John Smith Ship wright born in providence was taken on board of a Sloop where he was Second in command december last was a twelve month—was carried into new york by the galatea of 23 Guns captain Jordan² command^t.-made his escape on friday last nine o clock at night—and says that the enemy have 7 Ships of the line 6 frigates 2 bombs catches & one fire Ship—2 of the seven are 74•1• or 2 Sixty and the others he thinks fifty³-that the english fleet lays below the narrows—that besides that nomber there are three frigates unfit for present duty-that he heard the lieutenents of the galatea tell his Cap^t. that he had taken nine pilots, and a lieutenent of one of the french Ships going to the french fleet—that a packet boat and two Ships had attempted a passage by the east river but were obliged to retire he does not know whether they were prevented by a french or american Ship—that both the fleet and army are in the greatest confusion-that there is a hott press every night-that they are in a great want of sailors-that they Serve rice instead of Bread on board of their Ships and that at 2 ³ /^ds allowance—that he heard officer saying that they had no provisions for more than a month that there is a good deal of grumbling on Board of the fleet—that the half part of the Sailors are bad and that they have Stripped the merchant men having but two men to each Ship—that one of the 74 is in a very bad order and that she had not above 100 hands on Board-that no Ships has been sent out of new york Since the arrival of the french fleet but one Schooner bound for hallifax for more Ships, this report hover is conf^d. by a Sentry who Says that three Schooners are gone out—that they expect every day provisions on the fleet, and are very uneasy about it—that they have lost, one frigate taken-the Ship [illeg.] sunk—and the roebuck tho' run a Shore has Since got off—that the harbour is full of marchants Ships—that they are erecting batteries on Staten island opposite the narrows and on Sandy hook he does not Know how many troops at these points—they are taking the guns from their works in new york Long island to carry them to the works [at] the hook fort washington and Kings bridge—that they have just begun their new works which he thinks are not far advanced—that there are no Batterys yet erected on that part of long island opposite the narrows, his private opinion is that the Ship’s will [blank] in again as soon as they are attaked—the common talk among the Sailors is that the[y] expect to be attacked by the french fleet, that as he was employed in working during the day time at new York—he had the opportunity of hearing the officers of the land forces Saying that they expected to be attacked every day by general washington while the french fleet would attack them at the Same time—being asked if he had heard anybody Speaking of the impossibility of any of ours Ships getting up he answered that he had not heard a Single word about it—tho he remembers to have heard the pilot who brog^t. the galatea up about 15. months ago Saying that he [would not] answer of bringing any Ship of the line into the harbour—he Says that they curse the french adm^l very much—on many accounts and principally his hoisting continent colours he has not heard any thing to countance what he is going to Say but he belives that if they were attacked as they apprehend they would not make a long defence—that the[y] did expect two Ships of the line from rhode island and who had been ordered before the french fleet was arrived—he does not belives they have Sent contrary orders to them, or does he belives they can come through hells gate. being asked if he had heard of admiral Keppel or admiral byron, he answers not, but that he heard that on the Supposition of the counte destaing fleet being destined for west Jamaica⁴—a fleet had been Sent from england to that island which is expected to fall upon the rear of the french fleet in Coming from the west indias