By a Gentleman from Philadelphia ¹ we have received the pleasing account of the actual sailing from that place of the first American fleet that ever swelled their sails on the western ocean in defence of the rights and liberties of the people of these colonies, now suffering under the persecuting rod of the British Ministry, and their more than brutish tyrants in America. This fleet consists of five sail, fitted out from Philadelphia, which are to be joined at the Capes of Virginia by two ships from Maryland, and is commanded by Admiral Hopkins, a most experienced and venerable sea Captain. The Admiral's ship is called the Columbus, after Christopher Columbus, the renowned discoverer of this western world, and mounts 36 guns, 12 and 9 pounders, on two decks, 40 swivels, and 500 men; the second ship is called the Cabot, after Sebastion Cabot, who completed the discoveries of America made by Columbus, and mounts 32 guns; ² the others are smaller vessels, from 24 to 14 guns. They sailed from Philadelphia amidst the acclamations of many thousands assembled on the joyful occasion, under the display of a union Flag, with 13 stripes in the field, emblematical of the Thirteen United Colonies; but unhappily for us, the ice in the river Delaware, as yet, obstructs the passage down, but the time will now soon arrive when this fleet must come to action. Their destination is a secret, but generally supposed to be against the ministerial Governors, those little petty tyrants that have lately spread fire and sword through these southern Colonies. For the happy success of this little fleet, three millions of people offer their most earnest supplications to Heaven.