Last Saturday [April 6] Capt. Samuel Champlin arrived here in 27 Days from St. Eustatia, with a Quantity of Powder and Warlike Stores. Off the Capes of Virginia, he was bro't too by a Schooner Tender of 6 Carriage and 12 Swivel Guns, and ordered to lie under her stern 'till some People could be put on Board (there being at that Time a heavy Sea) however, the Wind shifting and blowing a hard Gale, he got clear of them, after being nine Hours under their Care, and proceeded on his Voyage. Three Days after, off the middle of Long-Island, he was attacked by a Sloop Tender of 12 Swivel Guns and between 20 and 30 Men: The Tender discharged about 40 Swivels and 60 small Arms at Capt. Champlin, who with 5 Swivel Guns and 16 Men, beat her off, and chased her 30 Hours, but could not get up with her. ー When Capt. Champlin was attacked by the first mentioned Vessel, he threw over some Letters he had for the Members of the Continental Congress. Capt. Champlin left at St.Eustatia the Schooner John, John Eikens, Master, owned at Salem, and was bound for Newfoundland. On Monday last [April 8], Commodore Hopkins, with the Continental Fleet under his Command, arrived here from New-Providence ー He sailed from Philadelphia,the 17th of February last, at which Time four of his Fleet were infected with the Small-Pox, which rendered it imprudent to cruise on this Coast; and the Wind coming at N.E. the Fleet sailed for New-Providence, where they arrived the 1st of March, and on the 4th they took Possession of his Majesty's Forts and Stores on that Island ... 1 On the 17th of March, the Fleet sailed from thence and on the 4th Instant made the East End of Long-Island, where they fell in with his Majesty's armed Schooner Belona, of 6 Carriage-Guns, 8 Swivels, and 25 Men, commanded by--Wallace, a Nephew of the noted Capt. [James] Wallace, 2 which Vessel they took Possession of; the next Day they fell in with the Brig Bolton (employed by Capt. Wallace as a Bomb Vessel) which they also took Possession of; [she] has 8 Guns, 2 Howitzers, 10 Swivels, and 48 Men, and was extremely well fitted with every Kind of Warlike Stores: On the 6th, they took Possession of two Vessels outward-bound with Provisions, having no Papers on Board to shew they were qualified to proceed; ー the next Morning at 2 o'Clock, they [esp]y'd his Majesty's Ship Glasgow, commanded by [Ty]ringham Howe, and at 3 o'Clock engaged her with part of the Fleet, for 3 Glasses, when the Glasgow bore away for Newport, and was chased for 3 Glasses longer, when the Commodore gave a Signal to discontinue the Chase, not chusing to follow her any longer, (as he had a Number of his prime Sailors on board the Prizes he had before taken, and knowing inventory of stores captured by the Continental fleet at New Providena.
that he should soon have Capt. Wallace's whole Fleet to engage, some of them being in Sight, and many of his own Crew very [sickl]y) . During the Engagement they took the Glasgow's Tender.
Six Men were killed on board the Alfred, and 6 wounded; and on board the Brig Cabot 4 were killed and 7 wounded, among the latter was the Captain, who is badly wounded in the Hand; and one Man lost his Arm on board the Columbus. Among the killed was Sinclair Seymour, Master of the Cabot, and Mr. [James Hood] Wilson, Lieutenant of Marines; and Mr. [John] Fitzpatrick, Lieutenant of Marines on board the Alfred. The Brig Cabot, received considerable Damage in her Hull, Spars, and Rigging, which occasioned her falling a-stern of the Glasgow; and the Alfred received a very unlucky Shot which carried away her Tiller Ropes and Blocks, by which Misfortune the Glasgow got much a-head of them.
The next Day the Fleet arriv'd in this Port, and have landed their sick Men to the Number of 120, and likewise the wounded.
Commodore Hopkins has brought in Mr. Brown, Governor of the Bahama Islands; Mr. [James] Babbage, Secretary of that Province, one of the Council, and a Half Pay Officer; also Mr. [Thomas] Irving, a Mandamus Counsellor of South-Carolina, and Receiver of his Majesty's Quit-Rents. 3
. A Transport with most of the above Stores, arrived here with the Fleet. Last Tuesday Young Wallace, who was taken by our Fleet, was carried from hence under Guard to Providence.
