On Wednesday the 13th instant a sloop belonging to captain Mallory, and a schooner belonging to captain Brown, bound to Smithfield, from sea, were taken by a tender, which put amidshipman, two sailors, and a negro pilot on board, with orders to carry them to Norfolk; but last night the captains of the vessels, by a promise of 43 dollars and a passage back, prevailed on them to join them in retaking the vessels, which they accordingly did, and have now got them within the creek, with two thousand bushels of salt on board.

Whilst captain Morgan Alexander was at Fredericksburg with his company of riflemen, several of them were enticed on board a small vessel in the river, treated with grog and oysters, and invited by the skipper, one Dow, a Scotchman, to enlist under lord Dunmore. He promised them a free passage, and told them that the regulars had 4 white shirts a year, and 3s. 6d. sterling a week, and to intimidate them, told them there were coming over immediately 40,000 Hanoverians, Russians, and English. The soldiers soon appeared discontented, and almost mutinied; two deserted, and upon enquiry, the author of the mischief was found out, the men satisfied, and the villain confined, and sent down, under their custody, to the con[v]ention, to be dealt with according to his deserts. This is a fresh instance of the activity of our arch enemy, lord Dunmore.

Colonel Howe and colonel Woodford have entered Norfolk with their forces. Lord Dunmore had abandoned the town, and several of the tories had fled on board their vessels, with all their effects; others of them are applying for forgiveness to their injured countrymen.

We learn, by an express, that captain Baron had yesterday taken two vessels loaded with salt, one containing 2400 bushels and the other 1200; that there had likewise been taken a tender, with 17 men on board.

A correspondent, upon whose information we may depend, informs us that our soldiers shewed the greatest humanity and tenderness to the wounded prisoners. Several of them ran through a hot fire to lift up and bring in some that were bleeding, and who they feared would die, if not speedily assisted by the surgeon. The prisoners expected to be scalped, and called out, For God's Sake, Do Not Murder Us. One of them, who was unable to walk, calling out in this manner to one of our men, was answered by him, put your arm about my neck, and I'll shew you what I intend to do. Then taking him, with his arm over his neck, he walked slowly along, bearing him up with great tenderness to the breast-work. Captain [Samuel] Leslie seeing two of our soldiers tenderly removing a wounded regular from the bridge, on which he lay, stepped up on the platform of the fort, and bowing with great respect, thanked them for their kindness. These are instances of a noble disposition of foul Men who can act thus must be invincible.