The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

From the St. James's Chronicle, or British Evening Post, of July 31, 1781.

It is a known fact, that the French are now making exertions in their navy, with a vigour that shows a determination to be superior to England. They have five ships of above 100 guns each on the stocks at Brest and Toulon, which will be ready by March, 1782. There are two of equal force at Cadiz; and their list of seventy fours on the stocks, in France and Spain, amounts to twenty-five! so that they are taking the most decisive measures for perpetuating the superiority which they actually have at Sea. The government prints may talk of their not getting timber or stores, or copper; but every day's experience gives the direct lie to such ideas by seeing them launch and put to sea, fleets superior to our own: We are then told, that their ships at sea are in a bad condition; but we immediately read, even in the Gazette, of drawn battles with an equal force and single ships of the enemy, fighting yard arm to yard-arm, as gallantly as our Own. The honor of the naval war is with them; they have fought as well as ourselves; even when their political designs do not lead to action; when their aim is to strengthen themselves--to preserve their marine--and to ruin us by expence. The revenues of France and Spain will certainly out build us, while we make only common exertions--and the war itself makes sailors for them. Such then being the case, how much ought we to condemn the conduct of the admiralty, in not making the greatest exertions--in not straining every nerve to exceed the force of France, whose navy, largely taken, is now equal to our own--and actually carries a superiority of ships in the West Indies and in the East Indies, and drives our Channel fleet, at the same time, into port. Why is Milford Haven neglected, where a whole fleet might be building at the same time? Why have we not a naval militia, and country ships built?--large and rich ones to build three dockyards, and the rest seventy fours? If some measures of decisive vigour, are not taken, the importance and independence of this kingdom is at an end? senses gLEGION.

LONDON. Aug. 8. The last three rates built in France, Le Terrible, Le Majesteux, and Le Invincible, each of 110 guns, have 64 pounders, on an entire new construction, for their lower deckers: they have also furnaces for firing red hot cannon balls, that are heated in 48 minutes; 24 lb. of red hot iron, lodging in a ship, would be fatal.

Sept. 3. The following is a summary of our navy at present employed, viz. 2 of 100 guns, 8 of 98, 2 of 90, 3 of 80, 46 of 74. 4 of 70, 28 of 64, 5 of 60, 15 of 50, 12 of 44, 5 of 38. 11 of 36, 40 of 32, 28 of 28, 15 of 24, 10 of 20.