There are Letters in Town, that since the Beginning of last December, upwards of 20 Sail of Ships have been taken by the Provincial Privateers, and carried into Salem and other Ports; that some of them were taken in Sight of the Men of War, which were so locked up in the Ice, that they could not move. Capt. Shepherd, of the Samuel, who is arrived in the Downs from Virginia, on his Passage met with a great Number of small armed Cutters cruising about with Guns both on Deck and at the Port Holes, which he took to be Americans, who were looking out after the Ships from England.

We are assured, that upwards of One Hundred American armed Vessels are continually cruising about, m order to attack the Transports that go from England.