[New York] 20th Sept ー [sic 21st] A little after 12 o'clock last night a most dreadful fire broke out in New York, in three different places in the South, and windward part of the town. The Alarm was soon given, but unfortunately there was a brisk wind at South, which spread the flames with such irresistible rapidity, that notwithstanding every assistance was given which the present circumstances admitted, it was impossible to check its Progress 'till about 11 this day, when by preventing it from crossing the Broad-way at the North part of the town, it was stopped from spreading any further that way, and about 12 it was so far got under that there was no danger of it extending beyond those houses which were then on fire. It broke out first near the Exchange, and burnt all the houses on the West side of Broad Street, almost as far as The City Hall, & from thence all those in Beaver Street, and almost every house on the West side of the town between the Broad way and the North River, as far as The College, amounting in the whole to about 600 houses, besides several Churches, particularly Trinity Church, the principal one in town.

On its first appearance two Regiments of the 5th brigade went into town, and some time after, a great number of Seamen from the Fleet were sent on shore under proper officers by order of Lord Howe, to give assistance. About daybreak the Brigade of Guards came in from Camp, but from the absence of the regular Firemen, the bad state of the Engines, a want of buckets, and a Scarcity of Water, the efforts of the Troops and Seamen, tho' very great, could not prevent the fire from spreading in the manner it did. The first notice I had of it was from the Sentry at Genl [Francis] Smith's quarters at Mr. [Andrew] Elliot's house, who called me up about 10 Clock and said New York was on fire; on going to the window I observed an immense Column of fire & smoke, and went and called Genl Smith, who said he would follow me into town as soon as possible. I dressed myself immediately and ran into town, a distance of two miles, but when I got there the fire had got to such ahead there seemed to be no hopes of stopping it, and those who were present did little more than look on and lament the misfortune. As soon as buckets & Water could be got, the Seamen and the troops, assisted by some of the Inhabitants did what they could to arrest its progress, but the fresh wind, and the combustible nature of the materials of which almost all the houses were built, rendered all their efforts vain.

From a variety of circumstances which occurred it is beyond a doubt that the town was designedly set on fire, either by some of those fellows who concealed themselves in it since the 15th Instant, or by some Villains left behind for the purpose. Some of them were caught by the Soldiers in the very act of setting fire to the inside of empty houses at a distance from the fire; many were detected with matches and combustibles un'der their Clothes, and combustibles were found in several houses. One Villain who abused and cut a woman who was employed in bringing water to the Engines, and who was found cutting the handles of the fire buckets, was hung up by the heels on the spot by the Seamen. one or two others who were found in houses with fire brands in their hands were put to death by the enraged Soldiery and thrown into the flames. There is no doubt holiever that the flames were communicated to several houses by means of the burning flakes of the Shingles, which being light, were carried by the wind to some distance and falling on the roofs of houses covered with Shingles, (which is most generally the case at New York,) and whose Inhabitants were either absent or inattentive, kindled the fire anew. The Trinity Church, a very handsome, ancient building, was perceived to be on fire long before the fire reached the adjacent houses, and as it stood at some distance from any house, little doubt remained that it was set on fire wilfully.

During the time the Rebels were in possession of the town, many of them were heard to say they would burn it, sooner than it should become a nest for Tories ー and several Inhabitants who were most violently attached to the Rebel cause have been heard to declare they would set fire to their own houses sooner than they should be occupied by The King's Troops.

No assistance could be sent from the Army 'till after daybreak, as the General was apprehensive the Rebels had some design of attacking the Army.

It is almost impossible to conceive a Scene of more horror and distress than the above. The Sick, The Aged, Women, and Children, half naked were seen going they knew not where, and taking refuge in houses which were at a distance from the fire, but from whence they were in several instances driven a second and even a third time by the devouring element, and at last in a state. of despair laying themselves down-on the Common. The terror was encreased by the horrid noise. of the burning and falling houses, the pulling down of such, wooden buildings as served to conduct the fire, (in which the Soldiers & Seamen were particularly active and useful) the rattling of above 100 waggons, sent in from the Army, and which were constantly employed in conveying to the Common such goods and effects as could be saved; ー The confused voices of so many men, the Shrieks and cries of the Women and children, the seeing the fire break out unexpectedly in places at a distance, which manifested a design of totally destroying the City,² with numberless other circumstances of private misery and distress, made this one of the most tremendous and affecting Scenes I ever beheld.

The appearance of the Trinity Church, when completely in flames was a very grand sight, for the Spire being entirely framed of wood and covered with Shingles, a lofty Pyramid of fire appeared, and as soon as the Shingles were burnt away the frame appeared with every separate, piece of timber burning, until the principal timbers were burnt through, when the whole fell with a great noise.