The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

By the Captains Holland, Warren and Laring from London; and Captain Stott, from Belfast, all arrived at New-York, we have the following dates, and

LONDON, April 25, 1775.

WHEN Lord Grantham pressed for certain Explanations lately at Madrid, he was answered peremptorily, that the Spanish Nation would never tie up its Hands from succouring the distressed, or relieving their Fellow Creatures, suffering under wanton, unprovoked Oppression;---his Lordship was at the same Time reminded of our Conduct, respecting the Hollanders, in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, with whom we not only carried on commercial Intercourse, but actually aided with Ships, large Armies, and vast Sums of Money. Through the same Channel we are informed, that when the French Minister gave the Assurances to Lord Stormont, so much relied on by the despicable Junto who unhappily direct the Councils of this miserable, falsed Country, and so loudly trumpeted forth by the venal Swarms whom they daily employ for that and several other Purposes equally infamous & weak. Maurepas added, "Your Lordship is to understand, that this Condescension on the part of the King my Master, is to be received as Proof of the Magnanimity of his Councils, his own Moderation, and the Design he has to cultivate a good Understanding with the King of Great-Britain and the whole English Nation; --for were his Majesty to regulate his Conduct from Transactions of a Similar Nature between both Countries, the Affair of Rochelle in the Reign of his illustrious Predecessor, Louis XIII. and the fomenting a civil War in the Heart of his patrimonial Dominions, in that of his Son and Successor, his Majesty's Royal Progenitor, Louis XIV. in the beginning of the present Century, would excite Sentiments and dictate a System of Policy respecting the Disputes subsisting between Britain and her Colonies, very different from those your Lordship, on the present Occasion, endeavours so earnestly to press.

The King has given to Governor Hutchinson, late Governor of Massachusetts-Bay, a Pension of 2000l. per Annum-
And
To Sir Francis Bernard, also late Governor of the same Province, 800l. per Annum Pension.

May 11. Every Friend to the true Interests of his Country, and whose Humanity is confined to particular Objects, must dread the expected News of a Battle in America. In a Victory over a natural Enemy, if a Thousand of the Vanquished drop by the Sword, we feel for them with only a common Christian Commiseration; but to read a formal "List of the Killed and Wounded" of our Fellow Subjects, effected by the Caprice of a wicked Ministry, must be piercing to such who have liberal and humane Sentiments. Though the American Soldiery perhaps may not be so regularly disciplined as the King's Troops, yet it must be considered that there is a very material Difference between a Man who fights for his natural Liberty, & the Man who only fights because he is paid for it: The former defends himself in a just Cause; the latter is the mere Dupe of Power; The former is animated by the Zeal of his Attachment to the public Weal; the latter has no Attachments at all, except to his Pay for Slaughter and Bloodshed.

May 12. Certain Advice is received of the Spanish Fleet being sailed from Ferrol to the Number of 20 Ships strong, with two Regiments, a Draught from the Royal Corps of Artillery and a large Number of Marines on board. The Destination of this Fleet as pretended, is only for Cadiz, to join there however a much larger Force. At all Events it behoves Government to look about them.

They write from Guernsey, that French Men of War, with 30 Sail of Vessels under Convoy, pass'd by that Island the 4th Inst. about 8 o'Clock in the Evening, and that they were not all out of Sight the next Morning at Day break.

By the Mail from Flanders the Sailing of the Spanish Fleet from Ferrol is confirmed.

Intelligence is arrived from Paris, that the King dispatched Orders to all his Sea-ports to be put in a State of Defence immediately. Similar Orders have been given by the Court of Spain, which puzzles our most experienced politicians greatly, they not being able even to guess at the Designs of those Powers.

LONDON.
May 15. It is now believed that Spain will take the Lead in breaking Peace with Great-Britain, from which France will derive two Advantages; first, by shewing the Necessity of fulfilling her Engagements with Spain; 2dly, by uniting the several discordant Interests in the Court & Cabinet in one great Principle, that of settling Limits to the dangerous growing Power of Great-Britain, and interrupting and chastising her for the insolent Claim of Dominion they pretend she at present exercises over the whole commercial World.

The Portuguese Minister, it is said, affects to be greatly alarmed on Account of the naval Armament going on in the several Ports and Dock Yards of Spain; but this is looked upon by those who are well acquainted with the insidious Temper of the Court of Lisbon, designed merely as a Feint to mislead Great Britain, and to betray its Ministers into a fatal Security.

Nothing now prevents a Rupture between this Country & every Branch of the House of Bourbon, but the Disagreements Subsisting in the French Royal Family, and the unsettled, divided State of the French Cabinet.

May 23. It is said that on Thursday his Majesty will go to the House of Peers, and close the present Session with a Speech from the Throne.

By Letters from Capt. Bond, of the Charming Betsey, who was obliged to put into Guernsey by Stress of Weather on the 12th inst. we learn that when he left Lisbon a few Days before, a War with Spain was deemed inevitable, and that the Portuguese were making Preparations to stand on their Defence. He says their Navy consists at present of only thirteen Men of War and three Frigates.

It is now generally believed that the Parliament will continue Sitting a Week longer than was at first expected; that is, till Thursday the first of June.