The New Hampshire Gazette

Extract of a Letter.

On the 12th of October the Inhabitants of St. John's River, having heard of the Surrender of Quebec, sent it to Lieut. Colonel Arbuthnot, who commands 250 of the Provincial Troops at Fort Frederic, desiring to surrender themselves Prisoners at Discretion, whether he shall please to receive them as Prisoners of War, and so remove them off their Lands, or whether he would grant them leave to continue with Liberty of their Religion, as is permitted to the Canadians. Col. Arbuthnot's Prudence did not permit him to trust them on any Terms; he therefore went up the River, and in two Schooners brought off with him 196 of these Inhabitants, and more we hear are coming in. --On the 3d of November, Pere Germain, the Jesuit Missionary both to the Inhabitants and Indians of those Parts, having come from Canada since the Surrender of Quebec, though somewhat too late, with a Copy of the Terms granted to the Inhabitants and Priests of Canada, having in view to obtain the same for these Inhabitants of Nova Scotia, or rather insinuating that such were already granted to them, wrote to Col. Arbuthnot from St. Ann's desiring the same leave to continue to serve his Cure as is granted to the Priests of Canada; but that he has abandoned the Indians, and that he is willing to take the Oath of Fidelity to his Britannic Majesty: but that if his continuance in those Parts be disagreeable to the English Government, he will, with Permission, retire to France; as he would by no Means stay in the Country without the Consent of the true Masters of it. -- That as to his Character of Indian Missionary, he will employ his Power to reconcile the Indians of those Parts to the Government from which they are much estranged, at least will prevent their doing Mischief. --He says all the Indians, except about a Score, are at present in Canada, and that these desire nothing more than to live in a good Accord with the English Commander. --Lieut. Col. Arbuthnot has this Summer destroyed Several of their Villages, and taken and destroyed several of their Vessels up the River. -And on the 18th of September had a smart Skirmish with some of these Inhabitants and Indians-- The Effect is the best Proof of the Services of this Officer and small Garrison of Provincials--but we could not but think that the mention of these Particulars is due to the Assiduity and Alertness with which they were performed; and we hope the Men will not disgrace these Services by an unsoldier like Impatience for getting home before they can be duly relieved.