The New Hampshire Gazette

From the Gentleman's Magazine published the 1st of March.

Naval Achievements of Sir Edward Hawke:

In the year 1734, Mr. Hawke, having been bred to the sea from a very early age was made captain of his majesty's sloop the Wolfe, and from this time took rank in the navy.

In the engagement in the Mediterranean in 1743-4, he commanded the Berwick, broke the line in Adm. Rowley's division and took the Poder (the only ship then taken) was broke for his bravery, and restored by the King.

In 1747, at a general promotion of flag officers he was made rear admiral of the blue.

The same year he was sent on a cruise to intercept a large fleet of French merchantmen bound from several ports in France for the West Indies, under the convoy of a strong squadron of men of war from Brest. On the 14th of October he fell in with this fleet, engaged it, and took six capital ships which he soon afterwards brought into Portsmouth.

In this action Capt. Moore, now commodore Moore, stationed in the West Indies, commanded the Devonshire, which was the admiral's own ship, and his behaviour was so gallant, that the admiral sent him to England with the news of his victory, and a particular recommendation.

At the same time he preferred a complaint against Capt. Fox for misbehaviour, by which two of the enemy's principal ships escaped. Capt. Fox was afterwards tried and suspended.

In Nov. the same year he was made Knt. of the Bath, as a reward for the signal service he had done his country in this action; and in the Dec. following he was chosen member of parliament for Portsmouth.

In the year 1755, he was sent on a cruise in the bay, where he fell in with the Magnanime, one of the finest ships in the French navy, which was taken by the Nottingham, and has been since employed against the enemy with great advantage.

The admiral was also this year chosen an elder brother of the Trinity house, an honour seldom conferred, but as the reward of merit.

On June 16, 1756, on advice of Adm. Byng's misbehaviour, he sailed from Portsmouth with orders to supersede and send him home under arrest; and commanded the remainder of that year in the Mediterranean, during which time his lady died.

On the 24th of July, 1757, he was appointed to command the squadron that was sent in conjunction with some forces under the command of Sir John Mordaunt, against Rochfort on the coast of France. This expedition not being successful, the admiral, tho' he did all that could be done on his part, experienced the caprice of popular favour; for at his return, instead of being received as usual with ringing of bells and acclamations, he was insulted by a dumb peal.

On the 22d of October, 1757, he sailed again for the coast of France, and was afterwards joined by Admiral Boscawen; but being detained by contrary winds, he did not arrive a second time in the road of Basque till the 3d of April, 1758, when he fell in with a large convoy of French ships laden with provisions for North America, which he ran on shore, and so many of them were disabled, that the rest could not proceed on their voyage; so that the service intended was wholly frustrated.

On the 18th of May, 1759, he sailed with a very strong fleet from Portsmouth to observe the French squadron at Brest. He afterwards received the Prince on board, and kept this station till October 12 following, when he was driven from it by the violence of the wind, and in the beginning of November put into Plymouth; but on the 14th of the same month he sailed again, and on the 20th defeated the French fleet commanded by Mons. Conflans.