Information Communicated by Captain John Lawrence

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Captain John Lawrence, being by request attending at

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"Captain John Lawrence sailed from London the 2d of August; left Falmouth the 14th. Says he made it his business to get all the intelligence he could with respect to the intentions of Government against the Colonies. That twenty-three ships, from forty guns and under, were fitting out for the American service, to relieve the ships which were deemed too large, which he understood were to be recalled; that they were not all to come out this fall, on account of the carpenters leaving the yards. That he understood five Regiments were to come from Ireland, three Regiments from England and Scotland, and five Companies of Artillery. That a large quantity of ordnance was shipping for America, and that five transports, with provisions, were sailed for Boston before he sailed. That he understood the troops were destined for Boston; that he heard that four or five of the transports had sailed for Ireland, to take the troops on board, before he sailed. That he saw four thousand stand of arms shipped for Quebeck; that two brigs sailed out of the Downs, in company with him, laden with warlike stores; that they sailed without convoy; that they had a Lieutenant on board each, but no troops. That he understood the arms were for the use of the Canadians. That he did not hear of any troops going to Quebeck; that he did not hear of any artillery, or stores, or troops, were to be sent to the Southern Colonies, or to this Province. That he understood that ten thousand tons of transports were taken up to go to Embden, and sixteen thousand Hessians and Hanoverians were intended for America; but whether they were to proceed immediately to America, or touch in England, was not certain, reports differing relative thereto. That the report of employing Hessians and Hanoverians took place before the account of Bunker-Hill battle. That the people seemed to be much exasperated against the Americans, on receiving the account of Bunker-Hill. That the merchants, in general, were opposed to the Americans; that they were much pleased on hearing that fifteen thousand of the Provincials were killed and taken prisoners by about seventeen hundred Regulars; but when the true state of the battle arrived, they made long faces. That he did not hear of their building any flat-bottomed boats. That the news of taking Ticonderoga, &c˙, was by no means relished. That it was supposed the Parliament would be called sooner than usual, on account of calling the Hessian and Hanoverian troops. That Captain Effingham Lawrence told him that he had been informed by Lord Gage, that they intended to make up their Army in America to thirty thousand men this fall. That there was no complaints of the manufacturers wanting employ, and was generally supposed that Administration kept them employed. That the people, in general, thought New-York worse than any of the other Colonies, for disappointing them, not only by joining the other Colonies, but by acting more vigorous than the rest. That he heard there was more than ordinary demands for British goods by the Mediterranean. That the manufacturers in Ireland were quiet, but wished well to the Americans. That the people in England were anxious to hear from the Congress, expecting some offer of accommodation. That it was reported that on the news of Bunker-Hill the stocks fell a little, but afterwards rose again. That he heard of no disunion in the councils of Administration. That great numbers of vessels were laid up in the Thames, owing to the stopping of the American trade. That it was generally expected in England, that the next news from America would be that Major Skene was hanged."