The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-01-11

every possible precaution was taken to give
the earliest notice Of its appearance, and
every provision made for the removal of the
aged the in6rn, the women and children
20 some place of temporary security. The
Colony sloop cruised off the coast TO watch
for the expected enemy, and communicate
to the keeper of the beacons the earliest in
form alton; the only hope that remained was,
thatan English fleet might pursiie The French
and naval battle save the Colonies. A
dreadful panic pervaded the whole country,
prayers ascended from every altar. No peo-
pie had more to fear than those of the town
of Newport, from their insular situation and
the apprehension aud distress of the females
was beyoud description, the contagion was
communicated from one to another until
nothing but breathless anxiety pervaded
the whole sex; this state of anxiety contin-
ued long time until at length in October
the fate of the French feet was ascertained;
After they left France series of misfor-
tunes attended them, they were diminished
by storms and disasters, and those that ar
rived in America were so discouraged that
they returned home without effecting aiy
part of the object originally intended. The
Colonies were saved not by their valor, but
by the hand of merciful Providence.
O. The Boston Post Boy of Oct. 9th,
l746, contains the following particulars:
"On Thursday last arrived here several
by the Freach Fleet in the Harbor of Che
bucto, but since RELEASED and by several of
the Masters and others who came in them
we have the Confirmation of the Death of
the French Admiral the Duke d. AWHILE,
Commander in Chief of the Squadron, and
It's suspected that upon some Uneasiness
on Account of the Disasters sustained in
the Fleet, by Sickness and by bad Weather,
and Dissatisfaction at the Orders which he
opened at Chebucto, he poison'd himself on
board the Northumberland, his Corps being
carried to an Island near the Mouth of the
Harbor, and there buried without any grea,
Ceremony, or any of the Honors of War
at which Time there was but 8 or 10 Sail
arriv'd, having been separated by a violent
storm off the Isle of Sable We likewise
hear, That Two Days after the Dukes
Death, the Vice Admiral NJ, d'Estournelle,
with several other of the Men of War and
Transports arriv'd, and join'd those at
Chebucto, very much shatter'd: That four
of their men of Wal were missing; two of
which had been seen soon after the storm
without Masts THAT near two Thousand
and five Hundred of their Men had died
since they came from France, eleven hun
dred and thirty of them at Chebucto, where
they were buried, Numbers together, in
large Holes; most Of them died of the
Scurvy, which they had to a prodigious
Degree among them ;-Tha, large hos
pital-shp with 300 sick People on board
was se,t home while they were there; and
that not above 1000 of the Land Forces
remained well.-That the Vice dmiral
had upon some Discomfort stab'd himself,
and is supposed to be dead, the Third Off
Ger having taken upon him the Command
before they left the Harbor, which they did
in a great hurry for having taken vessel
bound from hence with Dispatches for Lou
isburg, advising It's said, that Admiral Les
took with the Fleet under his command was
daily expected, they were chagreen'd there
at very much; and that very Night at Ten
O'clock went to work on Shore in striking
their Tents, embarking their sick People
on board their Hospital Ships, and IN short
got every Thing on board by the mex
Morning, when they sail'd; having before
taken out the Men and Guns CT The Parfai
Ship of War, with her Stores, and strip'd
her of her Rigging, they set her on Fire and
burnt her, being leaky as they gave out
They say also they were obliged to order
30 Men out of each Transport the better tc
mann the Ships of Wharf.-The French gave
out that they were going to Annapolis; but
It's thought to be only one Of their Gascon.
AIDES; it being generally supposed they are
gone off,"
Notwithstanding the disastrous failure oI
this grand expedition, France was still ben
Gifted by it, inasmucb as the panic occa-
stoned thereby prevented the Invasion Of
Canada, which, from the magnitude Of the
preparations made by the English, would,
in all probability, have insured the conquest