Chesapeak Bay, has been entirely clear of British men of war since the 20th of May. The trade of that State, and of the neighbouring one of North-Carolina, now receives no interruption but from a few privateers of no considerable force, amongst them the Brig of Capt. Squires,¹ and the sloops of Captains Powel² and Gutridge,³ who frequently appear off Okerecock,⁴ and might soon be removed. Gutridge mounts only ten-guns, and chases every thing. 

The latest advices that have been received from Europe, are to the 7th of April, by the French ship Proud Roderick (formerly the Hippopotame man of war) mounting 36 guns, 18 and 12 pounders, arrived in Chesapeak Bay from Rochefort, with the most valuable cargo that has yet been shipped in France for America.⁵ . . . . 

Three weeks ago there was not a vessel of war nor a British soldier in Bermuda; yet, we are told, that one Sheddlin or Shedwin⁶ (one of Lord Dunmore's hopeful train from Virginia)⁷ who has amassed a considerable fortune in that island, by employing neutral Bermuda vessels to trade with the Americans, is at the same time adding to his riches by a concern in two privateers, one immediately from Bermuda (Gutridge's sloop)⁸ the other from St. Augustine; having the peculiar advantage by the trade he carries on, of gaining the best intelligence for his privateers. . . . 

We have advice, that another fleet was to sail from Jamaica about the same time—That the privateers fitted out from that island, are innumerable, and so spread among the Keys, that it is almost impossible for any vessel to escape them—. . . . 

Nothing, that had the appearance of an enemy, has been seen upon this coast, since Sunday the 5th Instant, when a small schooner passed by this Bar, at a great distance from the land, from the Northward to the Southward, the wind then at E. under about a third of her mainsail, her foresail and jib, and in the evening bore away about S.S.W.— So that we may conjecture our enemy's naval force has been collected together, either for new mischief, or to be withdrawn. 

We are advised from Georgia, that the beginning of last week, a small Virginia-built scooner (supposed to be the same that passed by this bar on the 5^th instant) tender to the Perseus man of war,⁹ with dispatches for St. Augustine, was taken by Capt. Gilbert Harrison, in a small armed sloop from Sunbury, and carried in there. It seems they fell in with each other in the night, and the sloop being hailed, answered from New-Providence, bound to St. Augustine; the tender being hailed in turn, answered from New-York for St. Augustine, and asked, if they had fruit on board the sloop; Capt. Harrison answered, they had plenty, and might have what they pleased, whereupon they came on board and were secured as was the vessel at the same time.