The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

NEWPORT. Rhode-Island, June 4.

Sunday last arrived here, Capt. Oliver Warner, in thirty two Days from the Bay of Honduras.

By whom we are advised, that the Express which was sent from the Bay to Jamaica, some Time since, to solicit the Assistance of Governor Lyttleton for extricating the Baymen out of their Difficulties, had returned; the Result of which Solicitations is particularly related in the following

Extract of a Letter from Mr. Lawrie, to Messrs. Foster, Maud, and the Gentlemen of the Bay Committee, dated at Kingston, in Jamaica, the 10th of April, 1764.

"YOUR Dispatches to Governor Lyttleton, and your Letter to me, dated the 28th February, by Capt. Balfour, I received, who arrived here on the 27th of March; I immediately waited on Governor Lyttleton, and delivered them. I represented to him in the strongest Manner, the Distres of his Majesty's Subjects in the Bay, and the miserable Situation they were reduced to, by removing their Families and Effects into a River, in a Manner deserted; exposed to the Inclemency of the Weather, without a Hut to cover them; In short, I painted your Distres in the strongest Manner I was Master of, and used every Argument in my Power, in order to incite him to give you immediate Relief.

His Reply to me was, that he had no Instructions from the Ministry, with Respect to the Bay of Honduras: That he was very ready to do any Thing in his Power for their Assistance, and asked me what Method I thought the most speedy he could take for their Relief; I told his Excellency, that a Ship of War, was, I thought, the most speedy and effectual Method; he thought that too precipitate a Method, and did not apprehend the Spaniards intended any Violence. I told him I knew no greater Hardships that could happen to a Subject, or so dreadful, as being drove from their Habitations. I then asked him to send an Officer to signify to the Spanish Governor and Commandant; that the Inhabitants were his Britannic Majesty's Subjects, and had settled in Consequence of the Treaty of Peace. He said that he had sent down an Officer as ordered by his Majesty, that was not returned: That he had no Fund to pay any Officer on such Service, consequently could not command one without Pay. I engaged in your Behalf, to pay the Expence, which he said he could not take upon him, having no Instructions relative to the Bay.

I then offered to carry his Dispatches, if he would give me Instructions, but said he would write to the Governor of Yucatan, and represent your Situation to the Ministry at Home. I left him, and waited upon him according to his Appointment, to receive his Dispatches, which I have got, and returned, related what happened to Mr. Hall, and some other of my Friends. Not thinking his Excellency's Letter sufficient (from what he related to me) to answer the Urgence of your Affairs, was advised to apply to the Admiral; accordingly got a Friend of mine, and an Acquaintance of the Admiral's, to wait upon him:

He seemed inclined to give his Assistance: I then set about drawing a Petition, to be signed by the Merchants, which was presented to him on the 15th Inst.

I cannot pretend to say with any Certainty, whether we shall be able to procure a Ship from the Admiral, or not. Which has determined me to send you Governor Lyttleton's Letters of Dispatches, to the Governor of Yucatan. Which, if it has no other Effect, will prevent you from being insulted till some Remedy appears."

Captain Warner left the following Vessels at the Bay, viz. Captains Potts and Kea, in two Ships belonging to London; Capt. Hall, in the Ship Pennsylvania Packet, of Philadelphia: Capt. Morris in a Ship, Captains Coffee and Shirley in two Brigs, and a Brig from the Mississippi, all of New-York; a Snow and Sloop belonging to Jamaica; and Capt. Isaiah Grinnel, in a Sloop from this Port.--These Vessels, with others, being ordered, by the Spanish Governor, to retire to Belize, find it impossible to procure Cargoes.