The New Hampshire Gazette

Captain Frost arrived here last Monday in fourteen Days from Martinico, in Flag of Truce, having been there and redeemed three Hostages, given for three several Vessels belonging to this Port, taken and Ransomed. By him we have the following Intelligence: He left Martinico the 8th of November. Capt. King in a Letter of Marque Brig from this Port was taken; also Capt. Samuel Bulfinch in a Ship from hence; the Privateer had brought some of his Men, but as the Ship was not arrived, it's supposed he was retaken. Capt. McPheron in a Ship from Philadelphia has taken two Privateer Sloops of Ten and Twelve Guns, and carried them into Antigua. His Majesty's Ship Griffin, Capt. Taylor, was cast away on Barbados, the Ship lost, but most of the Crew saved. Commodore Douglas, has, by Proclamation, given great Encouragement to English Privateers, that they shall have all the Plunder they can get at Martinico; which was not allowed at Guadaloupe. In Consequence of which, near one Hundred Sail of English Privateers were cruising in the West Indies. They are making great Preparations to receive the English Forces, and had encamped their Women and Children in the Country. They received Capt. Frost with a File of Musqueteers, and kept a constant Guard upon him, asking him many Questions, but receiving no satisfactory Answers. It is very disagreeable to Capt. Frost to think, there should be Occasion for the following further Intelligence, but at the earnest Solicitation of the Concerned, and upon his Promise, to make the same public upon his Arrival, as well as from a Motive that the Injured should receive some Recompence, tho' not adequate to their Sufferings, the following LIST of Hostages left by him at Martinico the 8th of November is published; the original Account is in French, sign'd by the Governor of Martinico.

Schooner Dispatch, Of Maryland, Job Warren, Hostage, taken and Ransomed for 20,000 Livres.
Snow Peggy, of Maryland, John Tardy, Mate and Hostage, Ransomed for 12,000 Livres.
Sloop Fanny, of Norfolk in Virginia, Thomas Simpson, Mate & Hostage, Ransomed for 7,500 Livres.
Schooner Sally, of Virginia, John Briggs, junr. Mate and Hostage, Ransomed for 4,000 Livres.
Sloop Neptune, of Boston, John Taber, Captain and Hostage, dead; Ransomed for 500 Dollars.
Sloop May Flower, of Nantasket, John Jones and Daniel Hussey, Hostages: Ransomed for 200 Dol. Said Hussey has been put on board an English Sloop taken after the Ransom, and since retaken; Jones is dead.
Brig Ringer, of Salem, Joseph James Hostage, Ransomed for 220 Dollars.
Brig Three Friends, of North Carolina, Peter Cleare, Mate and Hostage, Ransomed for 800 Dol.
Sloop ... of Plymouth or Falmouth, Samuel Atwood Hostage, Ransomed for 2000 Livres.
Schooner Revenge, of Marblehead, Martin Walker Mate and Hostage, dead, Ransomed for 12,000 Liv.
Schooner Dolphin, of Providence, Gideon Whipple Hostage, Ransomed for 3,000 Livres.
Snow Hope, of Halifax, Richard Frayne, Mate and Hostage, ransomed for 20,000 Livres.
Sloop Careful, of Boston, John Benney Mate and Hostage, Ransomed for 500 Dollars.

Capt. Frost begs Leave in Behalf of the Hostages, to Remonstrate against the Cruelty of keeping so many innocent Men in the greatest Distress: he forbears to accuse any particular Person of Blame, but that they should be relieved, Humanity, Generosity, and Gratitude calls loudly on the Owners or Masters of such Vessels as are Ransomed, to spend their Fortunes, & even risque their Lives, rather than let them remain in such a Condition as may be better conceived than express'd, in the present Circumstances of Affairs in Martinico. It would only aggravate the Friends of these Hostages for him to particularize their Distresses, but he does hereby discharge not only his Duty, but his Promise, to let it be publickly known, that those concerned, may hasten to their Relief, or in a few Months (and he believes before now) some of the Lives of these unhappy Men will be sacrificed to the insatiate Avarice and inhuman Principles of contracted Spirits.