The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

C A M B R I D G E. October 26.

Last Thursday e'nnight, about two Hours before Night, arrived before the Town of Falmouth, Casco-Bay, from Boston, the Canceaux Ship of War, Capt. Mowatt, with four other armed Vessels. Mowatt, who was the Commodore, sent a Flag of Truce ashore, informing the Inhabitants that he should destroy the Town in two Hours, unless they complied with certain Proposals he should make. The People immediately assembled at the Court House, and chose Brigadier Preble, Dr. Coffin, and Mr. Pagan, a Committee to go on Board the Canceaux, where Mowatt read his Orders to them, which were, in Substance, that as a Rebellion now existed in the American Colonies, unless the Town would deliver up their Arms and Ammunition, acknowledge the Supremacy of Parliament, and give up four Hostages as Security for their future good Behaviour, he must begin to Cannonade and Bombard the Town within two Hours. On the Committee's Signifying that they would not comply with his Proposals, and remonstrating to him the Cruelty of not giving the Inhabitants Time to remove their Families and Effects, he consented, as it was just Night, on their delivering to him eight Arms, not to fire on the Town till eight o'Clock the next Morning. The Arms were procured and sent on Board, and the Inhabitants proceeded to removing the Women, Children & Effects, assisted by the People from the Country. In the Morning the Committee persuaded the Barbarian to lengthen the Time half an Hour, and on another Application prevailed upon him not to Fire till nine o'Clock. In one Minute after the Time, the execrable Monster, with his infernal Crew, began their hellish Work. Under Protection of their Cannon & Mortars, they landed about 100 Men, who plundered the Houses and set the Town on Fire in several Places, and in other Parts the Buildings were fired by Shells and Carcases. They continued their firing till after dark. Some of the People attacked & drove off the Party who landed; killed and wounded several of them.—But, by the goodness of Providence, not one of our Men were killed, and but one lightly wounded. The number of dwelling Houses destroyed, we are told, is 139, and 78 Stores and other Buildings, which last, being mostly built near the Water, were more immediately exposed...Mowatt, on being asked why that Town was singled out, said, all the Places within reach of their Cannon, from Halifax to South Carolina, were to share the same Fate.—May Heaven protect an innocent, distressed People, and may their implacable Enemies perish in the Fire they are kindling for others.

The following is what Capt. Mowatt Sent the People of Falmouth soon after his arrival before that Town.

Canceaux, Falmouth, October 18th, 1775.

AFTER so many premeditated Attacks on the legal Prerogative of the best of Sovereigns, after the repeated Instances you have experienced in Britain's long Forbearance of the Rod of Correction, and the manifest and paternal Extension of her Hands to Embrace again and again, have been regarded as vain and nugatory; and in place of a dutiful and grateful Return to your King and Parent State, you have been guilty of the most unpardonable Rebellion, supported by the ambition of a set of designing Men, whose insidious Views have cruelly imposed on the credulity of their Fellow Creatures; and at last have brought the whole into the same Dilemma; which leads me to feel, not a little, the Woes of the Innocent of them in particular, on the present Occasion, from my having it in Orders to execute a just Punishment on the Town of Falmouth in the Name which Authority, I previously warn you to remove without delay, the Human Specie out of the said Town, for which Purpose I give you the Time of two Hours, at the Period of which, a red Pendant will be hoisted at the Main-top-gallant Mast Head, with a Gun. But should your Imprudence lead you to shew the least Resistance, you will in that Case free me of that Humanity so strongly pointed out in my Orders, as well as in my Inclination. I do also observe, that all those who did on a former Occasion fly to the King's Ship under my Command, for Protection, that the same Door is now open to receive them.

The Officer who will deliver this Letter, I expect to return immediately unmolested,

I am, &c.

H. MOWATT.