Only 23 out of 118 sail of ships, which came under convoy from Jamaica, are yet arrived at the different ports in England, which gives great pain to the merchants, there being such a swarm of American privateers out to intercept them; and the underwriters act with so much caution, that they cannot get one of them re-insured without a very large premium.

Letters from Newfoundland bring advice, that many of the ships which are loaded for England are detained there for want of convoy, for they dare not stir out on account of the number of American privateers; which privateers are supplied by the French with what fish they want. Some of them take in large cargoes, carry them to foreign markets, and are convoyed (out of the reach of the English men of war) by the French men of war.