The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

SAVANNAH, in GEORGIA, May 30.

Admiral Tyrrell, and Mr. Higgins, Governor of St. Vincent's, having made repeated complaints of the abuse of commissions by the flags of truce dispatched from the French to the English islands in the West-Indies, by carrying on an illicit trade, assisting in taking off negroes, and keeping arms and ammunition to be ready to act defensively on every occasion, contrary to the law of nations, Mons. Le Marquis de la Mothe Fenelon, Lieutenant General of Martinico, and Mons. Le President De Pester, considering the illegality of such proceedings, and the representations of Mr. Tyrrell and Higgins, and being desirous to prevent the like abuses, have declared, that henceforward they will be very cautious in granting permissions to flags of truce; that they will only grant them for a limited time, which shall be specified in the commission, and that they will accordingly communicate this regulation to his Britannic Majesty's governors of the English islands, and desire them to take care that the flags of truce depart at the expiration of term; that they shall only come to an anchor in the principal harbour of each English island, and that every where else they declare them to be guilty of formal disobedience, and liable to be treated accordingly; that every master of a flag of truce, who shall be taken and convicted of having on board any arms, offensive or defensive, shall not only be liable to have his vessel and every thing on board confiscated in the court of admiralty of his Britannick Majesty, but they shall desire the Governors of the said islands to cause them to be judged personally, according to the laws and customs of England, as they should do in the like case, in the colonies belonging to their king.