Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

NEW-YORK, November 14.

ST. JOHN's, NEWFOUNDLAND.

A letter from which the following is an extract, was received yesterday by a gentleman in this city, from his correspondent at St. John's, dated October 10, 1796.

" I am sorry to inform you that capt. Porter has been captured by a squadron of French men of war, under the command of admiral Richery, which lately made their escape from Cadiz, consisting of seven sail of the line and 3 frigates. They appeared off this harbor early in the morning of the 1st ult. and had they then made an attempt on this place, I have no doubt they would have carried it, which I am now happy to say, should they now attack it, they would fail therein, as I think we are now in a pretty good state of defence." The writer proceeds to state, that on the appearance of the fleet an immediate embargo was laid on all vessels and boats—that a total stagnation of business had in consequence ensued, but which was expected to be immediately revived—That the French fleet had been off and landed troops at Bull's Bay (as before stated in our former accounts) had also gone down the Labradore coast, burning and destroying several ports and considerable property.—and by taking that route had intercepted the Quebec fleet of 11 sail off the straights of Belle Isle, eleven of which they had captured. That as the fleet was not seen or heard of since, no further attempts were expected.

Captain Thompson, by whom the above information was received has stated verbally that about 100 sail of square rigged vessels, and 200 sail of fishing sloops were lying embargoed at St. Johns—that the British naval force consisting of the Romney of 50 guns, Admiral Sir J. Wallace—the Venus and Mercury frigates of 32 guns each, and the Shark and Fury sloops of war—that a considerable number of the prisoners from the Quebec fleet had been liberated and sent into different ports in small vessels taken on the coast— who spoke highly of the humane treatment received from admiral Richery, and the other officers. The French fleet was stated to be abundantly supplied with provisions, but the seamen so miserably clad, that they took the sails of the different vessels they destroyed and immediately cut them up into articles of wearing apparel.