The New Hampshire Gazette

Extract of a Letter from Leipzig, Dec. 28.

His Prussian Majesty attends constantly every Morning to Business with his General Officers; and Couriers are almost Daily dispatched to one Place or other, with Orders for pushing on the War-like Preparations, which go on very briskly, not only in this Country, but also in Brandenburg and Silesia.

The Prussians will certainly have a glorious Army in the Spring, the Number of Recruits, already raised, Surpassing all Imagination, and none are Inrolled that are not very strong, healthy young Fellows; of this the King is fully sensible, and has spoke of it at Table with the greatest Satisfaction. Notwithstanding which, fresh Orders have been lately Sent into Silesia, Berlin, and Magdebourg, for all the Officers to use their utmost Diligence in the raising and training up of Men for the Army, His Majesty being determined to begin his Operations very early.

It is now said that his Royal Highness the Duke will be again placed at the Head of the Army, but not to go out of the Kingdom.

At length the armies are going into winter quarters, and we shall not for some months probably hear of any thing but little skirmishes, unless the surprising vigilance of the King of Prussia should find fair occasion for the exertion of his military genius. By the extraordinary bustle of our politicians, one would be apt to suspect that peace is on the anvil; but by the great preparations making on all sides, there is little room to hope for it; all parties are heartily tired of the war, and yet all are ashamed to sue for peace. Strange infatuation! Is it shameful to sheath the sword, after such devastation as it has caused? Is it glorious to shed the blood of thousands of people who have no share in the quarrel? Are all sentiments of humanity fled from breasts of Princes? Must father against son, and brother against brother, fight for the ambition of a few! O my friend, what a horrid picture does Germany afford! towns laid in ruins, cities destroy'd, an absolute famine apprehended; and yet these are but few of the mischiefs we have to complain of: our wives and children ravished before our faces, by the brutality of licentious soldiery; our young gentlemen banished from the seats of learning; our trade at a stand; our lands untilled, and our poor peasants flying from famine to the poor pittance of soldiers pay! Heaven incline the hearts of Princes to grant us that repose we stand so much in need of.