The Virginia Gazette

WILLIAMSBURG. December 27:

Two brigs, having on board 800 stand of arms, 15 tons of powder, a quantity of blankets, and other woollens, for Congress. Another large vessel, a Dutchman, from St. Eustatia, is gone up the bay with a cargo of salt and dry goods.

We hear the above-mentioned brigs a number of French Gentlemen on board, passengers, one of them an officer of rank, and is bound up to Baltimore.

Since our last, Capt. Travis returned into port, after a cruise of seven weeks, but met with no prizes.

A letter by the post mentions that Howe's army in New Jersey had retreated from Trenton to Princetown, which is 13 miles, and it is supposed the intention of an attempt to cross the Delaware was dropped on the apprehension of danger from our gondolas and armed vessels, which are extended along the river to annoy them, together with the appearance of our army on the opposite shore, which will soon be very formidable.

Yesterday his Excellency the Governor received the following letter, dated the 18th instant, by express from Baltimore.

The movements of the enemy's army in the Jerseys, by which the neighbourhood of Philadelphia had become the seat of war, determined Congress to adjourn from thence to this town, where public business will be entered on the 20th instant, unless a sufficient number of members should be assembled to begin sooner. At this place the public business may be conducted with more deliberation, and undisturbed attention, than could be the case in a city subject to perpetual alarm, and that had necessarily been made a place of arms.

The propriety of this measure was strongly enforced by the Continental Generals Putnam and Mifflin, who commanded in Philadelphia, and who gave it as their opinion, that although they did not consider the town as liable to fall into the enemy's hands but by surprise, yet that possibility rendered it improper for Congress to continue there.

"So long as the American army kept together, the enemy's progress was extremely limited, but they knew and seized the opportunity of coming forward, which was occasioned by the greater part of the army dispersing in consequence of short enlistments; and this indeed was a plan early founded on hopes of accommodation, and for the greater ease of the people.

When a new army is assembled, the enemy must again narrow their bounds; and this demonstrates the necessity of every state exerting every means to bring the new levies into the field with all possible expedition. It is the only sure means of placing America on the ground where every good man would wish to see it."
The British army is at present stationed along Delaware from above Trenton, on the Jersey side, to Burlington, about 20 miles above Philadelphia. General Washington, with near 6000 men, is on the river opposite to Trenton; and the gondolas, with other armed vessels, are stationed from Philadelphia to Trenton, to prevent the passage of the Delaware. General Lee, with about 3000 men, remains on the enemy's rear, a little to the westward of their line of march through the Jerseys. In this state, if the country associators of Pennsylvania, and from this neighbourhood, reinforce the General with a few thousands, so as to enable him to press the enemy's front, it may turn out a happy circumstance that they have been encouraged to leave their ships so far behind. We have good reason to expect a general war in Europe soon, and we have such proof of the friendship of France as to leave little doubt of the willingness of that country to aid us. The enclosed handbill will sufficiently instruct the Americans what treatment they are to expect from the cruel disturbers of their peace, and evince the necessity of the most speedy and manly exertions to drive these.