N E W YORK. March 12. Last Saturday Evening arrived here, two French Prize Ships, taken the 18th of February last, in Lat. 23, 11. Long. 71. 30, by the Privateers Dreadnought, Willet Taylor, the Duke of Cumberland, Capt. Hilly, the Hercules, Paul Miller, all of this Port, and the Hawke, Capt. Wright, of Cape-Fear. The one is called the Grand Joseph, mounting 16 six Pounders, Burthen 350 Tons, and 36 Men; the other called L'Eagle, of 20 six Pounders, Burthen 400 Tons, and 40 Men, both Letters of Marque, loaded with Sugar, Indigo, and Coffee. These Privateers took at the same Time, another French Ship called the Dolphin, of 20 six Pounders, 50 Men 500 Tons Burthen, also loaded with the like Commodities, and a Letter of Marque. They stood an Engagement of 3 Glasses with the Hercules Privateer, when the others coming up they struck, Capt. Miller losing one Man, and had 7 wounded. And yesterday Afternoon a French Prize Snow, called the D'Elery, arrived here, under Mr. Everson, taken the 21 of February last by the Sturdy Beggar Privateer, Capt. Troop. She belong'd to Brest, was from the Cape, and is loaded with Sugar and Coffee. The Sturdy Beggar, in company with the King of Prussia, Capt. Donaldson, and the Royal Hester, Capt. Deale, took a large French Dutchman, the 18th of February last, called the St. Peter, of between 6 and 700 Ton burthen, loaded with 700 Hogsheads of Sugar, 300 Casks of Coffee, &c. and had 20 six pounders; the Captain of her, it is said, endeavour'd to prevail on his Men to stand an Engagement, but they refused, she likewise was from the Cape, & is daily expected. The aforementioned Prizes were part of a fleet of 22 Sail that left the Cape the 12th of February, under convoy of a 74 Gun Ship, (which was loaded with Indigo) a Frigate of 36 Guns, and 4 Privateers of different force. There were 14 or 16 English privateers that fell in with them; and we are in hopes of having a further good account of them. The Prize Masters of these Ships say, that when they left the Privateers they were in Chase of some more of the Fleet, these being taken to Leeward of the rest: And that there were several other Privateers after it. A French Prize Snow taken by the Royal Hester, is now at the Hook, which makes the 6th Prize taken out of the above Fleet, by New-York Privateers. We are in Hopes of seeing some more of the same Fleet enter this Harbour, as we hear a great Number of our Privateers are in quest of them. Mons. Chateleau, when the French Fleet sail'd, was ready to come again on this Coast, in Company with a fifty Gun Privateer that had arrived from Guinea.
