On the 13th instant a schooner from North Carolina arrived here and the Captain related that General Clinton had abandoned this province as General Lee approached and sailed for South Carolina where General Lee was marching with the troops from Virginia and North Carolina.

A merchant from St. Christophe, presently in Halifax, wrote to his associate, who came here yesterday, that on 10 June Lord Howe coming from England had passed in front of this city and had sent word by express to his brother that he should come out and follow him, which he did immediately since the troops had been embarked for a few days and the fleet was ready to sail with the first orders. These two fleets together were believed to proceed to New York which must be beseiged by the main army according to the plan of the present campaign. We gather from what this merchant said that the views of the Royalists (who still seem to count on the defection of a great number of Americans) are to penetrate the country deep enough with their army in order to join with the army from Quebeck and to spend the next winter living on the abundant supplies of the land itself. They would await considerable forces, composed mostly of foreign troops, which would be sent there next year, in the hope to subjugate the thirteen confederate provinces with these gathered forces during the next campaign. Meanwhile, the Americans are making ceaseless preparations to counter the Royalists' plans with the most vigorous resistance. The great question concerning independence was to be resolved in Congress on the 1st of this month. It is said that all the provinces except Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York are asking for Independence and have instructed their representatives in Congress to act accordingly. The news from this Continent is going to become more interesting, &c.

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d'Argout²