Intelligence received by persons who may be depended upon, since 18th Decemr 1775.

Two Brigs fitting out as Privateers from New Haven in the Colony of Connecticut, 12 or 14 Guns each. Their Plan was supposed to make an Attempt upon the Magazine of Gunpowder at Needham's Fort upon the Island of Barbadoes, which they had Intelligence was weakly Guarded.

By two Seamen who deserted from the Row Gallies at Philadelphia, that then there was Six Privateers laying there, that the Rebels had sunk seventeen Caissoons in the Channel about Nine Miles below Philadelphia (and had five more ready) in such a form as to make a Serpentine Channel, and that each Caissoon was Armed with very large Iron Spikes the bigness of a Man's thigh.

By a Letter from Baltimore, there were Two Ships of Twenty Guns each, then fitting out as Privateers at that place.

By Letters from Philadelphia about 2d of January, Two of the Privateers fell down the. Delawar; the rest were to follow as soon as possible.

By a letter of Authority from the Island of Hispaniola, dated the 23d of November. The Port of Ocayes, was opened as a free Port by Proclamation for Six Months for the Importation of North Admerican Produce; the same Letter also Mentions their expectation of the Arrival of Seven Thousand five hundred French Troops at Cape Francois and the same Number at Martinique, and that there is a great Importation of Ordnance Stores daily coming upon that Island.

A Schooner the Master's name Stanbury is to discharge her Cargo of Gunpowder at Egg Harbour or Cape May; Ordered not to come within Cape Hinlopen for fear of King's Ships. A great many Merchant Ships cleared out from Philadelphia for the West Indies, and many expected in the last of January, or the first Week in February.

Received the disagreeable News that the Ship Blue Mountain Valley loaded with Coals, Porter, &ca was Seized off Sandy Hook by William Alexander commonly called Lord Sterling, he having Arm'd Two Sloops from Elizabeth Town for that purpose.
Copy