The Virginia Gazette

The following is taken from a Whitehaven paper, of the 3d of January.

LONDON, December 29, 30.

with a large squadron under his command; and that Lord Amherst will certainly be appointed to the command in America.
Upwards of 20,000 chaldrons of coals have been this week ordered upon commission for America.

Three battalions of the guards, consisting of 800 men each, are to be formed from the draughts to be made from the three regiments, to embark the latter end of next month for America.

The additional German auxiliaries intended for service in America, are to embark at Hamburg the beginning of February next.

On Wednesday last when their Graces the Dukes of Athol and Hamilton waited on his Majesty at the Levee at St. James's, their Graces made an offer to his Majesty of raising a regiment on their own estates, after the same plan as that of Manchester, to serve his Majesty as the exigencies of his affairs may require, either at home or in America, which was most graciously accepted of by the King.

The Russia company have opened a subscription for the raising a sum of money for the purpose of enlisting men to serve in the army in America.

In consequence of the advertisement for the relief of the American prisoners, a most respectable meeting was yesterday held at the King's Arms tavern, Cornhill. The sense of the meeting was then taken, and it was resolved to open an immediate subscription for their relief. The subscription amounted in a very short time to more than £800. A committee was nominated, of which four city representatives are members.

Twenty thousand tons of shipping are ordered to be taken up immediately, that they may be fitted out in time to receive the troops on board early in the spring; none are to be under 350 tons. The above ships, with those daily expected from New York, are to carry the reinforcements to America.

If the reported number of troops be sent to America next year, the expense of transports alone will amount to £600,000.

The new corps talked of, as proposed to be raised immediately, are the following, viz.

A battalion of Highlanders, under Lord Macleod, consisting of 1000.

The Manchester volunteers, 1000.

Duke of Argyle's Highlanders, 1000.

Campbell's Welch royal volunteers, 1000.

Duke of Athol's Highlanders, 1000.

Col. Gordon's Highlanders, 1000.

Duke of Hamilton's regiment of Arran, 1000.

Col. Dalrymple's Royal Lowlanders, 1000.

Midland Highlanders, 1000.

Sutherland's and Mackay's Highlanders, 1000.

The Earl of Seaforth's Highlanders, 1000.

Scotch Dutch brigade, augmented to 3000.

Irish Roman Catholics, 1000.

Ten English battalions, 1000 men each, 10000.

Total 31000.

This morning orders were given for the three regiments of Guards to march to Hyde Park, in order to be viewed by their officers, for a number of them to be draughted for America.

A numerous meeting was held on Wednesday, at the New Tavern, in Kensington, when, by unanimous consent, Stephen Pitt, Esq; of Camden house, was voted in the chair, and, after some slight debates, it was resolved to raise a thousand soldiers for the King's service in America; to which loyal purpose the chairman subscribed £200.

A letter from Hanover, dated December 5, says, "The report which was spread some time ago of a treaty of alliance being in agitation between five formidable powers, now appears to be confirmed; the contracting parties are Russia, Prussia, Great Britain, Sweden, and Denmark."

Letters from Hamburg, dated December 18, declare, that a treaty was concluded the latter end of last month between the Empress of Russia and his Prussian Majesty, by which the latter in case of a war with the Porte engages to furnish her with a body of 10,000 horse and 20,000 foot.

Letters from Amsterdam, dated December 24, mention that great debates have arisen in the Supreme Council of the States General, in consequence of an application from the Court of Great Britain for a body of troops consisting of 8000 men, to be taken into the British service; and that it was expected the party in favour of England would carry their point.