The Freeman's Journal, Or, New Hampshire Gazette

The following are the letters mentioned in our last taken by Capt. Williams.

To the Rev. Mr. Badger, at Halifax, Nova Scotia.

SIR,

Where you and family are, whether in Halifax or Heaven, is uncertain to me—I have wrote often before you left Boston, receiving no answer—I imagine you was gone to a better world, as I heard of your bad state of health, at which I could not wonder; sympathy begets sympathy.—Your sorrows add to mine, tho' mine were great enough for one to undergo. Our deliverance being nigh and even at the door raises my drooping spirits, and am sure it will have like effect on you and yours.

Our case is not much unlike that of the Israelites who hung their harps upon the willows and wept whenever they thought on Jerusalem—they were tantalized by their captors with, "come sing us one of the songs of Zion" they were in a low condition for many years and could not sing—but at last the Lord delivered them out of all their distresses. We have greater reason to hope that, tho' he tarries long, yet he will come and gloriously avenge our wrongs—Faith in the noble prospect gives vision to my weeping eyes, and comfort to my aching heart. I view the happy time to meet my friends once more in my native land, where peace and virtue shall ornament the name.

My generous friend, be of good cheer, because tribulation is a refining fire to purge away alloy and leave the gold behind. We have been among false brethren, are wandering about being destitute, having not where to lay our weary heads, and now can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land.

I see the curtains drawing up and opening to our view, conquest, plenty and protection, the adequate reward of fidelity. Hope then with me in the confused noise, in the rattle of the men of war, but most of all in garments rolled in blood. Hope is the foot of perseverance, and perseverance is the hand to seize the crown of virtue. Your flight was in the winter, and it seems the woe to such as give suck in those days attended on the dear partner of all your fortunes: if it had been possible you would have lost your perseverance, but you have overcome, nor have you made shipwreck of your faith your reward shall not be forgot in a better world than this. You will give me much happiness in writing me, the less frequent the better. It is only in my power to wish you more comfort at present, and an increase thereof until every vessel is full. I have wrote to Dr. B. and T. B. but no news can I give. We expect news from the howling wilderness, where distress has taken up her residence to reward the hymn singing saints, for all their cromwellian virtues and human bloodshed, from their first emigration until now.

May distress put on her all majesty and power, and wait on every psalm canting rebel, in that fanatic, ungrateful world and may peace and every beatitude attend the virtuous, loyal part, is the constant prayer of your friend, and a friend to justice, mercy and peace, but

An Enemy to Dr. Foster:

Cold Bath Square, No. 7, July 9, 1776

To Mr. Thomas Brown, Halifax Nova Scotia.

Dear Sir,

I Again venture to write you a few lines, tho I am not satisfied with your not writing me; but I consider your disagreeable situation as well as my own, and being not unmindful of Mrs. Brown and children, and of your former favours. (that is) such as happened near two years ago. I will try this once to renew a correspondence: You can always send to me, but I cannot often send to you; and was I certain of this going to your hands, I would open my heart touching your New England saints, on whom I wish may fall seven fold more curses than are threatened for murder, sacriledge, fanaticism, rebellion, treason, cruelty and inhumanity.

Your cat in pan gentlemen, who are here blowing their copious hands with thrice double calvinistical, hypocritical, puritanical breath, are properly noticed until a more
Of some time. I daily see your neighbours, as they call themselves, who speak highly of you; but I know their deceit, their evil intentions, and hide myself in such matters as I used not to do. My daughter is well, and begs her respects to you and family-- Dr. C-ar is well, as is Mr. T-b--k. Your deliverance is not so far off as when I first landed here, is one comfort. The matter is at last got to a head, and it is now who can. If your saints praying and fasting has not prejudiced Heaven in their favor (as the minority here imagine) they will see an end of sublunary massacre, and soon enter upon their infernal reward, for their damnable noble deeds. Hell can no longer support their impious and unprovoked rebellion, against God and their compassionate and virtuous king; who, like the divine being, has waited long to be gracious to them, and the consequence is, they revolt more and more against the laws of nature, benevolence and mercy. If the present force settles not their bloody appetites, 30,000 Russians may do it, with 30,000 more foreign troops, all which the saints may expect, if this island stands above high water mark 12 months. Let not your noble courage fail, but be of good cheer, since Hell and all her legions will not prevail against the promise of our God and Saviour.

I have been sick (rather not well) ever since I left that devoted villainous country. Capt. Jacobson I have seen in this town very well and married again, and has one child. We hear the king's chapel is converted into a schism shop, and a punishment is holding march to the rebel General in that sacred place. I could have borne it if the saints had made use of it as a stable for horses. Their sacrilege is not to be paralleled by Oliver nor all his subterranean brethren. The dissenters here are at present all that support the rebel Americans. Dr. Price asserts their cause to be "the cause of religion and liberty." So says Wilkes, who has been again defeated in his expectation of being elected chamberlain of London. Mr. Hopkins has got it by 1266 majority. This city has altered her opinion of Wilkes's liberty and American rebellion, the dissenters excepted, who will have their pay, if God blesses this nation with the most valuable life, the life of George the third. 'Tis this day reported the king of France has offered our king the Irish brigades, which are about 6000 men, to help subdue the rebels. Government know not half so much about who are loyal and who are not, as you and I do: for which reason all are neglected as yet, etc. but I believe will not always be forgot: The things Capt. Brown delivered you for me and T-. we hope have not fallen into the hands of the Yankees. The cheese you have eat I hope, and you are welcome: but if you did not bring away nor destroy the other things, you cannot meet with absolution from us nor any other good man. Sir, your friend forever, Gratitude. July 7th, 1776.

(The above two letters are supposed to be wrote by that ranting, high flying Church Clergymen, Peters, formerly of Hebron, in Connecticut.)