The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

BOSTON, October 31.

There are accounts in town, from New-York, and news papers of as late a date as the 21st inst. which bring news from London to the 4th of Sept. These accounts say, That Mr. Fitzherbert, having proposed to the Court of France, a Congress of Plenipotentiaries, to negotiate a general peace, that Court willingly acceded to the measure but with this indispensable condition, that America should be previously acknowledged a free and independent State, and that Plenipotentiaries should be admitted on her part; from which it is inferred, that there will be no peace: That the Queen of Portugal has formally notified, by her Ambassador at London, her accession to the armed neutrality: that it is finally resolved New-York shall not be evacuated during the war: that at a council of war held at Portsmouth, on the 24th of August, some differences had arisen among the naval officers, which had determined Lord Howe to hoist his flag on board the Foudroyant, and take the command in the North Sea, and not the fleet for the relief of Gibraltar: that the fleet for that purpose, after every effort, consisted only of 24 sail of the line, and did not sail till the last of August: it is not said who was to command: that the Spanish Admiral, Don Louis de Cordova, fearing the English should steal a march upon him refused going into Brest to wood and water, but had gone for Cadiz at the beginning of August, with the combined fleet, which, when joined in Cadiz Bay by nine other ships, would consist in all of fifty one sail, and were determined to oppose the relief of that place: and that the Comte d'Artois, brother to the King of France, was appointed Generalissimo of the forces against it, but the Duc de Crillon is considered as the efficient General. These accounts bring a confirmation likewise of the loss of the Royal George, and of the capture of a small Dutch fort on the coast of Africa, by the Leander, a 50 gun ship, and a corps of marines, but with great loss on both sides. Under the New York head there are lists of sixty vessels taken and carried in there within the last six weeks, French, Spanish and American: they mention likewise the sailing of the Leeward Island fleet for London, in August, under convoy of the Prudent, of 64 guns, the Janus, of 44, and other frigates; and of a secret expedition from Jamaica, which sailed the 6th of Aug. under convoy of the Preston, of 50 guns, and some armed vessels, having on board Odell's corps of Loyal American Rangers. The New York accounts add, that the Jupiter, of 50 guns, is arrived there from a cruise in this bay, where, in company with the Chatham, of 50 guns, he fell in with la Couronne, of 80 guns, now in this harbour which was convoying a mast ship from Portsmouth: the Captain of the Jupiter complains, that he made signals for the Chatham to come up, when he first chased la Couronne, and often repeated them, but to no purpose; and it is said that a court martial will be held on the Captain of the Chatham, on his return from Halifax to New York, for his baseness, as these vain boasters are pleased to call it, in their usual stile of rhodomontade: that the notorious Col. Tarleton was gone in the fleet, to display his prowess as a volunteer, in the defence of Gibraltar: and that the Queen of England, to console the people for their other losses, is pregnant with her fifteenth child. It is confidently asserted by persons who have lately been prisoners with the enemy at Halifax, that the several cruisers mentioned below, are destined from that quarter to renew their depredations on our trade in this bay. British ships of war at Halifax the 20th October, and out upon a cruise.-- Renown, 50 guns, out--Hunter, 32 ditto, out--Charlestown, 28 ditto, out--Savage sloop, 18 ditto, out--Chatham 50 ditto, to sail in three days--three frigates, names unknown in port, and fitting to sail in short time--three or four sloops of war ready to sail--several brigs in the King's service, and private property will sail on a cruise. A letter from New Jersey of this 18th instant says "immediately after the arrival of the Viper sloop of war at New York, with dispatches from England and Halifax, orders were given for the embarkation of 3000 British troops." Extract of a letter from Head quarters. Oct. 12. There is a letter from Mr. Adams of the 20th of August, in which he seems yet dubious of a peace. The English, notwithstanding the deranged state of their affairs in every quarter of the world, continue obstinate as ever. Lord Howe was then in port. Mr. Adams says, except the relief of Gibraltar is attempted, it must fall. Saturday last a cartel arrived from Halifax, with a number of prisoners. Late accounts From New York say, that a packet has arrived there from England, with positive orders to continue fortifying that post and Charlestown, with all possible expedition.