The Virginia Gazette

Williamsburg, June 13. We have the following material Advices from Boston, dated May 20.

Tuesday last his Majesty's Ship Hector, of 40 Guns, arrived here with her Prize, taken in Company with the Princess Mary, in their Passage from England. She is a Ship of about 180 Tons, laden chiefly with Cocoa, but had a considerable Sum of Money on board. The Commander offered the Captors the fifty thousand Pounds Sterling for her Ransom: Her Men (about 40 in Number) were committed to Gaol the same Day she came in.

The Princess Mary sailed from Nantasket on Wednesday, to join our Fleet off Louisburg; and Yesterday the Hector sailed for the same Station.

Last Friday Morning came to Town Mr. Merserve, late Skipper of a Schooner belonging to Marblehead, who, about a Month ago, with another Schooner, was taken near the Isle of Scaves, by the French Ship that lately ran the Gauntlope through our Fleet off Louisburg. She mounts 32 large Guns, and had 300 Men, including 60 Mariners. She came out of Brest the 6th of January, with a Packet for the Governor of Louisburg, and the Captain had Orders to deliver it at all Adventures. He had made two Attempts to get in, the last of which was on the 9th Instant, when being within five Miles of Louisburg, and hearing the Cannon firing, rightly judged that the Town was besieged, and prudently stood away from that Coast. Two Days after, he took a fishing Schooner, which he gave to our People to carry them home, in the Room of their own Schooners, which he had sunk. Mr. [illegible] gave great Encomiums on the Bravery of the Commander of the Rhode-Island Colony Sloop, as he also did on Capt. Rouse, who killed his chief Gunner by a Shot from one of his Chase Guns.

The same Day Capt. Bennet arrived here in a Schooner from Chappeaurouge Bay in Cape Breton, with Dispatches for his Excellency the Governor. He also brought Abundance of Letters from Officers in the Fleet and Army, from several of which we have extracted the following Intelligence.

Extract of a Letter from on Board the Massachusetts, off Louisburg, dated May 4.

The whole Fleet of Transports, of upwards of an hundred Sail came down here on the 30th ult. The Chief of them entered Chappeaurouge Bay, under the Guns of the Caesar, Boston Packet, the Massachusetts, Capt. Saunders, and the Connecticut Colony Sloop. The French were no ways apprized of our intended Invasion, 'til they saw our whole Fleet of Transports coming. When they found we were coming to Land, they marched down about 200 Men to oppose us. We had but 100 landed, under Col. Gorham, who did not stay to draw up in Form, but surrounded the French, and kept popping at them, killed 4 or 5 and wounded several, and took a great many Prisoners, some of them Persons of Distinction, and the rest took to their Heels. Among the wounded was Morpang, who narrowly escaped being taken, and is now in the Woods. This Day and the next, being May 1, all the Men were landed in high Spirits, and a great many Prisoners brought in every Day, and many both of Swiss and French daily desert and come over to us. In Landing we had two Men wounded.

The French say our Men fight like Devils; for go which way they will, they are popping at them like true Indian Hunters. On Thursday the second of May we had the agreeable Sight of our English Colours flying in several Parts of the Grand Battery, which the French, after plugging up the Touch-holes, and sawing off some of the Axle trees of the Carriages, and throwing the Powder over the Walls, deserted the Night before, with so much Precipitation, that they left the Shot behind them, and a Serjeant of ours whom they took Prisoners. This Invasion of ours was so unexpected to them, that they left all their live Stock abroad, which our People are daily picking up. They have got all the Armourers in the Army and Fleet to punch and drill the Plugs out of the Touch-holes. They got clear to first Day, and on the third Instant, and part of the Night, the Island Battery and Royal Battery kept firing Guns and Bombs at the Grand Battery, but to no Effect. This Day they have got all the Guns cleared, and all the Mortars, Shells and Guns loaded out of the Transports. We have got on board 11 French Men of Cape Breton Prisoners, who seem to be very well satisfied with their Lot, and say, they live better on board us than they did on Shore. Capt. Thomas informs us, that the English Flag was flying at the Light-house. Our Men seem spirited with a flaming Zeal for the Reduction of the Place, and can hardly be kept from running into the very Mouth of their Cannon. Nay, some have gone close under the Town Walls, and have picked up several Men under the Muzzles of their Guns. Providence seems to smile on us in every Shape, we having had fine pleasant Weather every Day since our Land Forces came down; and every Day before had hardly any thing but Rains and Fogs, and doubt not but by the Favour and Smiles of that good Providence, to be entirely Masters of the whole Place in a few Days. They have not above 60 or 70 Men, which is too small a Number for manning so many great Garrisons; and their deserting their chief Forts, the Grand Battery, sufficiently confirms their want of Numbers. For they never would have quitted that Place, which has not only the Command of the other two Batteries, but also of the Sea-board, were they not drove to the greatest Straights and Difficulties: Besides, the other Batteries cannot annoy the Grand Battery. Our Fleet took on the 30th ult. a Ship of 200 Tons, 14 Guns and 27 Men, loaded chiefly with Provisions, having above 30 Tons of Bread, and a Quantity of Gunpowder. We are going after two Ships we hear of, and so must conclude in Haste.

By other Letters we are informed, that they found 42 Cannon in the Grand Battery, most of them 42 Pounders. That our People are encamped about a Mile from the Town; they have also erected a Fascine Battery of 3 Mortars, from whence Bombs are thrown into the Town with good Success.

That the French kept almost continually firing on our People both from their Cannon and Mortars, but do little or no Damage. That they had several Times attempted to land in order to attack the Island Battery, but were prevented by the Blustering of the Sea. However, that they intended to attack it the 12th in the Evening. That it was the general Opinion that the Town could not hold out many Days longer. That a Day or two after our Men had taken Possession of the Grand Battery, the French sent 300 Men in Boats to retake it, but were beat off by a Handful of our Men and obliged to return to the Town. That upon the Approach of the Massachusetts Frigate within two Miles of the Island Battery, the French sunk and burnt several of their Vessels. And, that our People keep a continual firing upon the Town from the Grand Battery.

The only disagreeable Article of News we have, is, that some of our Men having imprudently strolled away from their Post, seventeen were surprized and taken by a Body of 300 Indians, and barbarously murdered after Quarters given.

On Saturday Capt. Donahew arrived here from Cape Breton, and brought with him 5 or 6 Prizes, and 60 or 70 Prisoners, Men, Women and Children, and two Indian Chiefs. 'Tis said this brisk and daring Commander has taken 7 Prizes, burnt and plundered some Hundreds of Houses and Huts, destroyed a great Number of Indian Canoes, taken 10 Indians and many French Prisoners. He also attacked and put to Flight a Body of 150 Indians on Cape Sables Shore, and if he had been well supported by his Consort, would have done much greater Execution.

Capt. Donahew intends to make a Privateer of one of his Prizes, a large Brigantine, she being an excellent Sailor.

We are informed by Capt. Donahew, that before he left Cape Breton, Capt. Durrell in the Edith, and Capt. Tyng in the Massachusetts, had taken two rich Ships in a Harbour 10 Leagues from Louisburg, just arrived from France.

We also hear that Capt. Smethurst, in the Prince of Orange, was soon to sail for this Port, with several Prizes taken from the Enemy.

We have likewise Advice, that Capt. Tyng in the Massachusetts, met with and engaged a Ship of 14 Guns and 30 Men, from Bourdeaux, laden with Wine and Brandy, and tore her almost to Pieces, being close alongside her; but it being Night and very near the Shore, Capt. Tyng durst not follow her any further, and so she got into Louisburg, but so mauled that she sunk soon after she came in.