The New Hampshire Gazette

From the South-Carolina Gazette, July 7, 1757.

We are much obliged to the Gentlemen who has favoured us
with the following Extract of a Letter from his Friend
in London, dated May 3, 1757.

As to any Design the French may have upon
Carolina, I can give you no other Information
than from mere Report and Conjecture, which is, that,
if you are not attacked this Spring or Summer, in all Like-
lihood you will meet with some Disturbance in the Win-
ter, as your Coasts and Harbours are equally accessible at
all Times, and neither Mississippi nor Cape Francois are
very distant from you. For my Part, I tremble with
Apprehensions for my Carolina Friends; but I hope you
are 'ere now provided and prepared against the Worst.

From the following Facts however, you may form a
Judgment yourself, whether there is any Grounds for my
Fears: In January last the French Court ordered 12 Ships
of 20 Guns, with 150 Men each, to be fitted out at St.
Maloes, for the King's Service, the Rest of the Men to
be furnished by the King; like Orders were sent to o-
ther Ports; and this was treated as a French Gasconade,

'till the Beginning of last Month, when we were convinced.
that the full Quota of the Malouin Vessels, and some from
the other Ports, had actually arrived at Brest, were there
immediately full manned and victualled for six Months,
and ordered to join a Squadron of which M. de Foligni is
to have the Command. March 17. M. Revet sailed
with a Squadron from Toulon, Destination unknown.
About the same Time three large Transport Ships from
Rochelle, bound for Mississippi and Quebec, were taken
by the York Man of War; these were Part of a Fleet of
27 Sail: Soon after, 12 Ships sailed from Nantes without
Convoy, with a Regiment on board for Martinico, and 2
Of them hoisted broad Pendants that they might pass for
Men of War. April 5th, Four French Men of War, of
64 and 74 Guns, from Toulon, with 250 veteran Soldi-
ers in each, bound for America, slipped through the Gut of
Gibraltar, notwithstanding the Vigilance of Admiral
Saunders, with whom they exchanged a few Broad-sides.
and made the best of their Way. About this Time, a
Squadron of Men of War, with a great Number of Trans-
ports, and 6000 Troops, under the Command of Lieut.
General Lally, sailed from Brest and Port l'Orient, for
America. April 11th. The Disposition of the remaining
Squadron at l'Orient, which before was destined for the
East Indies, was quite changed, and the Regiment of
Berry put on shore, to be embarked for Cape.Breton.
About this Time, the Lion Privateer, took a French
Store-ship, which came out with 11 more, 10 of them
Transports, with 200 Soldiers in each, bound for Mississippi.
April 15th, Eighty Transports were taken up at Bour-
deaux and Rochelle, to carry Troops, &c. to America.
April 23d, Orders were issued here, for fitting out a
strong Squadron, to intercept a large Number of French
Transports, destined for America. April 26th. The
Antelope Privateer, brought a French Store-ship into Fal-
mouth, which came out with 16 more from Nantes bound
for Cape-Breton. April 30th, Pretty certain Accounts
were received, of 15 capital Ships having sailed from Brest
for America; which I wish may not meet with Admiral
Holbourn and Commodore Holmes, who have only 12
Ships of the Line and 4 Frigates --But, here is what
disturbs me most: Captain Green, of the John and Bella
is arrived at Whitehaven, in 8 Days from Havre-de- Grace.
where he was not permitted to go ashore as usual; but a
Priest who came on board, informed him, that great Pre-
parations were making in all the Ports of France, in or-
der to make an Attack upon Virginia and Carolina, ei-
ther of which, he said, they did not doubt making an
easy Conquest of. and whereby the Rest of our Possessions
in America would become an easy Prey to them.