Sunday and yesterday the second and third division of the fleet from Delaware, arrived here under convoy: They left Cape Henlopen, last Friday forenoon, with a fair wind: When they had gained a sufficient offing to clear the shoals, a sail hove in sight to windward, and about the same time a sloop, at a considerable distance to leeward, a signal was made to the Bellahoe armed schooner¹ to chase the latter, and the fleet shortned sail, until the former joined them, she appeared to be a packet from England, the Bellahoe came up with the sloop, and found her to be a tender to one of his Majesty's ships upon which the fleet made more sail and stood on their course. On Saturday night, off Shrewsbury, they observed a great fire on the land, and on Sunday morning about sun rise, a conflagration appeared at two different places, not far distant from the first, supposed to be raised by the rebels, in order to destroy their magazines of provision and forage; to prevent them from falling into the hands of the royal army, now marching through the Jersies. 

Yesterday was sent in here, by the Letter of Marque brig Tryon, Captain Sibbles, of this port,² the brig Esther, Alexander Kennedy, late master, from James-river, bound for Boston, laden with 100 barrels of flour,³ 50 barrels of bread, and seven hogsheads of tobacco, taken off the capes of Virginia; a few days before, the Tryon took a French polacca of 150 tuns, bound to Virginia, which not having arrived, is supposed to have been re-taken. About three weeks ago Capt. Sibbles captured a sloop of 90 tuns, bound to Carolina, with 150 chests of tea on board; she was unfortunately lost upon the bar of St. Augustine, but the lives of her crew were saved. 

Yesterday two cartel ships from Boston, having on board a number of the gentlemen of General Burgoyne's army, and other British officers, who have been held in captivity among the rebels, and are now to be exchanged, were spoke with between Sandy-Hook and Staten Island; the intelligence brought by them is, that previous to their departure from Boston, a French frigate had arrived there with intelligence so pleasing to the rebels, that they were elevated to the highest pitch of exultation.⁴

Last Wednesday a number of whale boats well manned, from Connecticut, convoyed by the Wild Cat galley, and a little sloop, formerly the Raven's tender, made their appearance at Lloyd's Neck,⁵ in order to harass his Majesty's wood cutters at that place, and soon took a boat then going out of the harbour, which they endeavoured to carry off, but they were immediately pursued and attacked by a number of boats from the ships, when the Wild Cat, the Raven's tender, and the wood boat were taken, as also some of the whale boats. Thirty men were made prisoners, and two killed, without any loss on our side.⁶

Friday last was sent into this port by the Prince of Wales privateer, Capt. Lee, of this port,⁷ the brig Patsey, Matcum, late Master, from Edentown, in North-Carolina, for France, with 200 hogsheads of tobacco, and some naval stores.⁸