Williamsburg, September 8.
It is reported, and generally believed, that Lord Dunmore is called home, with what view we have not yet learned, but probably it is to render an account of his sagacious and spirited conduct in Virginia; which can hardly fail to attract the admiration of lord North and the Butonian juncto, so as to have his eminent services recompensed with some higher department in the state, perhaps lord Dartmouth's. His lordship has this satisfaction upon his departure, that he will leave the colony with the universal consent of the inhabitants, of all ranks and denominations.
It is reported at Norfolk, that the remainder of the troops which lord Dunmore expected from St. Augustine are taken and carried into Charlestown, a vessel having been fitted out from thence for the purpose.
By a gentleman from London, who came passenger in the ship Baltimore, bound for Maryland, we learn, that a certain major John Campbell, son in law to mons. St. Luke Le Corne, who was the French superintendent of Indian affairs in Canada, sailed for Quebeck about the middle of May last, with 40,000 l. from government to disperse among the Canadian Indians, to induce them to fall upon the colonies; and he is to be this fall at Michillimachinack, and the Illinois, to meet the different tribes of Indians.1
Every day last week it rained more or less, and sometimes continued chief part of the night; but on saturday [September 2] it never ceased pouring down, and towards noon the wind began to rise, which increased soon afterwards to a mere hurricane, it blowing most furiously from the N.E. till near 10 o'clock at night. Infinite damage has been done to the crops of corn and tobacco, much wheat spoiled in barns, a great number of trees blown down, and almost every milldam in the country given way. ー Capt. Robertson and capt. M'Cunn, both lying at York town, bound for London, and laden with tobacco, were drove ashore, and must unload before they can be got off; but the Prospect, Norwood, likewise for London, with tobacco, had the good fortune to ride out the storm, and has received no injury. At Norfolk, all the small craft were drove ashore, besides some ships, which have been chiefly got off, except the Mercury man of war, capt. [John] M'Cartney, who lies in two feet water only; and there may he stick fast, fast! ー Capt [Matthew] Squires, of the Otter sloop, going round to York in his tender, had very near perished in the storm, being cast away upon Back river, near Hampton; where his vessel was burnt by the people thereabouts, in return for his harbouring gentlemen's negroes, and suffering his sailors to steal poultry, hogs, &c. Two of the crew were runaway slaves from col. Wilson Miles Cary's quarters in King & Queen, who were taken soon after they got ashore; and his pilot, a mulatto man, was the property of Henry King, esq; of Hampton, with whom, after skulking in the woods about 48 hours, he found means to paddle off in a canoe.
From Hampton we learn, that they begin to receive melancholy accounts of the loss of lives, &c. in the late storm. Mr. Roberts's vessel, of Portsmouth, was castaway, and every soul on board perished, except the master and a boy. Two ships from Ireland are likewise lost.
Lord Dunmore, we hear, keeps cruising about, and at the time of the storm was up in James river, on a reconnoitring party.