Last Friday morning it was reported in town, that Lord Howe was arrived at Sandy-Hook, with a large fleet from England: Between 1 and 2o'clock P.M. two ships hove in sight and joined the fleet at the wateringplace; about an hour after a ship supposed to be the Phoenix, of 44 guns a frigate of 28, and three tenders, got under way at Staten Island, and stood up for this city. ー The army soon took the alarm, and in a few minutes, every man was at his station, well provided with all necessaries for a vigorous defence; but as soon as the ships came near Bedlmv's Island, they inclined towards the Jersey shore, to avoid our batteries, that then began to play upon them from every quarter on both sides of the river; and notwithstanding they must have received considerable damage, they stood their course up Hudson's river, firing several broad sides as they went along, without either killing or wounding any of our people, who on the occasion behaved with uncommon bravery. A strong southerly wind, and the tide of flood facilitated the ships getting above the batteries near the town, they were roughly handled about 12 miles up the river.
Several shot went thro' different houses in the town, two into the house of Mr. Verdine Elsworth, at Powlis Hook, three into Captain Clarke's house at Greenwich, one of which went thro' the front and lodged in a brick wall, at the head of Miss Clarke's bed, in her chamber, a second went thro' the house, and the third destroyed several trees before the door, and took its course into the woods.
A ball also struck the house of Mr. Daniel Phoenix and from that took its course to the new dwelling of Mr. Christopher Smith, in the opposite side of the street.
A gentleman, who arrived here on Tuesday evening, reports that he saw the two ships of war and three tenders standing 11 o'clock the same day; the foremost ship aboutup the river, under sail, at 13 miles below Fort Montgomery. That 1400 of the militia were called in to the fort, which, considering the good condition it is now in, 'tis hoped will be sufficient to repell the utmost efforts of the ships to proceed further up the river; theirprincipal design no doubt is to destroy our two frigates on the stocks at Poughkeepsie, which are almost ready for launching.
We are informed that William Barrack and John Sneden, two of the pilots on board the ships of war, were both killed by the shot from our batteries in passing them last Friday. These adventurers up Hudson's river, are the Phoenix, Captain Parker, and the Rose, commanded by the infamous Wallace, and their three tenders.
Several ships from the fleet at Staten Island, (whether men of war, or transports, or where bound, we could not learn) sailed through the Narrows this day towards Sandy-Hook.
'Tis said the fleet destined for the American station is, as follows, viz. One of 70 guns; three of 60; seven of 50; two of 44; seven of 32; twelve of 28; five of 24; five of 20; two, of 18; seven of 16; three of 14; three of 10; and three of 8; besides armed vessels and one bomb ketch.