The Patowmac Guardian, And Berkeley Advertiser

NEW-YORK. December 16.

In support of a general expectation that the disputes, between Great-Britain and Spain would terminate in hostilities, we now announce the arrival of Capt. Wilkie, of the ship Triumph, in 22 days from Barbadoes; by which we are informed that, two days previous to his sailing, there arrived from England three forty-four gun ships, and a number of victuallers, with four thousand troops, who were actually landed on that Island, the day before the Triumph took her departure; and that a reinforcement of four thousand more soldiers was daily expected, with men of war and frigates.

A letter from London, dated the 16th of October, mentions, That the appearances of war had rapidly increased the preceding week, and that things became more serious and approached nearer to a crisis—nothing, however, had been finally determined on.

Spain, it was said, had yielded a little, and England, in proportion, increased her demands. The best informed could only conjecture what might be the result. Strong detachments were to be sent to the West-Indies in case of war, and offensive operations to take place there. That in consequence of the large contracts for Rum, the price had risen from 2/5 to 4/6.—The harvest in England was very plentiful, and in consequence of the fall in the price of grain, considerable exports were to be made to the West Indies.