A true Briton observes, that the Fire at New York, the Fire at Portsmouth, the Fire at Bristol, and the burning the Hemp Warehouses on Monday Night at Southwark, have had a very odd Effect on many People in this Country, who before were disposed to favour the Americans; ー in short all these Fires have served to cool those mistaken Zealots, who had espoused the unnatural Cause of ungrateful Children, against a too indulgent Parent.
The last Account from Bristol, which arrived on Monday Evening, brought Advice that the Fire was happily exrtinguished, with the Loss only of a few Houses, and some Warehouses. The Value of the Damage is not yet mentioned. There is but one Opinion in that City concerning the Cause of this extraordinary Event. They look upon it to be a Brush from the Tail of some Comet that was observed not long ago by many People of Portsmouth.
The Tin Case, containing Combustibles, which was found on board a Ship at Bristol, is said to be similar to that which was concealed in the Long Room at Portsmouth.
Navy-Office,
Jan. 21, 1777
Whereas there is strong Reason to suspect that the Rope-house in the Dock Yard, at Portsmouth, was on the 7th of December last most wickedly and maliciously set on Fire; and whereas several attempts (some of which have taken Effect) have been made to set Fire to the City of Bristol; and as there is Reason to suppose that the Incendiary or Incendiaries may have been the same in both Cases, the following Description of a Person who was seen in the Rope-house, in Portsmouth Yard, on the Day the said Fire happened, and whose Conduct was suspicious, is now published, in hopes that on his Apprehension some Light may be thrown on these two dreadful Transactions.
He was called John, and is a Painter; said he worked as such last Summer with one Golding, at Titchfield, in Hampshire. He is about 25 Years of Age, about five Feet seven Inches high, rather thin in Person, and thin visaged.
Whoever will apprehend the said John, the Painter, and bring him before any Magistrate, or give such Notice as may be the Means of his being apprehended, so that he be produced to his Majesty's Commissioners of Portsmouth Dock Yard, or to the Commissioners of his Majesty's Navy in London, shall receive Fifty Pounds Reward, to be paid by the Commissioners of the Navy: Or if the said Person, knowing himself to be innocent, will voluntarily appear before Commissioner Gambier, at Portsmouth, or the Commissioners of'his Majesty's Navy in London, he shall himself be entitled to the same Reward.