By a gentleman who left Philadelphia in the end of February, we have received the following intelligence, which may be depended upon.

French vessels, both from the colonies and France, come in there daily; bringing sugar, melasses, salt-petre and other commodities; which they sell freely for cash, and provisions; particularly a vessel from Port L'Orient, brought in sixty tons of salt-petre, which was sold for upwards of 12,000 l. sterling. Two Frenchmen of note have continued there during the winter, one of whom was sent off to the camp at Cambridge, with an escort; the other staying at Philadelphia, greatly caressed by the Congress. It was suppose[d] they were agents from France, sent to observe the situation of things, and conclude a treaty with the new republic. ー They are fitting out different squadrons of frigates and letters of marque, for various services, and to cruise against the West India trade. One small squadron has sailed for St. Helena, to intercept the East India trade. [Three blurred and indecipherable lines] Hopkins had sailed with eight vessels under his command; two of them frigates of thirty guns; their service was kept a secret. Some suppose them to be gone to France, to get such warlike stores, as they most want; some, to Rhode Island, to take Capt. Wallace, in the Rose; some to Virginia, to seize Lord Dunmore; others, that they are to cruise against the West-India trade. They are victualled for six months,

The people think of nothing but independence, and talk of war with pleasure. A man of war has not been seen or heard of in that river this whole winter. The trade up to the city is intirely free, and has not suffered the least obstruction. Their numerous provisions vessels, in their return from the Dutch and French islands, have got all safe back with powder, warlike stores and other goods. Cloathing they have in plenty at Philadelphia. - Their newspapers are stuffed with essays, in favour of independence. They leave to Wilkes, Burke, and their other part[i]zans in Britain, to dwell upon the hardships, impositions and tyranny of which they never felt, and speak boldly out, that a dependence on Britain, is a check upon their grandeur. They speak with contempt of the British constitution; and give this shrewd instance of its imperfection, that it has not power sufficient to keep its colonies in subjection. They say such a virtuous people as they are, ought to disdain any connection with such a vicious, corrupt nation as Britain; lest they share in the punishment, which is ready to over take her.

A pamphlet greatly celebrated and much read among them, supposed to be written by Adams, and actually corrected by Franklin, and of which their several printing houses are vying, and multiplying copies, under the title of Common Sense, says, 'reconcilliation and ruin are near [illegible]' that the King of America lives on high; and delights not in the blood of his subjects like the Royal ー of Britain; that by shaking off their dependence on Britain, they will make all Europe the guardians of their liberties, and open to themselves the ports of every nation: As a lure, on the other hand, they say, it can never be their interest, to make war with Europe; but they are silent respecting those sweet morsels, which the French and Spainards possess in America. They say Britain will come shortly crouching to them, begging to be allowed some small share of their trade. They remark on the folly of calling Britian their mother country; as if that title carried an idea of duty and respect; For Europe is their country, and Britain is indebted to them not they to Britain.ー

It is confidently given out that a fleet of twenty ships of war, and eighty transports is preparing at Brest, to co-operate with the Americans, either in sweeping our helpless sugar islands, or in attacking Quebec. It is certain, the French governors here have offered all American vessels on their coasts protection; and that one of their men of war actually convoyed off this station, a vessel commanded by one Parker, which took in four hundred barrels of powder, at Martinico. Never was there such a brisk trade at St. Eustatia, as at present, to America, carried on chiefly, I believe, by renegado Englishmen; and though our few cruizers now and then take one of their provision vessels; yet they are so numerous, the loss is not felt. So inveterate are the Congress members against Britain, that though they are in want of every species of goods, they oblige every master of a vessel to bring certificates upon oath, that the commodities they import, are not of British manufacture. One of our merchants, who went down a few days ago to St. Eustatia, saw them actually cutting out the British mark, from a bale of goods shipping for America, to prepare it for the necessary affidavit: This circumstance you may assuredly depend upon as a truth.

One Tudor is superintending the building of three frigates, at New York. We expect our seas to swarm soon with their little privateers; and that our good friends the Dutch will give them all the assistance in their power. If the states general really wish us well, and I think they can only keep their own independency while Britain is powerful enough to protect them, they should allow us to keep consuls in St. Eustatia and Curraso [Curaçao] to prevent any improper trade with America: ー Or if good sense had not this effect, suppose we stopped the interest of their money in our funds, to enable us to finish a war, which they formed and support. ー The friends of America in St. Eustatia, and our several islands, send them constant intelligence of every thing transacted here, which they insert in their news-paper; nay, and point out to them, the active friends of government. Three or four more frigates upon this station, would have interrupted their trade greatly; but we seem to be intirely neglected.

(To be continued)²