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PHILADELPHIA, December 5, 1780.

DEAR SIR, I have your favor of the 27th ult., and congratulate you on the deliverance of our country from the distresses of actual invasion. The spirit it has shewn on this occasion will, I hope, in some degree protect it from a second visit.

Congress yesterday received from Mr. Jay and Mr. Carmichael, as late as the 4th and 9th of September. The general tenor of them is that we are not to rely on much aid in the article of cash from Spain, her finances and credit being scarcely adequate to her own necessities, and that the British emissaries are indefatigable in misrepresenting our affairs in that kingdom, and in endeavoring to detach it from the war. The character, however, of the Catholic King for steadiness and probity, and the entire confidence of our allies in him, forbid any distrust on our part. Portugal, on the pressing remonstrances of France and Spain, has at length agreed to shut her ports against English prizes, but still refuses to accede to the armed neutrality. Mr. Adams writes that the news of the fate of the Quebec and Jamaica fleets arrived at London nearly about the same time, and had a very serv.us effect on all ranks, as well as on stocks and insurance.

Our information from the West Indies gives a melancholy picture of the effects of the late tempest. Martinique has suffered very considerably, both in shipping and people. Not less than six hundred houses have been destroyed in St. Vincent's. The Spaniards in Cuba, also, have not escaped, and it is reported that the fleet on its way from the Havannah to Pensacola has been so disabled and dispersed as to defeat the expedition for the present. On the other side, our enemies have suffered severely. The Ajax, a ship of the line, and two frigates stationed off St. Lucie, to intercept the Martinique trade, are certainly lost, with the greatest part, if not the whole, of their crews; and there is great reason to believe that several other capital ships that have not been since heard of have shared the like fate. The island of St. Lucie is totally defaced. In Barbadoes, also, scarce a house remains entire, and one thousand five hundred persons at least have perished. One of the largest towns in Jamaica has been totally swept away, and the island otherwise much damaged. The consequences of this calamity must afford a striking proof to Great Britain of her folly in shutting our ports against her West India commerce, and transferring the advantage of our friendship to her enemies. I am, Dr sir, yours sincerely.