The New Hampshire Gazette

SHIP NEWS,
TOULON.

By the ship—Capt. Lewis, which arrived in this harbour on the 16th inst. we have the following important information, the authenticity of which cannot be doubted.

The Capt. observes, that on the 28th of December, he saw in Lisbon, a Major and Capt. in the British service who left Toulon about 18th of the same month having had a furlough, from the Commanding officer of that garrison. These officers lodged in the same house with him, in consequence of which circumstance, he had frequent opportunities of conversing with them on the state of affairs, when they left that fortress.

They told our informant the French Republican Army besieging that place, consisted, it was supposed there, of one hundred and thirty-thousand men. He says these officers reported that the troops of the Republic commanded the forts at the mouth of the upper and lower harbour of Toulon, insomuch that it was impossible for a vessel to get out or in. The passage of the mouth of the upper harbour being about half a mile over, and the lower avenue two miles across, so as to be compleatly and fully commanded by the French artillery in either place, the officers supposed it to be reduced to almost a certainty that the garrison must fall in time: but that the British had possession of two eminences under the command of which, they had moored their ships, having previously taken out their provision and artillery, and placed them in the forts on these mountains—these gentlemen told Capt. Lewis that the British were determined to burn the ships if they should be obliged to surrender, they said these fortresses were very strong. and could hold a long time against every thing but famine, but that there was no prospect of their being relieved. The Capt. further informs, that the remaining American vessels dare not venture from the port of Lisbon for fear of the Algerines. He says there was no doubt entertained in Lisbon that the British were the sole managers of the treaty between the Portuguese and Algerines—He says these Pirates have already taken fourteen American vessels—He says the Portuguese now refuse to convoy the American Navigation, and that this refusal, it was supposed, arose from, the influence of British counsels on the Court of Lisbon. Our Consul, Mr. Church, had made representations to the President, and Congress on this subject which might be daily expectedOur Prisoners in Algiers were used with extreme rigour lately, and our ships were daily falling into their hands.