The Enquirer

NORFOLK. March 14

On Saturday evening a British fleet of 5 sail of the line and a frigate, anchored off our Capes, consisting of the Royal George of 100 guns; Neptune 98; Temeraire 98; Dragon 80; Tonnant 80; Eurydice 32—under the command of Sir John Thomas Duckworth.—

This fleet sailed from England on the 17th of January. His Britannick Majesty's Consul communicated to the Editor of this paper the following circumstances: That this fleet sailed in pursuit of the Rochefort squadron, which had escaped from that port, composed of the following ships:—Majestick 120 guns; Lys 74; Ajax 80; Suffrein 74; Magnanime 74; Jamappe 74; Flora 24; Servillient brig.

Admiral Duckworth steered first for Madeira, near which island he spoke the British frigate Comus, capt. Piercy, who informed him that he had been chased a few days before by a French line of battle ship and frigate, and had nearly been captured. Admiral D. then proceeded to the West-Indies, from whence he came to our Capes. The Consul further informed us that Sir John Duckworth has forwarded to him a dispatch for Mr. Rose, at Washington, in which he states (we understand from the consul) that the appearance of this fleet so unexpectedly at this juncture, may excite some sensation in the American government, and requests that Mr. Rose would immediately communicate to our government the cause of his coming upon this coast.

These are all the particulars which we are informed of from an authentick source. Report says, and as proceeding from a British officer, that there are 300 troops on board this fleet. Col. Hamilton was asked if there were any troops on board, he replied not to his knowledge. The number however far exceeds what could be carried in that number of ships.

The unexpected appearance of this fleet, must prove to every person the facility with which we can be assailed by an European power, who has the command of the seas: with such a power we have had reason to expect a war for nearly nine months, and yet the country is in no better state of defence than it was nine months ago.

The British ships were yesterday anchored to the Southward of the capes.

The Rochfort fleet may probably pay a visit to the Brazil, where they might have effected something, if the British Admiral had not sent four sail of the line with the Portuguese fleet.....Ledger,

Captain Shemering, of the sloop Rover, in three days from New-York, passed the Capes at sun-set last evening, saw none of the British fleet except one, which had been close in, but tacked and stood out to sea...Ibid.

Just as our paper was ready for press, Captain Strong from Charleston, favoured us with a paper of Wednesday last, from which, we have extracted London news to the 16th of January.—Capt. Strong passed Cape Henry this morning at ten o'clock, at which time, and during his passage, he saw no ship of war.

We understand that admiral Duckworth stated in a letter to Colonel Hamilton, that he should not remain more than forty-eight hours off our Capes....Ibid.