The Freeman's Journal, Or, New Hampshire Gazette

From the London Gazette, August 10.

WHITEHALL, August 10, 1776.

Extracts of two Letters from the Honourable General Howe to Lord George Germaine,
dated at Staten Island, the 6th and 8th of July last, which were this day received by
Lieutenant Colonel Blunt, who arrived in the Mercury Packet.

The Mercury Packet is dispatched to inform your Lordship of the arrival of the Halifax fleet, on the 25th of June, at Sandy Hook, where I arrived four days sooner in the Greyhound frigate. I met with Governor Tryon on board of a ship at the Hook, and many gentlemen, fast friends to Government, attending him from whom I have had the fullest information of the state of the rebels, who are numerous, and very advantageously posted with strong entrenchments, both upon Long Island & that of New York, with more than one hundred pieces of cannon for the defence of the town towards the sea, and to obstruct the passage of the fleet up the North River, besides a considerable field train of artillery.

We passed the Narrows with three ships of war and first division of transports; landed the grenadiers and light infantry, as the ships came up, on this island, to the great joy of a most loyal part, long suffering on that account under the oppression of the rebels stationed among them, who precipitately fled on the approach of the shipping. The remainder of the troops landed during the next day & night, and are now distributed in Cantonments, where they have the best refreshment. In justice to Captain Reynar, of his Majesty's ship Chatham, who was directed by the Admiral to make the disposition of boats for landing the troops, and to Captain Curtis commanding the Senegal Sloop of war, who was to superintend the execution, I must express my entire satisfaction in the conduct of those gentlemen, and the dependence to be placed upon their future services in this line.

I propose waiting for the English fleet, or for the arrival of Lieutenant General Clinton, in readiness to proceed, unless by some unexpected change of circumstances in the mean time it should be found expedient to act with the present force.

Vice Admiral Shuldham was joined on his voyage by six transports belonging to the Highland corps, having three companies of the 42d, and three of the 71st on board. There is no other intelligence of this embarkation, excepting an account published in the New York papers, that two transports of the fleet were taken by the enemy's privateers, and carried into Boston; that major Menzies was killed in the engagement, and Lieut Col. Campbell of the 71st made prisoner, with 15 other officers, and about 450 men.

Governor Franklin, who for a long time maintained his ground in Jersey, has been lately taken into custody at Amboy, and is at this time detained a prisoner in Connecticut: And the Mayor of New-York was confined a few days ago upon a frivolous complaint of sending intelligence to Gov. Tryon, brought to trial, and condemned to suffer death; but, by the last intelligence, the sentence was not carried into execution.

Notwithstanding these violent proceedings, I have the satisfaction to inform your Lordship, that there is great reason to expect a numerous body of the inhabitants to join the army from the Province of New York, the Jerseys, and Connecticut, who in this time of universal oppression, only wait for opportunities to give proof of their loyalty and zeal for government.

Sixty men came over two days ago, with a few arms from the neighbourhood of Shrewsbury, in Jersey, who are all desirous to serve, and I understand there are 300 more in that quarter ready to follow their example.

This disposition among the people makes me impatient for the arrival of Lord Howe, concluding the powers with which he is furnished will have the best effect at this critical time.

A naval force is preparing to be sent up the north river, and orders are given for two of his Majesty's ships, the one of 50 guns, and the other of 20, to proceed upon that service. Several men have within these two days come over to this island and to the ships, and I am informed that the Continental Congress have declared the United Colonies free and independent States.

Lieutenant Colonel Blunt, of the fourth regiment, who has my leave to return to Britain from the particular situation of his affairs, will deliver these dispatches.

The following is extract of a letter from Gov. Tryon to Lord G. Germaine, dated on board the ship Duchess of Gordon off Staten-Island, the 8th of July past.

I HAVE the satisfaction to acquaint your Lordship of the arrival of the fleet under the command of Admiral Shuldham in this port on the 25th ult. and that Gen. Howe disembarked the troops under his command on Staten Island without opposition, on which occasion the inhabitants of the island came down to welcome the arrival of their deliverers, and have since afforded the army every supply and accommodation in their power.

[No. 27.]

On Saturday last I reviewed the militia of the island at Richmond Town, where near 400 appeared, who cheerfully, on my recommendation, took the oaths of allegiance and fidelity to his Majesty. To morrow I am to have another muster for the enlistment of volunteers, to form a provincial corps for the defence of the island, as the General finds it an important quarter to hold against the rebels.

Admiralty Office. August 10:

By a letter received this day from Vice Admiral Lord Shuldham, dated Staten-Island, near New-York, the 8th of July last, it appears that his Lordship arrived there on the 3d of that month with his Majesty's ships under his command, and the whole fleet of transports, victuallers, & store ships under his convoy, without any loss or separation: that his Majesty's troops under the command of Gen. Howe were landed, on that day and the next, upon Staten Island, without any opposition or interruption, the inhabitants having immediately, on the troops landing, surrendered, and put themselves under the protection of his Majesty's arms; that 200 of the inhabitants were embodied; that the whole island had taken the oath of allegiance and fidelity to the King; and that a party of 60 men with their arms had made their escape from the province of New-Jersey, & join'd the King's troops.

(Thus far the Gazette.)