January 22, 1776

Ship captains were key sources of information for printers in North American ports. This piece of news from Newburyport, Massachusetts, includes an account from a captain who had sailed from Málaga, Spain. He crossed the Atlantic at the same time as a “large store ship, from London, loaded with provisions for the ministerial troops at Boston.” And the captain of this British ship said that he was not alone in bringing supplies for the British forces in Massachusetts. This report also mentions something that became a hot topic of discussion: tens of thousands of reinforcements, planning to sail for British North America in the spring. 

The captain who had sailed from Málaga also brought news of the Spanish empire. He said that King Charles III had “raised another army of 30000 men” to fight in North Africa. He also said that “the Spaniards were greatly in our favor,” meaning that the Spanish people looked positively on what was happening in British North America. Spain became an ally in the war against Great Britain, but not until 1779. Nevertheless, reports and even rumors of sympathies for the American colonies in Europe were widely published.

Dunlap’s Pennsylvania Packet or, the General Advertiser
Printed by John Dunlap

NEWBURY-PORT, January 5.

By Capt. Lee who arrived here last Wednesday from Malaga, we are informed, that on his passage he spoke with a large store ship, from London, loaded with provisions for the ministerial troops at Boston—The Captain of which informed, that he sailed in company with a number of other vessels loaded for the same purpose—and that the Ministry were to send 40,000 troops early in the Spring to America.

Captain Lee also informs, that the King of Spain has raised another army of 30000 men, to go against the Moors and Algerines;—and that the Spaniards were greatly in our favor.