The New Hampshire Gazette

BOSTON, May 22.

The Ship commanded by Captain Darling, by whom we have the foregoing Intelligences, is the Stafford Man-of-War Ship of 24 Guns: She left Portsmouth the 9th of April last, in Company with a Number of other Merchantmen bound to the West Indies, under Convoy of a 60 Gun Ship;—Two Days before a Number of other Merchantmen sailed for Virginia, New-York, &c. Capt. Spender for this Place, under Convoy of the Chesterfield.—In the Stafford came a great Number of Passengers belonging to these Parts, among whom are the Hon. Samuel Waldo, Esq; Dr. Thomas Bulfinch, Capt. Dowe of the late Province Snow of War Prince of Wales, and several other Masters of Vessels: From whom we have further Information, That the Day they left Portsmouth, they heard there was a Confirmation of Admiral Osborn's Success in the Mediterranean, the following is the List which was handed about there, viz. French Ships taken by Admiral Osborn in the Mediterranean, Foudroyant, 84 Guns taken. Orpheus, 74 taken. Oriflame, 60, drove ashore. Pleiade, 30, taken. Rose, 26, lost. Greenwich, 50, lost off Ushant.—The taking of two Men of War is also confirmed by a Vessel from Lisbon arrived at Salem last Tuesday, as appears by the following Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman of Note, dated at Lisbon, March 18. 1758. "—Admiral Osborn hitherto keeps in the Toulon Squadron, which 'tis suppos'd were designed for America; and this Day comes Advice of his taking off Carthagena two large French Men of War, which were coming down to reinforce Mons. de Clue, who lies with six or 8 Ships of the Line, besides Frigates, in that Harbour: The 3d escaped under the Protection of a small Spanish Fort, where she was taking out her Guns, in order to pass some Flats, to get into a Place of Security: Two of our Men of War continued to watch her, to obstruct her Proceeding." It is said, that the above Ships were designed to assist M. la Clue in getting out of Carthagena, and expected his Fleet would fight their Way thro'; but that Admiral Osborn had been reinforced, so that his Fleet consisted of 17 large Ships, prevented M. la Clue's coming out, and that he lay in the Harbour the whole of the Time, for which he was recalled by the French Court.—It is likewise said, That the French are in a very bad Condition in their Sea Ports, particularly at Brest, with the malignant Disease carried by their Fleet that returned from Louisbourg last Year, on board of which (from their Sailing to their Return) they lost 14,000 Seamen, and near 11,000 Inhabitants have died near Brest; that they were obliged to lay up their Privateers in order to man their Ships of War, and but few of them could be in Readiness to put to Sea this Spring.—We also hear that near two Thirds of Capt. Dowe's Men, who were carried to France in the above Fleet, have died with that Distemper, the Hands that survive (except two or three of the young Officers which came in the Man of War Ship) were gone to Bristol, in order to take Passage in the first Vessels for this Place.—General Winslow, and several other Gentlemen who went Passengers in the Man of War Ships, under Convoy of the Enterprize Man of War which sailed from Piscataqua the 20th of February last, were at Portsmouth in their Way up to London before the Stafford sailed.