The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

N E W.PORT July 24.

From last Tuesday about 2 o'clock, till near the same Hour on
the next Day, this Town was threatened to be fired upon from
the three Ships of War in this Harbour, viz. the Rose, Capt. Wallace, the Swan, Capt. Aycough, and King Fisher, Capt. Montagu,
and also a Tender:---For which Purpose these Ships were bro't
close in with the Northwest Part of the Town, on Tuesday toward
Night; their Guns were immediately taken out, and all the
apparent Preparations made for Cannonading the Town, which
greatly terrified the Women and Children, especially those Women
who were with Child. In the Evening Lanthorns and Men were
placed at the Guns, and the most hostile Appearances kept up,
which 'twas possible for them to exhibit, and many Women and
Children were running about, wringing their Hands and crying;
in the greatest Distress:---About half past nine at Night, a Can-
non was discharged from the Rose, when the Women really tho't
the firing on the Town was begun, many of whom fainted away
and went into Fits, and a Number, we are told, absolutely mis-car-
ried by the Fright.---However, this Gun was loaded with Powder
only, and the Men of War gave out to a Number of Persons, whom
they stopped coming down the River, that they should not beat
the Town down 'till next Morning, when they would certainly
do it.---In the Morning the like terrific Scene was opened by firing
another Cannon, and seizing on four Ferry Boats, one Passage-
Boat, with a Number of Passengers, and two Wood Sloops; the
Swan moved down to the South Part of the Town, where he an-
chored, with her Guns pointing diagonally across the Wharves, So
as to rake from thence up to the Parade and Court House; here
again all the Guns were out, Quantities of Tar and other in-
flammable and combustible Matters were put into the Ferry Boats,
in Order as it was said, with horrid cursing and damning, to set on
fire, and send into the Town to burn it, as a more expeditious
Way of destroying the Town than by Cannon only.

At the same Time that these Boats were to be sent into the
Town, a Number of Men were to be landed at the South End, to
set Fire to that Part. Thus the most warlike and hostile Parade
was kept up to the highest Degree, 'till near two o'clock on Wed-
nedday; when, all at once, the Boats were discharged, the Ships
weighed anchor, and stood up the River.---The same Evening the
Rose got ashore on the North Part of this Island; but by taking
out the Guns, &c, he was got off, and the next Day they all came
down again to their old Station.

We know not of even the Shadow of a just Reason for the a-
bove inhuman Conduct: if the Captains of said Ships have any
Reasons to offer, we should be very glad to publish them to the
World. The Story about two of the Swan's Men being seized
by a Mob in this Town, gagged, carried to Bristol Jail, &c. had
it not been disproved would have been a most wretched Pretext
for firing on a defenceless Town, in which there were not less than
six Thousand Women and Children. --This Story we hope to pub-
lish more at large, when we can obtain the Letters which passed, &
the Affidavits which were taken concerning the same.

N. B. It must have been well known, to the Commanders of
those Ships, that there was not a single Cannon in this Town,
mounted for its Defence.

The above three Ships and Tender this Morning going out,
supposed on a Cruise.