The New Hampshire Gazette

RATISBON, (a large, strong, rich, & populous City of Germany) Dec. 7.

A true copy of a letter from Monr. de Richelieu to his Serene Highnes Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, commander in chief of the Hanoverian army.

SIR,

"Altho' for some days past I have perceived the Hanoverian troops in motion, in order to form themselves into a body, I could not imagine the object of these movements was to break the convention of neutrality, signed the 8th and 10th of September between his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland and me. The good Faith which I naturally supposed on the part of the king of England Elector of Hanover and of his son, who signed the convention, blinded me so far as to make me believe that the assembling these troops had no other design than going into Winter quarters that had been assigned them. The repeated advices which came to me from every quarter of the bad intentions of the Hanoverians at length opened my eyes, and at present one may see very clearly that there is a plan formed to break the articles of a convention, which ought to be Sacred and inviolable.

"The King my master having been informed of these dangerous movements, and of the infidelity of the Hanoverians, is still willing to give fresh proofs of his moderation, and of his desire to spare the effusion of human blood. It is with this view that I have the honor to declare to your Serene Highness, in the name of his Most Christian Majesty, that I persist in my resolution of fulfilling exactly all the points of the convention, provided the Hanoverian army on its part does the same: but I cannot conceal from your Serene Highness, that if, contrary to all expectation, it should take any equivocal step, and still more, if it should commit any act of hostility, I shall then push matters to the last extremity, looking on my-self as authorized so to do by the laws of war; I shall set fire to all the palaces, royal houses, and gardens; I shall sack all the towns and villages, without sparing the smallest cabin; in short, this country shall feel all the horrors of war. I advise your Serene Highness to reflect on all this, and not to lay me under the necessity of taking steps so contrary to the natural humanity of the French nation, and also to my personal character."

RICHLIEU.

"P. S. Monr. Le Compte de Lynar, Ambassador of the King of Denmark, who was mediator for the convention, has been so kind as to take upon him to say every thing in his Power to his Serene Highness, in order to prevent the fatal consequences with which this country is threatned."

The substance of Prince Ferdinand's Laconic answer was; "That his Serene Highness would come at the head of his army, and give him his answer in person."

The Hanoverian army after the detachment it made to Harbourg, amounted to 34,000 effective men. That of France, 'tis said, amounts to 55,000 men, but is by no means in so good a condition.