Saturday Morning last, 11 Sail of Men of War and Transports, being Part of the British Fleet from Rhode Island, appeared in the Offing, just without the West End of Fisher's-Island, standing to the Westward, but the Wind being small and the Tide unfavourable, they drifted back of the Point and came to Anchor.

On Sunday they made Sail, and about Noon anchored North Side of the Island, where they continued till Tuesday Morning, when the Whole came to Sail and stood to the Eastward.

The Appearance of this Fleet so near us occasioned the Militia from the neighbouring Towns to be ordered in, for Defence of the Harbour &c. Among whom was the Norwich Light-Infantry Company, commanded by Col. Christopher Leffingwell, who made a genteel and martial Appearance, being neatly dressed in Uniform.

After the Departure of the above Fleet, Col. Leffingwell went to Fisher'sIsland, accompanied by several Boats, to make what Discoveries they could; where they procured the following Memorandum from Mr. Brown, who lives on the Island, viz. That the Fleet took off the Island 106 Sheep, 8 Oxen, 11 Cows, 22 Yearlings; 26 Swine, 24 Turkies, 4 Dozen Fowls, 123 Bushels of Corn, 100 Bushels Potatoes, 5 & half Tons pressed Hay, and 3 Cords of Wood; they also took a Parcel of Pork out of the Cellar, and some Bed-covering, such as Blankets and Sheets, they also shot a Number of Sheep Mr. Brown had no Account of. ー That the armed Ships were the Amazon, Capt. [Maximilian] Jacobs; Greyhound, Capt. Dickinson [Archibald Dickson]; and Lark, Capt. [Richard] Smith, with seven Transports. That they landed three Companies of British and three Companies of Hessian Troops.

Mr. Brown informed that there were 20 Ships at Anchor in Gardiner'sBay, tho' 11 only could then be discovered, besides two that were coming through Plumb-Gut. (No Doubt this Fleet are also on a plundering Voyage).

We learn that the Stock, &c. which was taken from Fisher's-Island, was chiefly paid for.

Last Saturday three Men went from hence in a Sail Boat, to Fisher's-Island, for a load of Corn, (having a Permit from the Committee of this Town for that Purpose), they being in the greatest Strait therefor, and none to be purchased here; but before they had loaded their Boat they discovered a Number of Troops landed on the Island; upon which they thought it Advisable to make the best of their Way to the Boat; they accordingly sat out, but soon found themselves pursued; and by the Time they got on Board the Boat, which lay within Pistol Shot of the Shore, about 300 Men embodied in two Divisions had got to the Shore, when an Officer called to them to come on Shore, threatning to fire on them if they refused, but they disregarding their Threats began to hoist Sail, when the Enemy fired a Volley at them, which they repeated till the Boat was out of their Reach, which was about 15 Minutes (the Wind being small) mean Time the Enemy attempted to get to them in a Sail Boat but she happily got a-ground on a Point. The three Men say 1000 Shot or upwards was fired at them, and about 100 struck the Boat, but providentially neither of the Men were hurt.

Another Boat was soon after fired upon by them, but without doing any Damage.

A few Days ago a large Prize Ship mounting 24 Guns, bound from London to New-York, esteemed the richest Prize that has been taken since the Contest with Great Britain, laden with Dry Goods, was sent into an Eastern Port. She was taken by two Privateers. This Account we have by the Eastern Post.