The public will expect some account of the alarm occasioned by the man of war and her tenders; the following is the most perfect we can give at present. ー On Tuesday the 5th of March, about seven in the evening, we received information, that a man of war and two tenders were coining up the Bay and had taken a New-England schooner lying at the mouth of Patuxent ー the wind blew hard at S.W. and the general expectation was, that they would be at this place in a few hours ー the necessary dispositions were made to receive them in case they thought proper to land, and expresses were dispatched to Baltimore-town and other parts of the province, to communicate the intelligence ー between twelve and one on Tuesday night the wind shifted, and came on aviolent gale at N.W. and so continued all day on Wednesday, during which time we had not any certain information where the vessels were ー on Thursday there was a light breeze up the Bay, about two o'clock the vessels hove in sight, and at half past three came opposite this city with some prizes and stood up the Bay. ー Off the mouth of this harbour they burnt a shallop loaded with oats, and in the evening anchored near the mouth of Patapsco. On Friday night we received intelligence, that the vessels were the Otter sloop of war and two tenders, and the general opinion was confirmed, that they were going to Baltimore to take or destroy the ship Defence. ー On Saturday we expected to hear of an engagement, and the rather, as at Baltimore the celerity of their movements exceeded expectation ー the Defence being got ready on Friday night, towed down the river, manned with a number of brave fellows, all of whom were Americans in their hearts, and most of them by birth; several small vessels attended, crowded with men to assist in case of an engagement, which in all probability would have been a bloody one. ー Capt. Nicholson got under way early on Saturday morning, resolved to retake Hudson's ship (a large vessel the Otter had made prize of loaded with wheat and flour) and to engage the Otter, if she moved to assist the tenders, which guarded the prize.:... the morning was thick and hazy, and the Defence got nearer to them than was expec.ted, before they discovered her bearing down upon them. ー those on board the tenders appeared much alarmed, and pushed off with precipitation, and on a signal given more hands were sent by the Otter to assist in rowing them off, which was effected with difficulty-three or four small prize vessels were abandoned, besides Hudson's ship. ー the Defence having manned the prize, and seeing the Otter get under way, clued up her courses and prepared for battle, expecting her to come up, but the Otter having lain about two 1:1.ours, as if wanting capt. Nicholson to come down, at length bore away, and in the afternoon came to anchor off this port. Capt. Nicholson continued his station some time, and having performed this gallant action returned with the prizes to Baltimore.

On Sunday morning the Otter sloop and her tenders made sail and went down the Bay, having restored several prisoners taken in a vessel in the mouth of Patapsco.

The regulars, militia, and people in general, behaved with the greatest spirit and alacrity.