It is reported that the Piratical Gentry and military Butchers in the Town of Boston, not relishing Salt Provisions, which are too good for them, are equipping Men of war Schooners with Hay, wood &c. on their Decks, to decoy our Privateers, but their little Arts, like themselves, are of no consequence; it is to be hoped we shall have opportunity to convince them that the Provision Vessels we have already Capt[e]d will be but the beginning of sorrow to them, in the comfortable Prospect of a long cold winter: ー From such events, should they experience keen appetites, and have nothing to eat, we should acquiesce in Providence: for as they have proved themselves to have no souls, there is no need of concern for their worthless carcases. But we shall not be regardless of their arm'd schooners, and have no objection to the taking them, whenever they shall see fit to come m our way.
We have just received certain Intelligence, that on Saturday last [December 9] Capt. Manley of the Lee Privateer, took and carried into Beverly a large Ship of 300 Tons Burthen (mounted with two double fortified 6 Pounders, and 6 Blunderbusses with 18 Men before the Mast, bound from London for the Ministerial Army at Boston, laden with Coals, and provisions consisting chiefly of Porter, Cheese and 40 live Hogs, 30 more having died on the passage. Although Fuel and the above articles are no rarity to the Army of the United Colonies; yet so far as they are distressing to their Enemies, so far it must be acknowledged they are an Advantage to us ー The above Ship had 7 Weeks Passage, and bro't Papers to 16th of October, which, together with the Letters, we areinformed, the Captain hove over board after he was taken.
The same Day Capt. Manley also took and carried in there, a Brig of about 150 Tons Burthen, bound from Antigua for Boston, (consign'd to orie Brimer, for the Use of the Ministerial Navy) laden with about 130 Puncheons of Rum, besides 100 Cases of Gin, some Cocoa, Sugar, and a Case of Oranges, to please the delicate Appetite of my Lord HOW! ー Which however may possibly be more acceptable to our Army than any other Provision, saving a further Mess or two for the Congress, ー which has not a very craving Appetite.
On Wednesday morning the 29th of November, Capt. Manley, in the Lee privateer, in the service of the United Colonies, carried into Cape Ann a large brig called the Nancy, which he took off that place, bound from London to Boston.
[Here is inserted a list of the ordnance stores captured.]
The principal part of the above most valuable cargo is already brought to Cambridge. The mortar is fixed on its bed before the Continental Labatory. It is called THE CONGRESS: ー and is pronounced to be the noblest piece of ordnance ever landed in America. Indeed the acquisition of it at this juncture renders the value of it almost inestimable.
Last Saturday sen'night [December 2] a ship from Scotland, bound to Boston, laden with about 350 chaldrons of coal, and a quantity of bale goods, taken by Capt. Manley, was carried into Salem. She is about two hundred tons burthen, and is almost a new ship.
Several vessels, loaded with fuel, provisions of various kinds &c. bound to Boston, have been carried into Salem and Beverly, within a few days past. One of them was a sloop of about 60 tons, armed with 4 swivels, had seven men on board, and was taken by a two mast boat, with the like number of swivels, without making any resistance.
Last week a privateer from Plymouth, took several small craft bound to Boston, with provision and fuel.