Yesterday morning at six o'clock, we were alarmed by a severe firing to the eastward of this harbour, and in a little time an express arrived from Stonington (a small town about twelve miles distant) informing, that a tender had pursued two small sloops into that harbour, who ran on shore, and the people landed before the tender was in gun shot; and as soon as she got in, they fired a full broadside into the town, tacked, and went out; and in a little time returned with two more tenders and his Majesty's ship the Rose: The ship came to anchor and brought her side to bear against the town, and began to fire; the tenders also, who kept under sail, and both ship and sloops continued (without intermission) firing the whole day, and by express (which has since arrived) they have killed two of our men. There is now numbers of our people collected and are there; and when the tender came within musket shot we fired on them: One tender got on the ground, and in carrying out a hawser our people imagined they killed several in the boat. There has been a flag sent off on board the Rose to know the reason of this extra work. The Captain says our people fired on his tender first, and that he will blow the town down. This morning is a cessation of firing ー hope the matter is settled.
