Said Deserter was seen last Wednesday crossing Rutter Ferry to the Westward.
To all whom it may concern.
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE ROCKINGHAM ss. NOTICE is hereby given, That a Maritime Court for this State will be held, at the Court-House in Portsmouth, on Tuesday the 10th Day of June 1777, at 10 o'Clock in the Forenoon, for the Trial of the Justice of the Capture of the Ship called the Chalkley , about 300 Tons burthen, James Purge, late Master:— Which Ship, together with the Appurtenances and Cargo, was at the Time of the Capture, said to be the Property of, and belonging to some of the Subjects of the King of Great Britain, being Enemies to the United States of America, and taken and brought into the Port of Piscataqua, by John Fisk, Commander of the armed Brigantine, named the Massachusetts , and Jonathan Harraden Commander of the armed Brigantine, called the Tyrannicide , owned by the State of Massachusetts Bay, against which a Libel is filed before me, in Behalf of the Owners and Captures.— Any Persons concern'd, may then appear and shew Cause (if any they have) why the said Ship and Cargo should not be condemned.
JOSHUA BRACKETT, Judge of Portsmouth, May 15, 1777. (said Court.)
THE Subscribers being appointed by the Hon. John Brannan, Esq., Judge of the Probate of Wills, &c. for the County of York, to examine the Claims of the several Creditors on the Estate of Gideon Knight, late of Kittery, deceas'd. Represented Insolvent, hereby give Notice, that we will attend that Business at the Dwelling House of Mr. Joseph Fields, in said Kittery, on the second Tuesday in June 1777, and on the second Tuesdays in the three next following Months, from one o'Clock in the Afternoon till six in the Evening of said Days.
Kittery, May 28, 1777. Nathaniel Remick Joseph Field.
BROKE out of the GOAL in PORTSMOUTH on the Night following the 26th Instant, David Remick, an Apprentice about eighteen Years old, five Feet and a half high, wears his own Hair, had on Oz-abrige Frock and Trowsers. Whoever will apprehend said Runaway, and secure him, so that he may be brought back to said Goal, shall be well Rewarded for their Trouble.
JOHN PARKER, Sheriff. N. B. All Persons are caution'd against harbouring or concealing said Remick, as they would avoid the Penalty of the Law in that Case made and provide.