Tuesday night last [January 14] some men from the enemy's ship that lay at Prudence set fire to a house on that island, which was communicated to one or two other buildings, and gave rise to a report that the enemy had burnt the town of Newport. These were the only buildings that remained on the island after [James] Wallace's expedition up the bay last winter.
Capt. Ayres, who lately went with a flag of truce to Newport, returned on Wednesday, and brought with him about 50 Americans, in exchange for a number of prisoners he delivered there.
On Friday morning, last week, a party of our troops from Seconet, with one 18 and one 12 pounder, drove the Cerberus man of war from Fogland ferry: She returned the fire briskly for some time, and was at length obliged to put to sea, and is since arrived at Newport. By certain accounts received from thence, we learn that she was considerably damaged in her hull, and had six men killed and a number wounded.
We hear that General Clinton has sailed from Newport for England, in the Asia man of war, and that Earl Percy (whom General Gage so highly commended for his agility in the Lexington retreat) now commands the ministerial troops at Rhode-Island.