The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

QUEBEC, July 26.

On Friday last arrived here the sloop Friends, John Malcom, Master, by whom we learn, that on the 15th of May last, he arrived at Turks-Island (being one of those commonly called the Bahama Islands) in order to take in Salt, when upon the 1st of June, about 9 o'clock in the Morning, a French Xebec of 16 Guns, a Snow of 12 and a sloop of 8 Guns anchored in the Road; the French ship of war of 64 standing off and on, about a mile's distance: Said Malcom, and other Masters of English Vessels lying there, being eight in Number, were ordered on board the Xebec; in the mean time about 250 soldiers, marines or sailors were landed, who, as soon as they got on shore, set all the Houses on Fire, burnt and destroyed every thing in them. Said Malcom, and the other Masters who were put on board the Xebec, were told, they and all the English must deliver their Vessels to the French, who would be sent out of the man of war to take possession of them, which he and the rest were immediately obliged to comply with, and by two o'clock the Same Day, all the Vessels, French and English (manned with French) got under Sail, and anchored the next Morning at Salt Quay, another Island which they had destroyed about 24 hours before Turk's Island, in the same way; from whence said Malcom, with the other English Prisoners, were sent to Cape Francois, upon the Island of Hispaniola, where said Malcom was kept Prisoner under a Guard of French soldiers till the 10th, and then was ordered with his Men on board his own sloop (which had been plundered of sundry Articles) in order to leave the Place immediately: Said Malcom further inform us, that a Detachment of soldiers had been left on Turk's Island, with all necessary materials to fortify said Island.