The Freeman's journal, or, New-Hampshire gazette (Portsmouth, N.H.), 1777-04-19 00:00:00

Greenough's Journal
OR
New-Hampshire Gazette.
[ Vol. I. ]
SATURDAY, April 19. 1777.
[ No. 48. ]
L O N D O N, Nov. 5.
The Speech of Mr. WILKES, in the House of Commons, on Thursday last.
Mr. Speaker.
THE honourable gentleman who spoke last endeavours to mislead the house. It is certain that no pressing has at this time been carried on in the city of London, or its liberties. No pressgangs have dared to make their appearance in that jurisdiction. Those lawless bands of cruel banditti very prudently chose other scenes of horror & bloodshed, of less dangers to themselves. The city has hitherto remained in perfect safety and tranquillity, in a most happy state of security, by the vigilance, intrepidity, and noble love of liberty, which are conspicuous in its present worthy chief magistrate.
The conduct of administration, Sir, in the late issuing of press warrants, before they had tried the operation of the high bounty, is totally unjustifiable. The speech now in your hands, Sir, is so very pacific, that the large bounty of five pounds for every able, and fifty shillings for every ordinary seamen, promised in last Saturday's Gazette, might safely, for a short time at least, have been trusted to, the emergency not being thought very critical. From the minister's own state of public affairs there was no danger in the experiment. Much cruelty and blood shed had been avoided, many valuable lives preserved.
The affair of Long Island has been misrepresented, and greatly magnified to the house. The superiority of numbers was very considerable. Gen. Howe landed 22,000 men. The provincials had only 6000 effective men on the island. They were ordered to retreat, and 4000 did accordingly, without being attacked, embark for the island of New-York. There was a real mistake of orders as to the other 2000, but they acted as brave men always will act under mistake of orders; they fought. They saw the enemy left their entrenchments, and attacked with spirit. From the superiority of numbers, and their flanks being neglected and unguarded, they were totally defeated. They did not however remain inactive like cowards, on an important day of battle. No such imputation can be fixed on them. Nothing decisive can follow from that late successfull affair on Long-Island, no more than from the defeat at Sullivan's Island. New York will probably fall into your hands but your situation will in that case be scarcely mended since the last year, for you then possessed the capital of North-America, Boston. Is that great and important town advantageously exchanged for New-York? I forgot that we still possess the fishing hamlet of Halifax. But, Sir, we ought to take a much larger and more comprehensive view of this interesting scene, which is now fully disclosed.
The important dispute of Great-Britain with her Colonies has for a considerable time fixed the attention, not only of this nation, but of almost all Europe. The most essential interests of this country, and indeed of the greater part of the powers on the continent, are deeply interested in the event. The sacrifice of so much blood and treasure is to every state an object of the highest importance; to us, whose empire seems moulderling away, of the nearest concern, and I much fear we are now brought by inextricable difficulties to the very verge of destruction.
Since our last meeting, Sir, the scene, with respect to America, has totally changed. Instead of negotiations with colonies, or provincial assemblies, we have a war to carry on against the Free and Independent States of America; a wicked war which has been occasioned solely by a spirit of violence, injustice, and
obstinacy in our ministers, unparalleled in history. In the beginning of September in the last year, a very humble & dutiful petition was sent from the Congress to his Majesty, in which his Majesty was supplicated "to direct some mode, by which the united applications of his faithful colonists to the throne, in pursuance of their common councils may be improved into a happy and permanent reconciliation." There was not a word in the petition but what breathed submission & loyalty, yet the official answer of Lord Dartmouth, the Secretary for the American department, after long deliberation, was to the last degree irritating. It was "that no answer would be given," that is, we will not treat, we scorn to negotiate with you, we exact unconditional submission. This answer, Sir, in my opinion, might justly be called indignity and insult. It drove the Americans to despair, and with the violation of the perfidious promises in Lord Hillsborough's famous official circular letter, laid the real foundation of their declaration of Independence. Much has been said, Sir, of the prophecy of the ministers, that the Americans would in the end declare themselves independant. I give the ministers no credit for such a prophecy. They went on the surest grounds. They might very safely promulgate such a prediction, when they knew that the unjust and sanguinary measures, which they intended to pursue, must bring about the event. They drove the Americans into their present state of Independence. The Jesuits in France risked nothing when they prophesied in 1610 the death of the best prince that ever reigned in Europe, within that year. Their's was the sure word of prophecy. They employed Ravillac to assassinate their sovereign.
An honourable gentleman near me attacks the American declaration of independency, in a very peculiar manner; as a wretched composition, very ill written, drawn up with the view to captivate the people. That, Sir, is the very reason why I approve it most as a composition, as well as a wise, political measure, for the people are to decide this great controversy. If they are captivated by it, the end is attained. The polished periods, the harmonious, happy expressions, with all the grace ease and elegance of a beautiful diction, which we chiefly admire, captivate the people of America very little; but manly, nervous sense they relish, even in the most awkward and uncouth dress of language. Whatever composition produces the effect you intend in the most forcible manner is, in my opinion, the best, and that mode should always be pursued. It has the most merit, as well as success, on the great theatre of the world, no less than on the stage, whether you mean to inspire pity, terror, or any other passion.
The honorable gentleman, Sir, who seconded the address, says the American declaration of independency was no surprize to him—nor I believe, Sir, to any man of common reflection, after the frantic and extravagant career, which administration pursued, with full chorus of approbation from the majority of this house.
The speech in your hand, Sir, which an honorable gentleman near me has well called a speech of hypocrisy, mentions the "assurance of amity, which his Majesty continues to receive from the several courts of Europe." At the beginning of the last session, the minister gave us in the King's speech more explicit assurance. It was said, "I am happy to add that, as well from the assurances I have received, as from the general appearances of affairs in Europe, I see no probability that the measure, which you may adopt, will be interrupted by disputes with any foreign powers." We have no such assurances held out to us this year, that
out measures will not be interrupted by disputes with any other foreign power; but we have still assurance of amity, which are daily contradicted by the immense preparations of the neighbouring foreign powers of France and Spain, and indeed of the whole house of Bourbon. The accounts from Naples contain little but the vast preparations making by the king of the two Sicilies. Are we indeed simple and credulous enough to trust to general vague expressions of politeness against the clear evidence of facts? Our ministry knew very well that an American Privateer being lately at Bilboa in Biscay, an express was immediately dispatched to Madrid, which returned with the full on questions for the release of the privateer, and per- by Great Britain which does not with success to the Americans, and we are considered almost every where on the continent, in the odious light of tyrants & oppressors. The speech, Sir, states, that "if treason be suffered to take root, much mischief must grow from it to the safety of my loyal colonies." A- January, without any new facts having occurred of any moment, war was declared by England against Spain. Will the plausible, smooth-tongued French likewise be able to lull us into a fatal security against the evidence of all history? Can we expect to be treated by them in any other manner than the Spaniards were at the time of the famous revolt of Portugal? The French sent whole regiments, compleated officered, into the service of the house of Braganza. They paid them under hand the same as their national troops, yet all the while declared their abhorrence of rebellion, and of rebels, issuing proclamation after proclamation, and recalling their officers under the severest penal. Sir, there is not a power in Europe, ununfurnished with the following use. mission to furnish him with provisions, stores ammun- tion, in short, whatever he wanted, This fact will not be denied. Is Spain then one of the foreign powers, which again soothes us with the choicest assurances of amity? Has fate ordained, that we are neither to possess capacity enough to profit by the example of others, nor even by our own experience? In the very first year of the present reign, in September 1776, the Gazette told us that "the Catholic King had, at no time been more intent upon cultivating a good correspondence with England, than in the present conjuncture." A declaration received seriously here, held out as a part of the court creed, and laughed at by all the rest of Europe, in the beginning of the following year.

treason and rebellion; and they just resistance and a glorious resolution, has taken root, a very deep root indeed, and has spread over almost all the American colonies. In this very speech we are told of their numbers, their wealth, their strength by the sea and land. The loyal colonies are three, the free provinces thirteen. In laying on the embargo, the exception to the rule is ridiculous enough. It is as thirteen to three. The gazette says, "any of my colonies in North America, except the colonies of N. Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three lower counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia." Of what other colonies was his majesty in possession at his accession to the throne? I think the permission extends only to the provinces, which we have not yet lost, to the two Roman Catholic provinces of Canada and Florida, and to Nova-Scotia.
We have now been carrying on for two years a savage and piratical, as well as unjust war. Every demand of government has been complied with, and yet the great force employed both by sea & land has not hitherto recovered a single province of all the confederated colonies. On the contrary the evil grows more desperate. The last year only twelve colonies humbly petitioned the throne. This year by the accession of Georgia, we have seen a federal union of thirteen free and powerful provinces asserting their independence as high and mighty states, and setting our power at defiance. This was done with circumstances of spirit and courage, to which posterity will do justice. It was directly after the safe landing of your whole force. In return we have barbarously plundered their coasts, and set fire to their open towns and defenceless villages in a manner which disgraces the English name. In the midst of all the cruelties, terrors, and devastations, which follow your arms, the spirit of the Americans is still unsubdued, and I hope and believe, you never will conquer the free spirit of the descendants of Englishmen, exerted in an honest cause. They honour, & value, the blessings of liberty. They are determined to live, and die, freemen, notwithstanding the vain efforts of every arbitrary power in Europe. It is a foolish attempt to think of conquering and holding the immense territory of North-America, when the whole country is united against us. We argue in a trifling manner on the decisive good consequences for events only in the province of New-York. They do not prove that we shall subdue Virginia, or either of the Carolinas. Success in two or three battles, or sieges, argues little for a final success of a war, so extensive already, and so greatly complicated.
As to our unanimity at home, Sir, the very idea is absurd, because impossible, while the present system of injustice and oppression continues in its full rigour. The American war is unjust, & unconstitutional in its first principle, & if persisted in, must end in our ruin. We have neither force to conquer, nor strength to maintain, such extensive conquests, if we could succeed. Our situation is become truly critical. The constitution of this country is at home sapped by bribery and corruption. On the other side of the Atlantic it is assailed by violence and force of arms. The too fatal success in this devoted nation is very evident, but in the new world, I trust, as a friend of mankind, that all the despotic measures of a tyrannical administration will prove ineffectual. It is impossible for this island to conquer and hold America. They are determined and united. Your fleets may indeed every year carry horror through all their coasts. Your armies may possess some sea-port towns, but the numerous & greatly increasing people of the provinces will retire into the interior parts, of which you have already had some experience. Peaceful towns and villages will cover their fruitful plains, liberty will fix her blest abode among them, the unmolested, happy inhabitants rejoicing that they are procul a Jove, procul a fulmine .
I heartily agree, Sir, with the noble lord in the amendment proposed; but I go farther, and my opinion is, that if we expect to save the empire, to persevere, even for a short period, Canada or the West India Islands, or to recover any part of the immense territory we have lately lost, we must recall our fleets and armies, repeal all the acts injurious to the Americans passed since 1763, and restore their charters. We may then, if they will forgive, and can trust us, treat with them on just, fair and equal terms without the idea of compulsion, and a foundation be laid for the restoration of peace, internal tranquility, and unity to this convulsed and dismembered empire.
TO THE PUBLICK.
THE same over-ruling Providence, which denied to the Captain of our spiritual Salvation, any Coadjutor (for he needed none, when he trod the Wine-Press of his Father's Wrath alone, and of the People, there was none with him,) has bountifully granted, to the Captain of our temporal Salvation, the Hearts and
Affections, of a vast Majority of his Country, who are ready in sufficient Numbers, to list under his Banners, and to strengthen his Hands, in the Day of Battle; but has, in unerring Wisdom, permitted a political Blindness, to attend a few; and I religiously think, has forbid us, to compel them to join in the War, by any other Means, than Perswasion and Conviction, of it's Lawfulness. — It would be ungrateful to God, after so general a Union, (which is undoubtedly, the miraculous Work of his special Power,) to insist upon it's being universal, by any other Compulsion, than that of Reason and Argumentation; by which Means we should deserve, to have it lessened, rather than increased, and loose the Harmony, we at present possess, and have Reason, to think ourselves secure of. —
A generous, charitable and religious Whig, will refrain, from wounding a tender Conscience, when the Owner of it refrains from wounding him; and will take exquisite Pleasure, in informing and convincing such a Person of his Error; and if at any time, he should receive any injury from him, will only make himself whole and safe, by the gentlest Means in his Power. The same Reasoning holds good, with respect to the Danger or Safety of the Publick. — In a Word, I think an honest inoffensive Man, be his Opinion what it may, ought to be treated with neighbourly Kindness, and meet with Peace, Love and Charity. Such Persons should be more esteemed by us, than they, who plead for, or act in any Cause against their real Sentiments; but if they are so imprudent, as to act or speak to the Prejudice of their Country, let them, I say, be restrain'd and punish'd according to Law: Let us follow the golden Rule of doing to others, as in like Circumstances, we should be willing to be done by ourselves; let all Things be done legally, decently and in Order, in which true Liberty consists, and on which our Safety, and Happiness most essentially depends.
I shall conclude with observing, that the Grand and truly Venerable Continental Congress, has recommended the charitable Treatment of Tories, which I have insisted upon, (not longer, I think, than the important Nature of the Subject requires,) well knowing it to be most consistent, both with true Religion and sound Policy; and that, when the latter militates with the former, it cannot be of long Duration. — CHARITAS.
P. S. The Author of the foregoing Letter is so far from being a Tory, that he knows of no Person preceding him, and perhaps, none following will agree with him, in the Idea of Liberty, in the Extent, to which he carries it. — The late Pieces in this Paper, signed Orthodoxus, deny to Great-Britain, the Right of Legislation over this Country, now and at all Times, past or future, in all Cases whatever; and roundly assert, that this or any other Country, has no Right to alienate the Power of Legislation, in any one Instance; and that parting with such a Power, being an unlawful Act and Deed, is ipso facto void. This Doctrine, he humbly conceives is fully demonstrated, in the forementioned political Essay; which Performance he proposes to epitomise, in one short Epistle more under the same Signature; but would by no Means intrude his Opinion on any one, further than follows from clear Conviction of the Truth of it, in the Minds of those, who honour him with the Perusal of his Writings. —
WILLIAMSBURGE, March 7.
A general court-martial was held upon Col. Mordecai Buckner of the 6th Virginia regiment, the 8th ult. being accused of shamefully misbehaving before the enemy in an action, on the 23d of January last, also quitting his post and party in time of engagement, and of neglecting to bring up his men to action, when there was a prospect of defeating the enemy. The court found him guilty of the charge, and their sentence was, that he should be cashiered, & declared in-
ford Frigate, while at An- chor near that place.
POST a Red Cornelian Seal set in Silver, with the Let- ters S. M. engraved thereon. — Whoever has found it, and will return it to Stephen Meed, or the Printer hereof, shall receive ONE DOLLAR for their Trouble.
Gen. Lee 3 or 4 Days. He informs, that Gen. Lee has a Room in the City-Hall, and has every Convenience even Luxury the City affords, & that he is respectfully treat- ed, though carefully guarded.
Since our last, the Officers, Marines and Mariners of the Continental Sloop of War, the CABOT, (which was mentioned to have ran ashore, on the Rocks off Jeboge, in No- va-Scotia) arrived in this Town, — together with 14 Sailors, who deserted from the Mil-
Same Day, set off for Morris-Town, a Company of the Columbian Train of Ar- tillery, commanded by ----- Seward, Esq; — Several Companies more will march in a Day or two for the same Place.
The Account of Gen. Lee's being con- fined in close Quarters, in New-York, is a Mis- take — for, by authentic Information from Head Quarters, we learn, that Major Morris, one of Gen. Lee's Aid-de-Camps, went in by Permission of Gen. Howe, and was with
ment; the Command of which being again devolved on that very able and most expe- rienced Officer.
Tuesday last, the Corps of Independents, commanded by Henry Jackson, Esq; march- ed off from this Town for Providence, in order to assist our Brethren in that Place, a- gainst all the Encroachments of the worst of Tyrants — the Hirelings of the British King; should they attempt a Landing on that Shore of FREEDOM.
capable of any military office in the service of the United States; which sentence was approved of by the General, and he was or- dered forthwith to depart the American army
BOSTON, April 17, 1777. By a Gentleman, who arrived in Town last Sunday, from Albany, we are informed, That the Honourable Major General Gates, was expected there the Evening after he set off, on his Way to the Northern Depart-

BOSTON, April 14:
We have an account from Philadelphia, That an officer belonging to the British navy was taken up as a spy, and condemned to be executed: He had engaged three pilots for a valuable consideration to conduct a fleet up the Delaware; but as soon as they had received part of the reward, give information to proper authority, who immediately apprehended the officer.
Saturday last arrived safe in Port, a Prize Brig, with Eleven Hundred Quintals of Fish, taken by the Privateer Sloop Charming Sally. She was bound from Newfoundland for Lisbon.
Also last Saturday arrived safe in Port Mr John Lewis, Prize-master of the Brig. Ann, of and from Bristol, bound for Dominica, laden with Bread, Flour, Oyl, Paint, &c. taken by the Brig Defiance, of New-London, Capt. Samuel Smedley, who also took a Bark of 180 Tons, laden with Stores, bound to Jamaica, which arrived at a safe port last Week. On the 10th ult. Captain Smedley had an Engagement with two Ships for four Glasses, but their metal being too heavy, he quited them. Mr. Lewis has favoured us with Bristol Prints to the first of February, taken in the above Brig, from which we have extracted the following, viz.—“That on the 15th of January a Fire broke out in the palace of Bonn, in the electorate of Cologne, in Germany, which entirely consumed the same, the Damage estimated at above £. 200,000 Sterling.—That congratulatory Addresses from the Mayor, Burgesses, Master, Wardens, and Commonality of the City of Bristol were presented to the King, the latter End of January, on the Success of his Arms in America (before the 26th December) & that they hoped soon to recover their former Trade and Splendor.—That a strong Watch was kept at Liverpool every Night, from five o’Clock to seven the next Morning, to prevent, if possible, the Town, Dock, Pier, Basin, or any other Place in the Harbour from being consumed—That a Reward of £1000 was offered by the Lords of the Admiralty, for discovering the Person or Persons concerned in the fire at Portsmouth Dock.—That Mr. Ebenezer Smith Platt of Philadelphia, was committed to Newgate, for High Treason, in buying Arms, powder, Balls, &c. at Jamaica, for the Use of the American Army.—That Capt. Brown in the Privateer Sloop Charming Sally, and Capt. E Johnson in the Dalton, are taken and carried to Plymouth; & the Argo, Ward & Betty, Lebras bound to Bilboa are taken and carried into Lisbon—That between the 15th & 23d January the City of Bristol had been attempted to be set on Fire sundry Times, at 6 or 8 different Places in one Night, and 650 Guineas Reward offered to apprehend the Perpetrators.—That the Warehouses of John Lewelly and Co. in Bell Lane, were entirely consumed. That Lord Howe is fixed on to be Treasurer to the Navy—That the next New York Packet, which will mount 16 Guns is also to carry the Halifax Mail, That a Bill had passed the House of Commons for granting Letters of Mark to all private Ships to take all Vessels belonging to the States of America That there was not the least Foundation for the Report of the British Ministry having demanded Dr. Franklin of the French—That the Mayor of York had recieved a Letter, threatening to burn his House, and also the Mansion House, in case the press-gang were not sent out of the City of London by the last tuesday January.—and that the Press in England was exceeding Warm, that the Hackney Coachmen were taken off their Stands, and carried on board a Tender.
By a vessel in 45 days from Nantz in France we learn, That the privateer which carried Dr. Franklin, since the two Prizes formerly mentioned, has taken and carried into some ports in France five others, one of which we hear was a Lisbon packet.
The public are informed, That there have been born in the Town of Brookfield, in the three last Months four Pair of Boys, of four Women, who are all well; the three last within three Weeks. A pleasing prospect that a Succession of American Heroes will arise to defend their Country, when the present Defenders being numbered with the Dead, shall receive the lasting Plaudit of the Brave.
We hear from Methuen on Tuesday last, that John Hewes of that Town had his House and barn and Outhouse burnt by a Spark lighting on the Roof; there being no Men at Home, it was consumed with great Loss.
PHILADELPHIA, March 27.
Monday last James Moleworth, a Traytor and a Spy, was executed on the Common near this City. It appears by sundry Evidences and his own Confession, that he had been sent from New-York to procure Pilots for conducting
the British Fleet up the River Delaware to this City.
It is said that the once celebrated Paschal Paoli, the Corsican Chief, is now employed among the British and Foreign Mercenaries in Canada (where he has a Command) as an Instrument to destroy that Liberty, which he pretended to love, and openly defended. For the Honor of Humanity we wish that this may not prove true. It must give real Pain, after all his Struggles in his own Country, thus to “see him damned to everlasting Flames.”
HARTFORD, April 14,
By the New-London Post we are informed, that on Friday last, about 60 Sail of Transports appeared off that Harbour, and soon came to anchor near Fisher’s Island — they had lately left Newport, and it was supposed were bound to New-York.
Yesterday Part of the Regiment of Continental Troops from Massachusetts-Bay, passed through this Town on their Way to join the Army under the Command of his Excellency General Washington.
Extract of a Letter from Philadelphia, April 2,
“Every Thing in this Quarter looks favourable. By the Blessing of God, and our own virtuous Exertions, I hope we shall soon overcome our Enemies, and put a Period to the present bloody and destructive War. One Moleworth was executed here as a Spy, Yesterday: He confessed being employed by Mr. Galloway, to procure Pilots to bring the British Ships into this River.
UNITED STATES LOTTERY; 1776.
The Scheme is, that this Lottery consist of Four Classes, of One hundred thousand Tickets each.
FIRST CLASS.
100,000 Tickets, at TEN DOLLARS each, are
  Deduction, at Fifteen per Cent, 1,000 000 150 000   850,000 
   No. Prizes. Dollars.     1 of 10,000 is 10,000   2 of 5000 are 10,000   30 1000 30,000   400 500 200,000   20,000 20 400,000   Carried to the Fourth Class, 200,000  
SECOND CLASS,
100,000 Tickets at TWENTY DOLLARS each,
  are 2,000,000   Deduction, at Fifteen per Cent. 300,000   1,700,000 
   No. Prizes. Dollars.     1 of 20,000 is 20,000   2 of 10,000 are 20,000   10 5000 50,000   100 1000 100,000   820 500 410,000   20,000 30 600,000   Carried to the Fourth Class, 500,000  
THIRD CLASS.
100,000 Tickets, at THIRTY DOLLARS each,
  are 3,000,000   Deduction, at Fifteen per Cent, 450,000   2,550,000 
   No. Prizes. Dollars.     1 of 30,000 is 30,000   1 20,000 are 20,000   2 15,000 30,000   2 10,000 20,000   10 5000 50,000   200 1000 200,000   1000 500 500,000   20,000 40 800,000   Carried to the Fourth Class, 900,000  
FOURTH CLASS.
100,000 Tickets, at FORTY DOLLARS each are,
  Deduction, at Fifteen per Cent. 4,000,000 600,000   3,400,000 
  Brought from the First Class, 200,000   Second ditto, 500,000   Third ditto, 900,000   2,550,000 
   No. Prizes. Dollars.     1 of 50,000 is 5,000,000   2 25,000 are 50,000   2 15,000 30,000   2 10,000 20,000   10 5000 50,000   100 1000 100,000   200 500 100,000   1000 300 300,000   15,000 200 3,000,000   20,000 50 1,000,000  
Genuine Sal-Ca- tharticum,
Or, Purging SALTS, to be sold per pound, of smaller quantity, by Hal Jackson; also, Best refined Spermia Cete.
ROCHESTER, April 3, 1777. JOSEPH KNIGHT. N. B. All Masters of Vessels are cautioned against carrying off said Negro as they will avoid the Penalty of the LAW.
ALL persons indebted to, or that have demands on the estate of Capt. Richard Shortridge, late of Portsmouth, deceas’d, represented insolvent, are hereby desir’d to bring in their accounts to Mary Shortridge, administratrix to said estate, in order to a speedy settlement.
R UN-AWAY from the Subscriber April 1, 1777 a NEGRO MAN named BONE, about five Feet nine Inches high, between 20 and 30 Years of Age, speaks good English; — Had on when he went away, a striped Cotton and Linnen Shirt, two short Waistcoats, inside one white wollen mill’d, the other brown, with claret colour’d Sleeves, Leather Breeches, light blue Yarn Rib Stockings, & a very narrow brim’d Felt Hat: He has been in the Continental Service 19 Months, and it is supposed that he will, if he can, get to the British Troops. Whoever will take up said Negro, and return him or secure him, and give Information to the Subscriber, shall have Eight Dollars Reward, & all necessary Charges paid by
W E the Subscribers, being appointed Commissioners by the honourable John Bradbury Esq; Judge of the probate of wills &c. to receive and examine the claims of the several creditors to the estate of John Parsons late of Berwick Physician deceas’d, represented insolvent, hereby give notice, that we will attend that business at the house of Nahum Marshall innholder in Berwick, on the last Tuesday in April 1777, & the last Tuesday of the five following Months from Two o’Clock till six in the Afternoon of said Days. James Plaisted. Robert Rogers,
5,000,000
42 317 Prizes, 57,683 Blanks. 100,000 Tickets. Not near one and a half blanks to a prize. The managers appointed by congress are, Sharp, Delany, John Purviance, Owen Biddle, David Jackson, Jacob Burge, Jonathan B. Smith, and James Searle, who are upon oath, and give bond for the faithful discharge of their trust. The drawing of the First Class will begin at Philadelphia, the tenth day of April next, or sooner, if sooner full. Philadelphia, Dec. 13, 1777.

BY SIR PETER PARKER. Tune "Well met Brother Tar."  M y Lords, with your leave, An account I will give, That deserves to be written in metre; For the Rebels and I Have been pretty nigh, Faith almost too nigh for Sir Peter. With much labour and toil, Unto Sullivan's Isle I came, fierce as Falstaff or Pistol; But the Yankies (add rat 'em). I could not get at 'em, Most terribly maul'd my poor Bristol! Bold Clinton by land Did quietly stand, While I made a thundering clatter; But the channel was deep, So he only could peep, And not venture over the water. Dee'l take 'em, their shot Came so swift and so hot, And the cowardly dogs stood so stiff, Sirs, That I put ship about, And was glad to get out, Or they would not have left me a skiff, Sirs, Now, bold as a Turk, I proceed to New-York, (me; Where with Clinton and Howe you may find I've the wind in my tail, And am hoisting my sail, To leave Sullivan's Island behind me. But my Lords do not fear, Before the next year, (Altho' a small Island could fret us) The Continent whole We shall take, by my foul— If the cowardly Yankies will let us.
STATE OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.  In the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven,
AN ACT for repairing and making passable the Road through Wolfeborough to Conway, & through Conway to Northumberland, by the Notch of the White Hills, so called.
WHEREAS by Reason of the Proprietors of the Lands through which the said Road runs, neglecting to compleat and keep the same in repair, many Persons settled on the Northern Frontiers of this State, are subjected to great Difficulties in transporting Stores necessary for their Sustenance and Defence:
BE it therefore Enacted, by the Council & House of Representatives, and by the Authority of the same it is hereby Enacted, That the respective Owners and Proprietors of the Lands through which the said Road is laid, shall forthwith clear and repair the same, so as to render it convenient for the passing of loaded Carriages, to the acceptance of Henry Rust of Wolfeborough, Esq; Thomas Merrill and Andrew M'Millan of Conway, Esquires; Capt. Edward Bucknam of Lancaster, and Joseph Peverly of Northumberland Esq; or of any Three of them, who are hereby appointed a Committee to see the same effectually done.
AND be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if the said Respective Owners or Proprietors shall neglect and delay to clear and repair the said Road through their several Lands, as aforesaid, for the space of Two Months, from and after the passing of this Act, it shall and may be lawful for the said Committee, or any Three of them, and they are hereby Authorized to cause the same to be cleared and repaired as aforesaid, and the Course thereof to be altered and changed in such places as may require it:—And they are hereby directed to keep an exact account of the Labor expended on such Proprietors Land, and to exhibit the same to such Proprietor or Owner, if known, and if unknown, to publish the same in some public Newspaper in this State, if any shall be printed here at that time, and if not, by posting the same in Three public Places near the said Land—and if the said Owners or Proprietors shall neglect to pay and discharge the same by the Space of sixty Days next after such Exhibition or Publication;—the said Committee or any Three of them, shall, and they are hereby impowered to advertise the said Lands of such delinquent Owners or Proprietors for Sale, by publishing the same in some public Newspaper of this State, if any; if not, of the next State, for the Space of Three Weeks successively, and then proceed to Sell at public Vendue such Delinquents said Lands in Lots, not exceeding One Hundred Acres, until a Sum be raised sufficient for the Discharge of said Account, with incidental Charges—and the overplus, if any, shall be returned to the said Owner or Proprietor on Demand.
AND be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That when the said Committee shall cause the said Road to be cleared or repaired in any Township already divided into Lots, that they shall exhibit their Account of the Expence thereof to the Clerk of the Proprietors of such Township if known, and if not, shall publish it in manner as before herein directed; And if the same be not discharged within Sixty Days next after the exhibiting or publishing thereof the said Committee may recover the same by Action of Debt, against the said Proprietors with double costs of Suit.
AND Whereas the Owners or Proprietors of some of the uninhabited Lands in the said Road live at a great Distance from the same, and it may happen that by Inundations or other Casualties, the said Road may be suddenly rendered impassable, and before the said Owners or Proprietors can be notified thereof, Travellers may be put to great Inconveniences & Hardships; Therefore
BE it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That in such Cases the said Committee or any one of them shall, and they are hereby Authorized to cause the same to be immediately repaired, and to recover the Expence thereof in Manner as is before in this Act directed.
[The foregoing ACT Passed April 12, 1777.]
A Private School, WILL be opened on Monday 21st, of the present Month, at the South Writing House, where WRITING and ARITHMETIC will be taught from Seven to Eight o'Clock A. M. and from Twelve to One by,  ABIAH HOLBROOK.
TOBACCO.
CHOICE sweet scented Virginia leaf TOBACCO, Providence, and Connecticut ditto. excellent fine pigtael cutt, & all other sorts of Tobacco,—SOLD by Neal M'Intyer on spring hill, Portsmouth.
ALL persons indebted to, or have any demands on the estate of John Griffith, Esq; late of Portsmouth in the county of Rockingham deceas'd, are desired, without delay, to come & settle with the subscribers executors to the testament of the said deceased Samuel Penhallow. William Knight.
ALL persons indebted to, or that have any demands on the estate of Joseph Paul, late of York, deceas'd, are hereby desired to bring in their accounts to John Frost, Esq; of Kittery, in said county, administrator to said estate, in order for settlement. 8—0 Kittery, April 10, 1777.
ALL persons indebted to the estate of Edward Parsons, late of Newmarket, attorney at law, deceas'd, are hereby once more, required to discharge their respective debts to William Parsons, of Sanford, administrator to said estate, or to Josiah Adams of Newmarket, attorney to said administrator, by the last wednesday of April current, on which day; at two o'clock, P. M. will be sold at said Adams's, the Library of the deceas'd, at public Auction. Newmarket, Apr. 10.
TO BE SOLD at PUBLIC VENDUE on Monday the 21st day of April next, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, at the house of Mr. Meshach Bell, innholder in New Castle, by virtue of a licence from the hon. Philips White, Esq; Judge of probate of Wills, for the county of Rockingham, ONE LOT OF LAND in New Castle aforesaid, and one ninth part of a PEW in the Meeting House in said town, being the estate of Jacob Clark, late of said New Castle, deceas'd. New Castle, March 27, 1777.
TO BE SOLD, on board the brigantine Non-Pariel, laying at Captain George Wentworth's Wharfe, near Liberty Bridge, TURKS ISLAND SALT , at ten shillings per bushel. Portsmouth, April 1777.
3. To vote what Sum the Proprietors will grant to assist the Inhabitants of said Township in supporting the Reverend Mr. Porter; and if any, to chuse Assessors, Collector or other Officers that may then & there be thought necessary. 4. To pals any other Vote or Votes, that those then and there assembled may see needful:—I do therefore hereby Notify and Warn all the Proprietors of New Durham aforesaid, to meet at said Time and Place, for the above Purposes. WALTER BRYENT, Just. Facis. Newmarket, April 2. 1777.  To be sold by Joseph Harris at York, a few Bunches of TURPENTINE.
WHEREAS Application has been made to me the Subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace for the County of Rockingham, by the Owners of more than one sixteenth Part of the Township of New Durham, in the County of Strafford, and State of New Hampshire, to call a Meeting of the Proprietors of said New Durham, at the House of Mr. Jeremiah Folsom, Innholder in Durham, in said County of Strafford, on the first Tuesday in May next, at Two o'Clock Afternoon, then and there to chuse a Moderator. 2. To chuse a Committee to perambulate the Lines in that Part of the second Division of said Township already laid out, and lay out the Remainder of said Division.
ALL persons that have any demands against the estate of JOHN SHERBURN , late of Portsmouth, Chaise-maker deceased, Intestate, are desired to exhibit the same to SAMUEL SHERBURNE administrator of said estate. Portsmouth March 31, 1777.
THE UNITED STATES LOTTERY TICKETS to be sold at Portsmouth, by JOSHUA BRACKETT.
SARAH PURCELL , sole executrix to the estate of her late husband GREGORY PURCELL , Esq; deceased, having requested all persons legal creditors to said estate, to call on her for payment; and those indebted to discharge the same—she once more requests the like favour, and such as neglect to pay their debts owing to said estate, may depend on their accounts and notes being put in suit against them, at the next May court, without distinction. Portsmouth March, 31, 1777.