The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

NEW-YORK July 8.

The following relation of a matter of fact is submitted to the public, that they may judge how far the Ministry's protectors of our trade are so in reality. On Saturday last, as the brig Mary, Capt. Anderson, from Liverpool, was coming into this harbour, her sailors deserted her for fear of being pressed by the man of war, called the Lively frigate, which lay at anchor in the Bay, near Staten-Island. A boat's crew, with a couple of officers was dispatched from the said man of war: but with what intention I do not know; unless it was to provoke the inhabitants of this province to consider them as offenders of the same magnitude with the crew of the late Gaspee; for, notwithstanding the captain of the brig and his mate, with the assistance of a few passengers on board, were handing the sails as fast as they possibly could, in obedience to the arbitrary command of the King's boat; they were unnaturally, unjustly, and brutally fired upon from the said boat: One of the balls passed near the captain as he stood at the helm, and another between the mate's legs. It must be feared by every loyal subject, that such daring, cruel and unprovoked insults, are in consequence of some dreadful schemes hatched by the enemies of our King and constitution, to throw this country into confusion, in order to reap advantages, by accusing us of high treason, when we are forced highly to resent such flagrant breaches, not only of our invaluable constitution, but even of the laws of nature.---How crimson the iniquity! How deep the villainy of such ministers, who against all VIRTUE, HONOUR, REASON, EQUITY and COMMON-SENSE, can be so savage, as to encourage such murderous attempts upon his Majesty's subjects, where there was not even the shadow of a provocation given, either by the captain, mate, or any of the passengers? An excellent way this, to preserve harmony between Great-Britain and her favourite colony.---- The officers after searching for rum goods, on board the said brig, where they found none, thought proper to take an exact list of every man's name on board; I suppose in order to be handed to the Commissioners for prosecution, there being no prey for the hungry at present.