ness between Mr. D—k—s—n, of Pennsylvania, and Mr. J—Ads, of Massachusetts-Bay, and the very unwise distrust which many in England suppose prevails in the minds of the Delegates of the Southern Colonies against those of the four New-England Provinces. The plan of operations for next year is to carry on a piratical war by sea, and to have thirty thousand men, by land in America, dispersed through the different Provinces. Five thousand of them are to sail from Ireland, in the course of this month, for Virginia; and G—I Clinton is ordered to go there from Boston, to take the command of them, as Lord Dunmore has promised great assistance from the Scotchmen and slaves in that Colony. No person can yet find out how it will be possible for the Ministers to get ten thousand men more to send to America in the course of next year; however, it is certain that this country will pay eight millions of money for the next campaign against America, and it is hardly doubted but the real design of the Cabinet is to exert their utmost efforts next year to subdue America to slavery; in which, if they cannot succeed, they mean to give her up entirely as an independent State. This event may be precipitated much sooner than is expected should G—I Howe and his troops be driven from Boston in the course of the winter, and Canada fall into the hands of America. Notwithstanding the Minister's majority in Parliament, it is very certain that three-fourths in England, and nine-tenths in Ireland, are in favour of America; the rest, with almost all Scotland, are against her; but as Lord Bute and his Scotch junto rule with absolute sway, America will not receive any active assistance from Great Britain for a year or two at least, as the people of England are slow to action. The Ministers have been trying, with all their address, to get troops from Russia, in which they have failed. They are now treating with all the petty Princes in Germany for men, as they can get no men to in list in England or Ireland; and they have not at this time in all Great Britain, above two thousand foot, exclusive of the Guards, and not ten thousand in Ireland. It is not certainly known yet, but probably they may get four or five thousand from Germany; but if America continues determined, united, and vigorous, the conquest of that country is thought utterly impracticable. As all communication is now cut off it will not be easy to convey intelligence of what is going on in this country, therefore America must act upon all occasions as she finds her own strength and circumstances, without reference to what may or may not pass here.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FORM LONDON TO A GENTLEMAN IN VIRGINIA, DATED DECEMBER 9, 1775.

You may depend on it, that Government do not intend to make their grand armament at Boston; they will only reinforce the army there, so as to enable them to maintain their ground, if the Provincials do not carry the place this winter. The whole force is to be twenty-six thousand men, including those now in America, and three regiments of Scotch Dutch, who are to come over in the spring from Holland, and be sent to Scotland to recruit, and from thence go to America; no other foreign troops are to be had, not would the Dutch have given them, but they were paid a most extravagant price for them. They are now about two thousand, though nominally three thousand, which number they are to be made. This whole force is to be divided in America, and sent to New-York, Virginia, and South-Carolina, so that there will be no very considerable army, though strong bodies of perhaps four, six, and eight thousand men to those places, but the numbers are not ascertained, though they will be strong bodies. All commerce is prohibited with America, but Commissioners are certainly going out; but their names are not yet mentioned. The Scotch faction prevails at Court. The Bedford party are a good deal divided, some having joined the Opposition. Lord Chatham will never again appear out; the minority is considerably strengthened. Lord Rockingham is the head of a formidable party; indeed, almost all the minority are immediately attached to him. Their strength, however, is greatly inferior to the Ministry, and will be, except the rest of the Bedford's, which are the strongest part of that party, and the support of the Ministry, leave them. It is impossible to say what may happen.

COLONEL WOODFORD TO EDMUND PENDLETON, PRESUDENT OF THE CONVENTION

Great-Bridge, near Norfolk, December 9, 1775.

The enemy were reinforced about three o'clock this morning with (as they tell me) every soldier of the Four-teenth Regiment, at Norfolk, amounting to two hundred, commanded by Captain Leslie; and this morning, after reveille beating, crossed the bridge by laying down some plank, and made an attack to force our breastwork, (the prisoners say the whole number amounted to five hundred, volunteers and blacks,) with two pieces of cannon, but none marched up but His Majesty's soldiers, who behaved like Englishmen. We have found of their dead, Captain Fordyce and twelve privates; and have Lieutenant Battut, who is wounded in the leg, and seventeen privates prisoners, all wounded. They carried their cannon back under cover of the guns of the fort, and a number of their dead. I should suppose, to speak within compass, their loss must be upwards of fifty. Some powder and cartridges were taken. I sent an officer to inform them, if they would not fire upon our people, they should collect the dead and wounded; this they agreed to, and there has been no firing since. We are now under arms, expecting another attack. There is but one man of ours hurt, and he is wounded in the hand. The prisoners inform us that Lord Dunmore has got areinforcement of Highlanders; they, I expect, will be up next.

MAJOR SPOTSWOOD TO A FRIEND IN WILLIAMSBURGH.

Great-Bridge, December 9, 1775.

We were alarmed this morning by the firing of some guns after reveille beating, which, as the enemy had paid us this compliment several times before, we at first concluded to be nothing but a morning salute; but in a short time after, I heard Adjutant Blackburn call out, Boys! stand to your arms! Colonel Woodford and myself immediately got equipped, and ran out; the Colonel pressed down to the breastwork in our front, and my alarm-post being two hundred and fifty yards in another quarter, I ran to it as fast as I could, and by the time I had made all ready for engaging, a very heavy fire ensued at the breastwork, in which were not more than sixty men; it continued for about half an hour, when the King's troops gave way, after sustaining considerable loss, and behaving like trueborn Englishmen. They mounted up to our intrenchments with fixed bayonets; our young troops received them with firmness, and behaved as well as it was possible for soldiers to do. Captain Leslie, of the regulars, commanded the fort on the other side of the bridge; Captain Fordyce, of the Grenadiers, led the van with his company; and Lieutenant Battut commanded the advanced party; the former got killed within a few yards of the breastwork, with twelve privates; the Lieutenant, with sixteen soldiers, were taken prisoners—all wounded. Several others were carried into the fort under cover of their cannon; and from the blood on the bridge, they must have lost one-half of their detachment.

It would appear that Providence was on our side; for during the whole engagement we lost not a man, and only one was slightly wounded in the hand. Colonel Woodford is a brave officer, and a man I love. He has had Captain Fordyce buried with the military honours due to his rank, and all the prisoners that fell into our hands are taken the greatest care of. We have not, as yet, been able to ascertain the number of killed and wounded on their side. Three officers' fusees, with bayonets and cartouche boxes, fell into our hands; from which we judge that there were three commissioned officers killed. As soon as a general return can be made, it will be sent to the honourable Convention. I am at present in the greatest hurry, and can only give an account of what I have seen.

KING AND QUEEN COUNTY (VIRGINIA) COMMITTEE.

At a meeting of the Sub-Committee of the Upper District of King and Queen County, on Saturday, the 9th of December, 1775:

William Lyne having been charged before this Committee, by James Jones, Jun., with endeavouring to preju-