Barbadoes to Halifax, taken the 28th of May, laden with rum; the Rover, Hunter, from Antigua to Dublin, taken the 13th of June, laden with rum; the Isabella, Kirk, from Antigua to Dublin, taken the 13th of June, loaded with rum; the Harlequin, Goodwin, from Nevis to Dublin, taken the 2d of July, loaded with sugar and rum; the Devonshire, Fisher, from Antigua to Dublin, taken the 1st of July, loaded with sugar and rum, in latitude 34° 55', longitude 53° 36'. Fifty per cent, insurance was offered on some of the above ships; and insurance, with convoy, rose near thirty per cent.

Captain Stephenson, of the Lady Juliana, arrived in town this day, and gives the following account of the capture of his ship, the Lady Juliana, from Jamaica to London, in company with the Reynolds, Captain Rusden, from Jamaica for London, and the Juno, Captain Marsden, from Jamaica for Bristol: On the 9th and 12th of May last, they were attacked by two American privateers off the Matanzas, bearing S. S. E., and that the Reynolds, Rusden, was taken by the American privateer, Captain Henry, mounting six three-pounders, and ten swivels, on the 9th of May; and Lady Juliana, Stephenson, and Juno, Marsden, were taken by the Chance, Captain Adams, who mounted four six-pounders and ten swivels, the 12th; that the Provincials put the Captains and passengers on board a Spanish vessel that was leaky, who carried them into Providence, where the Captains purchased a vessel, called the Baltimore, which is since arrived at Plymouth.

The nine ships above mentioned were all taken with the greatest ease, after they had been convoyed one hundred and fifty leagues from the ports they respectively sailed from, and left by the men-of-war, under a supposition that they were totally out of danger. The privateers which took them were but thinly manned, and weakly armed. One carried ten, and the other twelve guns. Several of the ships carried a great number, but (which is very extraordinary) no powder on board, the Governours of the places they sailed from not allowing any to be shipped, for fear enough should not remain with them to defend their situations in case of an attack, which was something more than probable. The Lady Juliana, Captain Stephenson, had six hundred hogsheads of sugar and thirty thousand hard dollars on board, besides other negotiable and marketable articles. Her cargo, therefore, exclusive of the dollars, at a moderate computation, was worth twenty-five thousand pounds. She was boarded by Captain White, an old acquaintance of Captain Stephenson, who cordially shook hands with his captor when he set foot on deck, little thinking he was an enemy. White, out of civility and respect for old acquaintanceship, promised to send Stephenson safe to England, at the same time told him, that he was ordered by the Congress to carry every prize he took to Rhode-Island, and that the other privateer was to carry hers to Salem, in New-England. The ship Francis, on board which Stephenson came to England, was suffered to sail home, as the Captains of the Provincial privateers did not think her valuable enough to be seized. The amount of the cargoes of the above prizes, we are informed, upon the best authority, is upwards of £140,000 sterling.

SILAS DEANE TO C. W. F. DUMAS.

Paris, July 26, 1776.

SIR: The enclosed letter from Dr. Franklin will hint at my business in this city, where I arrived the 7th instant, and should have sent forward this earlier, had I not hopes of the honour of presenting it to you in person. This I now find I cannot expect without delaying it beyond all bounds. I therefore forward it by the common conveyance, and inform you that my address in this city is to Messrs. Germany, Guardot & Co., bankers; that I shall tarry here till the last of August, when I propose going to Dunkirk, thence to Amsterdam and Hamburgh, in which journey I hope for the pleasure of seeing you. In the mean time, I shall be happy in a correspondence with you on the subject of the dispute between the United Colonies and Great Britain, or any other that shall be agreeable to you; and I wish to be informed if I shall be in danger of any disagreeable treatment in my journey through Holland, in a private capacity, though it should be known that I was in the service of the United Colonies. It has been suggested to me that I might meet with some interruption or difficulties from the friends of the British Ministry, which occasions my making this inquiry.

I have the honour to be, &c.,

SILAS DEANE.

P. S. I read and understand the French language tolerably well, though I am unable to write it.

CAPTAIN MERONEY TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Fredericktown, July 26, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: I have exerted myself endeavouring to furnish my company with guns and blankets, but find it impracticable without money. I applied to Mr. Harrison, and could receive but seventy pounds, insufficient to furnish one-tenth. Mr. Harding, the bearer, is a gentleman, and may be trusted with any sum. Three hundred and fifty pounds is the sum I want to receive by the bearer.

I am, gentlemen, with respect, your obedient servant,

PHILIP MERONEY.

To the Council of Safety of Maryland.

GENTLEMEN: I am of opinion that a less sum than is mentioned in the above letter will not furnish the above company with arms and blankets.

C. BEATTY.

To the Council of Safety.

MAJOR PRICE TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

Upper Camp, Prince George's, July 26, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: If you expect frequent intelligence from this place, you must send down for it, it being impossible to get horses here.

I have been under the necessity of sending home all the Militia except fifty, and it was with much difficulty I could keep them. Indeed, their distress seems to be very great, for most of them are poor people whose crops are suffering, and many have not any dependance but their labour. I received an express from General Lewis last night. The following is a copy of my answer to him, which will give you as true a state of matters here as possible.

I found it absolutely necessary to keep the wagon and horses brought from Annapolis, not knowing what hour it might be necessary to remove the cannon, and also to draw them back, for it will not be possible to get any here. However, if you think it best, and will send me directions, I shall act accordingly.

I am, gentlemen, your very humble servant,

THOS. PRICE.

To the Honourable Council of Safety of Maryland.

MAJOR PRICE TO MARYLAND COUNCIL OF SAFETY.

St. George's Camp, July 26, 1776.

SIR: The enemy come on St. George's Island in the day time to get water and wood, and in the evening retire on board their ships. They have no manner of fortifications on the Island.

The fleet lies from the northeast side of St. George's River about a mile, the depth of water, as I imagine, about three fathom. The Island lies from the main land about a hundred yards. The water, at low tide, about knee-deep, where we threw up a small intrenchment. There are three pieces of cannon on Cherryfield Point, (about a mile from the Fowey,) one a nine-pounder, one a four, the other three. I have another on the northwest side of the river, (the narrowest water between the land and main,) a four-pounder. I have about four hundred men (half of whom are well armed, the other half poorly) placed on each side of St. George's River. I have good reason to think, with the force I have, I can prevent the enemy's landing or plundering the inhabitants. I yesterday morning sent one hundred on the Island about half after two o'clock. They marched silently through the Island till day appeared, and then lay hid till they came from the, ships to water. The advance party being rather eager, was too soon discovered, and the whole enemy ran to their boats, my people then pursuing them with all speed, and firing on them as they were getting into their boats, when our people say they killed three or four, that they saw fall, and several wounded, and one taken prisoner. The Fowey then fired on them, and compelled them to retire. After destroying their water-casks and filling up a well, (the best on the Island, for they have no springs,)