On Friday last two American vessels, (brigs about 150 tons each) arrived in the port from Williamsburg, in Virginia, loaded with tobacco; a kind of Merchant or Supercargo came in one of them, who is gone to the King's Commissioners (the Farmers of the Revenue of Tobacco) in order to dispose of the cargoes, as no one can purchase it but them. The crews are very shy in speaking about America, &c. for fear, I suppose, of offending the French Laws. I asked one of them how they dared venture into the English Channel? when he told us there was work enough cut out for the British navy in America if it was, double the number it is; and that therefore they did not expect to meet with any ships of war so near their own ports.
1. Whitehall Evening Post, November 9 to November 12, 1776.