The New Hampshire Gazette

SALEM, June 17.

FRENCH HEROISM.

Extract of a letter received from a gentleman belonging to this town, and directed to his owner here, dated Isle of France, March 25, 1796.

"The Modesty Privateer arrived here 5 days ago from a most successful cruise off the Sand Head, in the bay of Bengal--and has brought in all her prizes 3 the most valuable of which is the Triton English East Indiaman from Madras bound for Bengal. The circumstances of this capture are perhaps the most extraordinary that ever occurred, & are as follows:--The Modesty had at first but 50 men, and had distributed among her other prizes the greater part of them--When the Indiaman hove in sight, a Bengal-Pilot boat (which was a prize to the Modesty, and which they used as a decoy) then bore down upon the Triton, having on board only 23 men in all, and boarded from their yard arms this formidable ship--17 Republicans only got on board, and with sword and pistol in hand completely mastered her in about 15 minutes. The English Captain, and 8 or 10 men were killed in the action --the rest run below and were secured. They then captured another vessel, which the prisoners ransomed, and sailed for Madras. The generous French Captain (who is a young hero not 21 years old) gave the passengers, among whom were several ladies, all their private property. He fought the English Captain hand to hand, and shot him with his own pistol. It seems the Modesty was not in company at all--and indeed it would have been a sad digression from her name to have engaged in such an unequal combat--17 men overpowered 130, protected by 40 guns, at least, mounted!--the remaining 6 could not get on board. The English prisoners were made to pass one by one, in irons, from their own ship into the ransomed vessel--and the invincible tars of Old England exclaimed as they passed, "D--n my eyes, Jack, where are the men that took us?" The French privateer had only a Letter of Marque's commission, and went originally to take turtle--he is an American built vessel and belonged last war to, and sailed from Baltimore schooner rigged, and was called the Antelope. In consequence of this success, the Governor, here has granted permission for four Privateers to sail for India, and they are now equipping.

American produce is very dull here, and in no demand. Some articles are fifty per cent. lower than in America. Coffee is rising daily--the price is now 15 1-2 dolls. per sack, of 100 French lbs. and scarce any to be had at that rate. The Governor is respected, and the Island is in a state of defence--but they fear a visit from the English fleet. However it would be difficult to take the island, and indeed most impossible--but the port could easily be blockaded, as the French have only a few frigates in those seas.

There are six or eight Americans here, all making bad voyages, and we hear of a dozen more expected every moment, who must sink half their capitals. A ship, Capt. Boit alias Boyd, belonging to Boston, who came from the North-West Coast of America by the route of China, and has made a successful voyage, says the Straights of Sunda are full of American ships, but he gives no particular names."