The New Hampshire Gazette

BOSTON, December 17.

The English Prisoners who were exchanged this Fall by a Flag of Truce from Monsieur Vaudreuil at Montreal are returned to their respective Places. Major Grant, and Major Lewis, of the Virginia Troops, who were both taken Prisoners at the Time they had a Skirmish with the French and Indians near Fort du Quesne whilst General Forbes was on his March to attack that Place, arrived at New-York, as were also several others: Capt. James Beach, one of those who were exchanged, is arrived here. He was taken a Year ago on his Passage from Bristol, by Capt. Delabroize in a French 64 Gun Ship, which was cast away in the River St. Lawrence as has been published. -- These Gentlemen say, That when the British Fleet and Troops arrived before Quebec, the English Prisoners who were Officers (being 12 in Number) were removed from that City to Trois Riviers, where they tarried till the Day the Battle was on the Plains of Abraham; when they were ordered for Montreal, but the Success of our Forces was kept hid from them as well as the Inhabitants of Montreal, till a considerable Time after: That about 800 of the Militia were sent from the French Army before Quebec surrendered, to gather in the Harvest, and send it to the Mills: That the Inhabitants Stock of Cattle and Grain were taken an Account of, and two Third Parts of the Whole was appropriated for the King's Use: That when they received the News at Montreal of the Death of Mons. Montcalm, and the Loss of Quebec, the French in general were prodigiously cast down, and dreaded their own Indians more than the English; that Mons. Vaudreuil pleased the Canadians with the Prospect of a Peace early in the Spring; and therefore that it was needless for the Peasants to give up and submit themselves to the English, as they would enjoy their Possessions so soon again: While these Persons were at Montreal the French had Intelligence of Major Rogers destroying St. Francois, which they thought to be a great Enterprize; but just as the Flag of Truce was coming away they endeavoured to depreciate it, by reporting to the Prisoners, that there were not more than 40 Indians destroyed therein. -- It is said, that the Island of St. John's is not very strongly fortified, any more than Montreal; but that Nut Island is made as strong as is possible to make such a Pass. -- The Prisoners who were in Canada, are not all discharged, some still chusing to remain with the French, tho' they must fare very hard, and others are among the Indians. About 80 were in Quebec when that Place surrendered, and were discharged, and some of them are returned to their Homes. -- The Prisoners do not complain of any bad Treatment but that they fared well or ill according to the Plenty or Scarcity of Provisions among the French.

One of the Instances of Kindness and Generosity of the Brave British Troops after their taking Possession of Quebec, has not been mentioned in any of the Papers, viz. That when they had their Allowance of Provisions dealt out to them, on seeing the distressed Women and Children, whose Husbands, Fathers and Brethren, had been, and some were then their inveterate Enemies, freely distributed half their Allowance to them, causing them to rejoice in receiving the Staff of Life from those whom they had so great an Aversion to. -- It is imagined that the Army of Contades, had that been victorious last Summer, would have behaved in like Manner to Hanover? Let Marshal Belleisle's Letter, or rather the Conduct of Marshal Richelieu, when he had that Capital in Possession, determine: -- "But (said the late General WOLFE) Britons breathe higher Sentiments of Humanity, and listen to the merciful Dictates of the Christian Religion:" Which was verified in the brave Soldiers whom he led on to Conquest; by their shewing more of the truly christian Spirit, than the Subjects of his most christian Majesty can pretend to.