We arrived here the 18th ult. after a very long and disagreeable Passage of fourteen Weeks continued bad Weather, with a Brig under Convoy, that obliged us to be continually bearing away, lying too, or shortening Sail; when at length we arrived here, promising ourselves every Good, but instead of that we had every Ill to encounter with. The Rebels have been in Possession of Norfolk three Weeks, when Lord Dunmore was forced to retire afloat, with all the Inhabitants that were well affected to Government, after an Engagement with the Loss of very few. The Otter, Capt. Squire, and King's Fisher, Capt. Montagu (Sloops) are stationed here, with 160 Men belonging to the 14th Regiment. The Negroes, by Lord Dunmore's declaring them free, left their Rebel Masters, and joined his Lordship, to the Number of Three Hundred, with about fifty Volunteers, which was the whole Force before our Arrival, of the Government Party. A Week before our Arrival, the 11th ult. his Lordship landed with this Force, but was obliged to retire, as they fought in their Intrenchments, and had the Superiority of Numbers; they galled our Men much, who came off with the Loss of 65 killed and wounded. Lord Dunmore was quiet till the Night before we came to Lynhaven Bay, when he had formed a Plan to burn the Town; but on the News of our Arrival, he desisted, on our coming up the River: Nothing could equal the Acclamations of Joy from near 200 Sail, large and small; the Rafts on which were poor Families, were not the least to welcome us. From the time of our Arrival till the 31st, was spent in Flags of Truce, to try if they would supply us with fresh Provisions; but they were equally as treacherous as rebellious. On the 29th at Night, they fired into our Guard-boat, which was returned with a few Nine Pounders from us, and Six's from the Sloops: They were quiet the Remainder of the Night, but the next Morning their Centinels were parading before us with their Hats fixed on their Bayonets, and every other menacing Action they could think of. At Four o'Clock we fired a Shot at them, which was immediately seconded by his Lordship, the Otter and King's Fisher, Tenders and Merchantmen: The Cannonade lasted Half an Hour, when a Boat was sent from us, to set fire to a Brig they had taken, laden with Salt. His Lordship sent his Boats in also, and in less than eight Minutes the Brig and Town was in Flames: It burnt with great Rapidity all Night; we kept firing occasionally, to silence their rifle-barrelled Musquetry. The only Damage we received, was one Man losing his Arm; a Man from the Otter was wounded in the Groin, and a Carpenter killed belonging to the Dunmore. Their Loss must be very great. The next bay, Jan. 2, was ushered in with a dismal Sight of Ruins, and the Town still in Flames. As soon as the Shirtmen could see, they peppered us with their Rifle barrels; and as they have every Advantage over us, they do not fail to make use of it, which renders our Firing useless, as we cannot see one of them; let them fire ever so thick, as soon as they have fired, directly they fire they tumble down flat on their Bellies, load again, and then rise up and fire. The Town is still burning, as it will be for three or four Days.

The Rebels are called Shirtmen from their Uniforms, being a long Shirt down to their Heels, with a Leaden Medal at their Breasts, in the Shape of an old English Shield, on which is inscribed, "Liberty or Death."