HE following Admirals have their flags now flying at Spithead, TH viz: Ship On Thursday (April 16) Admiral Keppel went to Spithead to take upon him the Command of the Fleet, and was saluted at the platform with 15 Guns. The same day all the small vessels, transports and merchant ships that lay at Spithead were ordered to remove to Stokes Bay, to make room for the Men of War to form themselves into a Line of Battle. September 12, 1778. PHILADELPHIA, August 22. It is said that a number of British Ships of War are on Shore upon Long Island; among which is the Eagle of 64 Guns on board which Lord Howe hoisted his Flag when he came out as one of the Commissioners with the pretended offers of Peace; and likewise that several have been seen going into New York very much shattered, having jury masts and other marks of distress. September 12, 1778. Last Saturday noon (Sept. 5) about 40 sail of British Men of War and Transports appeared off (New) Bedford at six o'clock; they landed about 4,000 British Troops, Tories, etc., under the Command of General Gray (Grey). They burnt the Rope Walks and 12 Dwelling Houses in the lower street, all the store houses, and the principal part of the shipping in that harbor; also all the dwelling houses and shipping at McPherson's Wharf and the principal part of the houses at the head of the River, the mills and two or three houses on the road on the east side towards Fairhaven, three store-houses and a number of Shipping there. The Enemy embarked on Sunday (Sept. 6) and on Monday night (Sept. 7) relanded a party to burn some vessels and stores at Fairhaven, but were prevented. They killed Abraham Russell and a boy, wounded one Cooke and Lieut. Mitchell mortally. September 12, 1778. HEADQUARTERS, PROVIDENCE, SEPTEMBER 11, 1778. An Extract from General Orders of this day: His Excellency, General Washington by a Letter of the 5th Instant, congratulates this Army upon their safe retreat from Rhode Island and upon the success of the American Arms in the action of the 29th of last month and directs the Commander of this Department to present His Thanks to the Officers of all Ranks and to the Troops, for their Gallant Behavior on that Day. Published by Order of Major General Sullivan. WILLIAM PECK. Adj.-Gen. State of Rhode Island. By an Officer who arrived on Wednesday (Sept. 9) in a Flag of Truce from Newport, we learn that the Enemy acknowledge they lost 1,023 men killed, wounded and taken on Rhode Island. Several Officers were buried the night after the action, their rank not known. Wednesday last (Sept. 9) 7 Deserters and 4 Prisoners arrived here from (New) Bedford. They belonged to the Troops that were landed there from the British Fleet on Saturday Last. We learn that Part of Admiral Byron's Fleet, after having been separated from the other Ships and suffering much in several Gales of Wind, are arrived at New York. Two of them it is said have got into Halifax dismasted. September 19, 1778. We hear that the Vigilant, mounting 24 Twenty-five pounders, belonging to the Enemy, is a missing vessel and supposed to have foundered at sea in the late storm. It is asserted that on Monday Sen' night (Sept. 7) the British Fleet from New York fell down just without the Hook. Next day Seven topsail vessels which came in from the northward, supposed to be part of Admiral Byron's Squadron, were seen to join them and in the Evening the whole hoisted sail and stood to the Eastward bound it is apprehended, to Rhode Island. NEW YORK, AUGUST 24, 1778. Some particulars of the British and French Fleets: On Tuesday the 11th (Aug.) inst. a most violent tempest arose, which continuing until Friday following dispersed both the Fleets. On Sunday (Aug. 16th) the French Rear Admiral, supposed to be Mons. Bosse of the Le Zéle (the Zealous) a Ship of 74 Guns and rated to have 900 men, bore down on His Majesty's Ship Isis Commanded by John Raynor, Esq., of 50 Guns, who permitted not a Gun to be fired until his Enemy approached very near the Isis, when a fierce engagement ensued and continued it is said about an hour and a half. The Rear Admiral's fire being very much directed against the Isis's rigging rendered her utterly incapable of pursuing the Zéle, who were sound, and being one of the best sailing Ships of the Count De Estaing's Squadron, escaped from capture merely by flight. During the action a quantity of papers were observed to be thrown out of the cabin windows of the Zéle. On Saturday afternoon (Aug. 15) His Majesty's Ship Renown of 50 Guns, Commanded by Capt. George Dawson, fell in with the Languedoc of 90 Guns and rated to have 1,100 men, about 30 leagues South East of Sandy Hook. This Capital Ship had been dismasted in the storm of the 11th instant. The Renown attacked her on the quarter and kept up a steady fire against her from 4 o'clock till dark, intending to renew the engagement in the morning, but the French Admiral availing himself of the darkness of the night brought his Ship to an anchor, by which means the Renown became separated three or four miles from him. At daybreak Count De Estaing was attended with several other Ships of his own Squadron which occasioned the 50 Gun Ship to bear away, and he thereby escaped from a superiority to himself invincible. His Majesty's Ship Preston Commanded by Commodore Hotham of 50 Guns and rated for 355 men, fell in with the Le Fonant of 84 Guns and rated for 1,100 men, said to be Commanded by Mons. Bougainville, a gentleman who in the Last War had the Honor of serving his Sovereign in Canada and is allowed to be an Officer of distinguished abilities. This Ship lost her bowsprit and foremast on the 11th instant. The Preston raked her fore and aft a considerable time, and would certainly have made a prize of her but for the intervention of several other Ships of the Toulon Fleet, which occasioned the Preston to leave her to their protection. BOSTON, SEPTEMBER 14. We learn from Cape Cod that as the British Fleet were passing the Capes on Monday Sen'night (Sept. 7) a 64 Gun Ship ran aground, where she lay till Tuesday afternoon when she was relieved by two Ships from the Fleet. After taking out her guns, throwing over a great quantity of pig-iron, etc. Two of the anchors weighing 5,800 pounds each have since been landed on the Long Wharf. They are marked "St. Albans." Friday Last (Sept. 11) arrived safe in Port a Prize Brig laden with provision and salt taken by the Minerva. She was bound from the Strait of Belle Isle for some Port in Great Britain. Also the same day returned into Port the Sloop Providence, Commanded by Captain Rathbun. On the 7th ult. Captain Rathbun fell in with about 30 Sail of Transports, all of force, with Scotch Troops on board, One of which he engaged for some time, having about 200 soldiers on board but quitted her. 'Tis said they are arrived at Halifax. By Express yesterday we learn that Lord Howe's Mon-Cursers are plundering all along the Sound, and that last week they took four vessels out of Holmes Hole and destroyed one other September 17. By the latest advices it seems, the British Fleet and Army are preparing to move to the Northward, with a view to destroy the French Fleet and repossess themselves of Boston. Count De Estaing we understand is prepared for them, as he has thrown up such works on the Islands at the entrance of the Harbor as to render it impossible for the whole Navy of England to enter; and we hear a number of Brigades are detached from the Grand Army and upon their march for these ports, and every precaution has been taken for our defence by land. PROVIDENCE, SEPTEMBER 19. A Fleet of 50 Sail, 30 of which appeared to be Ships, were observed steering up the Western Sound on Wednesday last (Sept. 16). This is supposed to be the Fleet that lately visited (New) Bedford and Martha's Vineyard, from the latter of which places they took a large number of Sheep, and Cattle. A letter from a Gentleman in Philadelphia mentions that a person was arrived there from New York who reported that three of Admiral Byron's Fleet had foundered at Sea in a violent storm. Capt. Hopkins in the Warren Frigate has taken two Prizes, one of them a Schooner from Jamaica bound to Halifax; the other a Brig bound to New York. The Schooner is arrived at an Eastern Port. Brigade Orders: CAMP TIVERTON, SEPTEMBER 15, 1778. Whereas a considerable part of the clothing furnished by the State of Rhode Island for their State Troops and that hath been delivered them is now scattered at a considerable distance from this camp, some in this and some in the neighboring States, and was either sent away by the soldiers themselves or carried away by their friends The Season of the year is now advanced which renders it absolutely necessary that the soldiers have their clothing in camp, and as the Service will by no means admit at this time of their absence to col |