April 16, 1767
The Pennsylvania Gazette

NEW YORK, April 9.

By Captain Field, who arrived here last Tuesday, in a Schooner belonging to New Haven, from Antigua, but last in 18 Days from Turk Island, we have the Pleasure to hear of the safe Arrival there of Governor Seymour from England, with a Number of Attendants or Settlers, and that he is ardently employed in laying out Lots and Roads in such Parts of the Grand Key, as are most suitable for a Settlement: --- Also erecting proper Fortifications to defend the Place from any Enemy; and it is apprehended, a pretty Town will soon be erected: --- As these Islands lay so contiguous to Hispaniola, and as it is said a good Harbour may be found or made among the Keys, it is imagined it will quickly become a considerable Place of Trade to the English, and a powerful Rival to Monto Christo. --- To which we may add, the great Advantage of the natural Salt Ponds there; --- the Value whereof must be considerable, if we consider the Danger so frequently attending the gathering Salt at Saltortuga, --- at which Place, it is said, the Salt Ponds are this Season rendered entirely useless.

April 13. Captain Benjamin Davis, of the ship Hope, left the Downs the 4th of March, in company with the Britannia, Captain William Richards, and the New York, Capt. Lawrence, of this Port; also the Carolina, Capt. Friend; Success, Capt. Nuttle; Dispatch, Capt. Coldstream; and the Clarendon, Capt. Carr, for Philadelphia; Capt. Gardiner, for Rhode Island, and four sail for Boston; also about 200 sail for the Streights and West Indies: He left in the Downs 10 sail of outward bound East Indiamen; and, just before he sailed, heard of the loss of the Lord Clive Indiaman on the coast of France, that sailed before them; he left the land the 10th of March, and got on the Banks of Newfoundland the 29th, in which time he lay to three days; the 4th of April made the land to the northward of Cape Sable, after which he had contrary weather till he got in here the 12th.

When Captain Davis left the land, he was alone, and saw only 3 sail before he got on the banks; one of which was a French Snow, one a brig, and the other a large ship. By Captain Davis, we hear the British troops that are to be sent to America, are to consist of 5000, and that all those are to be quartered in the provinces of New York, Connecticut, and the Massachusetts; all which are to be kept up, besides the Militia. It is also said, that the affairs of America were under inspection of Parliament, and might have been greatly to their advantage, before they sent their last remonstrance, which was called libellous: Some of the Lords were greatly incensed against them; Lord Shelbourne and Mr. Conway, told the committee of merchants that waited on them, that they were sorry the Americans behaved so refractory, particularly the people of New York; and that if they had behaved as they should have done, the duties on sugar and melasses would have been eased, and their trade in general enlarged; but now the tables were turned against them; for they think the Americans want England to treat with them, as an equal power, by their pretending, in their late remonstrance to Parliament, to comply only with such laws and taxes as they pleased, and thought most convenient for the good of themselves. Captain Davis was sorry to hear that the New Yorkers friends were also against them in general; that they had behaved ungrateful to the committee, in not returning them thanks for what they did, in getting the Stamp Act repealed, though it cost them L 500 to compleat it; but that, on the contrary, they seem to insist upon their doing more for them: They have had the thanks of Quebec, and the little colony of Rhode Island, but no more; and the last remonstrance to them was voted to be burnt, unopened: These threats to a well-wisher of America, when in England, goes down very hard.

Just when Captain Davis left London, which was the 21st of February, Mr. Pitt was sent for from Bath to Court, on very particular business; on his journey, at Marlborough, the ceiling of the room fell in upon him when at dinner, occasioned by a workmanfalling through the same. --- He will use his endeavours this parliament to break the India companycharter, if they do not pay all the expences attending the last war in India; the company seems to foresee the event, as they have more ships out now than ever. The parliament does not break up till the 14th of May, by which time Mr. Pitt will likewise endeavour to have the Manilla ransom paid, which is L 350,000.

By Captain Davis we hear, that the Spaniards are fitting out a very large fleet in all their ports; and it is looked upon as if they intended an attack on Gibraltar or Mabon, to make up for their late losses. --- Admiral Broderick is going with a large fleet to Gibraltar, and orders are gone before him, to get proper booms fixed, and every thing for defence ready at those places. Many large ships are taken up in the river Thames, for store ships and transports. --- These preparations have given some grounds to the enemies of America, to think they are designed against them. --- Numbers of carpenters, and other tradesmen, are gone to Spain; the English ambassador has orders to demand them, seeing the disadvantage of such men leaving their native country. --- Numbers of tradesmen have engaged to go and settle in East and West Florida; as the poor in general in England are very much distressed by taxes, and provisions excessive dear.

About 3 o, last Wednesday morning, in thick weather, came ashore, on Merick Beach, three miles south of Hempstead church, on Long Island, the ship Britannia, Capt. Richards, of and for this port, from London: At 5 the same morning, the main, mizen, and fore topmasts were cut away, in hopes to keep the ship from going to pieces, but the surf ran so high, no help could be had from the shore. Wednesday, on of the men, by the help of a cork jacket, and a line in his hand, with difficulty reached the beach, but was obliged to let it go, to save his life: In the afternoon of the same day, a free Negroe, named Richard Williams, was drowned in an attempt of the same kind. The weather continuing stormy, the passengers and crew remained in the fore shrouds that night, but in the morning made a raft, by which some of them got ashore, and the weather being moderated, the rest, all but two seamen that were drowned by the boat oversetting, were saved. About L 1000 value of the cargoe has been saved, and supposed the vessel is now gone to pieces.

Captain Shand, in 28 days from St. Eustatia, says, that as he came out, a brig from Philadelphia, was standing in for that harbour, but did not learn the Captainname: About 14 days since, he spoke with a ship from Virginia, bound for the island of Jamaica, but as it blew hard at the time, could not learn the Captainname.

The Harriot packet, Captain Oake, sailed on Saturday last with the mail for Falmouth; as did also Captain Spier for Philadelphia.

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