At four, the station of every vessel was altered, as the two ships had dropped on each quarter, and a brig kept astern, giving a continual fire; bore away, and made sail for Rhode-Island, with the whole fleet within musket-shot on cur quarters and stem. Got two stern-chase guns out of the cabin, and kept giving and receiving a very warm fire. At day-light, perceived the Rebel ships to consist of two ships, two brigs, and a sloop, and a large ship and a snow, which kept to windward as soon as the action began. At half-past six, the fleet hauled their wind, and, at seven, tacked and stood to the south-south-west. We had one man killed and three wounded by the musketry from the enemy.”

The following is a state of the Rebel armed vessels above mentioned:

Alfred.—Commanded by Hopkins; twenty nine-pounders on the lower, six ten-pounders on the upper, deck; two hundred and twenty men, including sixty marines.

Columbus.—Commanded by Whipple; eighteen nine-pounders on the lower, ten six-pounders on the upper, deck; two hundred and twenty men, including sixty marines.

Andrew Doria, Brig.—Commanded by Biddle; sixteen six-pounders on the upper deck; one hundred and thirty pen, including thirty marines.

Cabot, Brig.—Commanded by Hopkins, Jun.; fourteen six-pounders on the upper deck; one hundred and twenty men, including thirty marines.

Providence, Sloop.—Commanded by Hazard; twelve six-pounders on the upper deck; ninety men, including twenty-eight marines.

The Glasgow had twenty guns—nine-pounders; and one hundred and fifty men.

By letters lately received from Vice-Admiral Young, dated at Antigua, the 3d of March, and from Vice-Admiral Gayton, dated at Jamaica, the 28th of that month, it likewise appears that the cruisers under the command of the former had seized twenty-six, and those under the command of the latter, nine, ships and vessels, either belonging to, or employed in carrying on a trade with, his Majesty’s rebellious subjects in North-America.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER TO A GENTLEMAN IN PHILADELPHIA, DATED BERMUDA, APRIL 26, AND CONTINUED TO MAY 1, 1776.

The people in this Island are zealous in the American cause, and appear willing to do everything in their power to promote it. The Governour, who has become very obnoxious, has been threatening the inhabitants with cruisers, stationed at each end of the Island, and troops; but no man of sense can believe so useless and expensive a measure will ever be adopted. The vessels in here from the Islands, give an account of the disposition of the people there, which is very far from meriting the indulgence shown their property in the late resolution for reprisals. In Antigua and Barbadoes, an America n is not safe, either in his person or property, if he is known to be friendly to the Continental interest. And they exult in the prospect, or rather hopes, of a total reduction of the Colonies by Administration; one consequence of which, they are promised, will be, the con fining the American commerce, in the West-Indies, absolutely to the English Islands. This may be relied on to be the present temper of the Islands in general.

This Island suffers much. One hundred and twenty vessels are now on hand, unemployed, and the people happy if they can keep from an absolute famine; for the produce of this Island is next to nothing at all. Vessels proper for privateers might be taken up here to good advantage, and guns for them purchased, as there are a great number of good ones, of those used in the late war, now on hand. A number were lately purchased and shipped, as I heard, and more may be had, of four to nine-pounders. Mr. Jennings has a fine ship on the stocks, of eighty feet keel, which may be launched soon, and would make a fine privateer. He would be glad to sell her, and I believe could procure the guns for her.

A sloop this instant arrived from Antigua, and brings accounts that twenty-one sail of transports, under convoy of two men-of-war, sailed the beginning of this month for the Continent, from Antigua; and, by the Captain, the report of the disposition of the people of that Island and Barbadoes, towards the Colonies, is confirmed, with many aggravating circumstances. The situation and present state of this Island demands the attention of the Continental Congress; and I have had several conferences with Mr. . . . . on the subject. It is unnecessary to attempt a particular description of an Island as well known as this; but you well know that, by the accounts given in to Congress, the number of its inhabitants were set about fourteen thousand, (one half blacks,) and the quantity of provision annually imported into the Island was then stated, which, moderate as it appears, is much more than the inhabitants will here after be able to pay for, unless they can be put on a different footing from their present one. Their negro men are all of them seamen and mechanicks—such as coopers, shipcarpenters, and blacksmiths; and the produce of their labour makes nine-tenths of the support both of their masters and fellow-slaves, there being no employ worth mentioning for either the female slaves or children, as the land is absolutely fit for nothing but the growth of cedar. It is well known that almost the whole of that trade and ship-building, which employed them and their slaves, depended on their intercourse between the American Colonies on the Continent, and foreign parts. This ceasing, throws them instantly into distress, without stock of provision, and without the means of paying for it, could it be procured; and on a soil incapable of supplying them, were they to cultivate every inch of it. This is simply their present situation, which greatly alarms them. The Governour has threatened them with sending for vessels of force. In such case, instant famine is inevitable, unless they can subsist on fish alone; and if they cannot, by some means, procure speedy supplies from the Continent, they will be in the same unhappy situation. Sensible of this, the inhabitants have had meetings, and have chosen a large Committee, of which. . . . . is Chairman; and the inhabitants are contributing all in their power to ward off the impending danger; but any relief they may obtain can be only temporary, (momentary, I may say,) unless the Continent takes them immediately under their protection. This is, I conceive, neither impracticable, nor would be attended with any very heavy expense, and the consequences might be very beneficial to the Colonies.

It is hardly possible for a person never on these Islands, (for they amount to hundreds of little ones,) to form an idea of them and their harbours. It is sufficient to say that they are the most difficult of access in the world, and some of the safest when entered. On the south side there is no water for anything more than a whale-boat, over a reef running the whole extent, at about half a league from the shore. At the west end, where we landed, there is a channel through the rocks and shoals, which extend near two leagues off shore, but so winding that it requires a skilful pilot to bring you through; and, in the best weather, it is alarming to a stranger to see the rocks on every side, and under him, (their clear white shining through the water,) as he passes, and finally enters, where the high land, on each side, is not a musket-shot from the centre of the channels. On the north side, the breakers run almost out of sight of land, through which there is one passage, but so difficult that the Islanders themselves make little use of it. At the east end the harbour is more capacious than this at the west, but equally difficult and easily defended; but when you have once entered either of the harbours, you may have your choice of a number of lesser ones, formed by the little broken Islands, between which is generally good depth of water and safe anchorage.

This, from my own observation and inquiry, is the natural situation of the Island, which, running between the northeast’ and southwest, every vessel passing between Great Britain and the West-Indies, unless driven out of their course, sails within about one hundred leagues of one of its extremities. This considered, it is evident they being fortified, so as to make a safe harbour for our cruisers, the whole West-India trade must be intercepted, and that by a small fleet of swift-sailing frigates and sloops. I am no judge of the expense of such fortifications; but gentlemen of some acquaintance with such affairs estimate it low; and as to a land force, the most trifling (even the Militia of the Island, properly supplied with stores) would be sufficient to guard a country as impenetrable, after landing, as it is inaccessible.