The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

S A L E M, May 9.

Captain Phelps, who was lately taken in a brig belonging to this port, arrived here from New-York on Sunday last. He left that place the Monday preceding, and relates the following interesting intelligence, viz. -"That on Saturday the 27th ult. a packet arrived at New York from England; that though no intelligence brought by her had been published yet it was currently reported in the city, that in late debates in the British parliament on the American war, there were only a majority of one or two votes for continuing of it: That it was their design to prosecute the war in the West Indies with vigour, and for the purpose 20 sail of the line were to be sent there: That at 4 o'clock on the Saturday preceding Capt. Phelps's departure from the city, the Cornwall packet, Capt. Dilworth, arrived there in 4 weeks and 5 days from Falmouth (having sailed a fortnight after the above packet:) That immediately on her arrival a crowd of people flocked to the wharves to hear the news.-Capt. Phelps says he met with the pilot of the packet on his landing, and being intimately acquainted with him, asked him the news: he was answered that America was declared independent by Great Britain: Captain Phelps asked if it might be relied on? He answered, that he had been two days on board the packet, and that this was the common discourse among the people. Capt. Phelps says he was afterwards in various parts of the city, and in different companies, in which were gentlemen of the army and navy, and this news appeared to engross their whole conversation,-- none appearing to doubt the truth of it."

By the same gentleman we learn, that five sail of vessels arrived at New-York a few days before he left the city, having been captured out of a fleet of 25 sail from Philadelphia, and it was reported that 8 others had been taken out of the same fleet, and were coming up.

He likewise informs, that on Monday se'nnight, at six o'clock, the enemy began to break ground to cut a canal on Long Island, to run from the Wall back to the Pond, making in Cobble-hill fort. The length of the trench to be two miles and a quarter. The militia were called out to work in rotation, one day in a week; no person above 15 years of age being excused labour.