fier called the Leviathan, belonging to New-Haven, by the Cerberus man-of-war, and carried into Halifax, where they arrived on or about the 3d of June, and were turned over to the aforesaid transport. That they left Halifax on or about the 10th of June, where they left no troops but invalids. They say that the number of the enemy arrived in the fleet is (as nearly as they have been able to inform themselves) about seven thousand. That the troops were all landed on Staten-Island, and that they were on different parts of the Island. That there were a few tents, but that the troops were chiefly billeted out in houses. That besides those who have the small-pox, (of which there are fifty or sixty,) there are many sick among them. That many of the soldiers seem much averse to the service, and curse their fate for being engaged therein. They further say, that yesterday morning the Asia, Chatham, and the Greyhound, weighed anchor, and, as the examinants were informed, intended to sail past the city, up Hudson's River, and lie at some convenient distance above it, to prevent communication between it and the country. They also say that it was reported among them that the inhabitants of the Island were about forming themselves into companies, who, together with such of the enemy as were unfit for actual service, were to remain upon the Island, to defend it when an attack should be made by the troops; but that no attack was to be made until the arrival of the reinforcement from Europe, which reinforcement, they were informed, would consist of about fifteen or sixteen thousand men.

JNO. MORIN SCOTT, Brigadier-General.

Examination of JAMES MCFARLAN, a soldier belonging to the Fifty-Fifth Regiment, (Colonel MEDIC,) deserted from STATEN-ISLAND on the 4th or 5th JULY, 1776.

The Colonel absent. The regiment now commanded by the Major, who is General Howe's Aid-de-Camp. He left Staten-Island about one or two o'clock yesterday afternoon. He came away in a skiff opposite the Blazing-Star Ferry. He left Halifax (where they went from Boston) about four weeks ago. Some of the Grenadiers and Light-Infantry landed on the Island on Tuesday night, and the battalions on Wednesday. They consist of nine thousand—about one thousand sick and lame. General Grant, of the brigade to which the examinant belongs, is about one mile and a half from Blazing-Star, inland, with three battalions (of eight companies each) of Foot. No breastworks or other remarkable works raised since Grant came on the Island; the men so weak and feeble, and the weather so hot, that they cannot work, and therefore don't intend raising any yet awhile. About four hundred of the inhabitants to be sworn yesterday to be true to carry arms, but not to go out of the country. He has not tasted a bit of fresh provision since he has been on the Island, but yesterday they began to buy. Their sentries are all along the shore—two together in the nighttime. The report in the Army is, that they are waiting for the fleet from England. He thinks one-half of the Army are very easy about the dispute, and had rather let it alone; these are chiefly Scotch and Irish; but the English are very violent. They expect a reinforcement of ten or twelve thousand men. He thinks Admiral Shuldham commands the fleet. If they are to be attacked, now is the time. The Captain of the tender was killed on Thursday morning, as reported through the Army. A schooner was taken the other night loaded with flour, about two miles from Blazing-Star, supposed to be from Amboy. A great many flat-bottomed boats, with sixteen oars, will carry two companies; but are all yet with the fleet. In general, about thirty-six in a company, and many not that. There was a talk at Halifax about a regiment of Indians, but it all went over, and none came. The inhabitants of Staten-Island are well used; no soldier dare do anything against them. The other night the soldiers broke into a cellar belonging to a man who had deserted to Jersey, (supposed to be Mr. Mesereaux,) and knocked in the heads of some wine-casks and drank it, for which they were tried next day by a general court-martial. A large man, a ship-carpenter, (Richard Lawrence,) came aboard them with a likely young man the first night after they came from Sandy-Hook, and told them there was nobody on the other side of the Island but a parcel of jawing rascals, and five hundred of such as he would drive them all. The Army have the bloody-flux and scurvy. Thereare no Lighthorse among the Regulars; these were left at Halifax till they see whether they can make their landing good; but have riding and draught-horses. The Grenadiers and Light-Infantry are in a brigade by themselves, in the middle of the Island. The reinforcement is expected every day. The men are so weak that they cannot march twelve miles a day to save their lives. A great many (nearly twenty) boats from Long-Island came on board and helped them to land their men on Staten-Island; the boats are used to carry grass; they had been at the light-house a fortnight.

Examination of ABRAM VAN DUZAR, of NEW-YORK, from STATEN-ISLAND, July 9, 1776.

The examination of Abram Van Duzar, of New-York, who saith: That on Tuesday, the 2d day of July, he went over to Staten-Island, to bring over a horse he had some time before purchased; that he could not get a passage back again that night; and that the next morning he was forbid returning, guards having been set all round the Island. The examinant further saith, that he attempted to come away three times, and was hindered the two first times, but that the last (being this morning) he effected his escape in a skiff from Decker's Ferry; that guards are set all over the Island, but that no fortifications are made or intrenchments flung up anywhere. That on Saturday last, Governour Tryon called all the Militia of the Island together, and agreed with them that, on their taking the oath of allegiance to the King, he would give to them new commissions, and that then they were to be inlisted to serve during the war, and not to go off the Island; that they were to receive the same pay as the King's troops; and that he heard one Decker (an inhabitant of the Island) say the number of men belonging to the Island, and fit to bear arms, consisted of between four and five hundred. That they had raised a company of Horse, whose pay is one dollar per day when called to duty. That he saw Cortlandt Skinner on the Island, in high spirits, save that he laments a little the loss of his son. That he had heard it talked among both officers and soldiers, that when the fleet and army (expected to arrive every hour under Lord Howe) should arrive to their assistance, they were to land at Amboy and on Long-Island, and so force their way to New-York; and that Carleton was to come from Canada; and by their talk one among another, were of opinion that Carleton must needs be now in Albany; and that they seemed well assured of success; nor could they think their attempt could possibly fail. That the troops are very healthy, and look exceedingly well and are impatient to attack us. That with the present fleet came only six men-of-war, sloops, tenders, and several bomb-ships. That he thinks, from the best judgment he can form, that the number of troops, exclusive of the marines, consists of twelve thousand; but that they, among themselves, give such different accounts of their number, that there is no kind of dependance on the accounts they give about it. That the troops are chiefly landed and scattered over the Island; that he thinks they are likely to want fresh provisions pretty soon. That he had been well informed that forty-eight men came and joined them from Amboy; that on Sunday evening last three Riflemen came over to them from Long-Island, and brought with them five rifles, and told the General that twenty-five more wanted to come over, but had no craft to bring them; that those three Riflemen joined the Army, and drew provisions and pay immediately. That when the fleet came in through the Narrows, our guns from the battery killed four men and a boy. That they had asked him how many in number our troops consisted of in New-York; that he had told them not less than fifty thousand, and more likely one hundred thousand. That they had talks of attempting the little privateer in the bay; and that he heard it talked among the officers, yesterday, that five men-of-war were to be sent up to town to-day, but that no general attack is to be made until they are reinforced by the fleet from England, with whom, they say, fifteen or twenty thousand troops will come. That they were going through with the people on the Island yesterday, tendering them the oath of allegiance; and that people in general took it cheerfully, without hesitation, as he was informed.

ABRAM VAN DUZAR.

Taken on this 9th of July, 1776, at Bergen town, by me,

JACOB FORD, Jun., Colonel.