This affair produced a change in the politics of _New-Jersey_. That colony, it was thought, would be among the last to alter its government, whereas it will now be among the first that gets a settled constitution. Nothing more than a bare majority in favor of the alteration, was expected in the provincial congress; but the plot against the general wrought wonders; there were but four dissenting voices. On the 21st, however, before they could know the plot as a body, they proceeded to elect delegates for the continental congress, whom they empowered to join in declaring the united colonies independent of Great-Britain. In this election they left out William Livingston, esq. under a strong persuasion that he was not favorable to independency; and chose the Rev. Dr. Witherspoon, the president of the college at Princeton, from a conviction that he would support it with all his abilities. [June 25.] Gen. _Howe_ arrived at _Sandy-Hook_ in the Greyhound frigate. He soon received from gov. Tryon a full account of the state and disposition of the province, as well as of the strength of the Americans. Gen. _Washington_’s army was small, rather below nine thousand fit for duty. Of this little army, he wrote [June 28.] “at least 2000 are wholly destitute of arms, and near as many with arms in such condition as to be rather calculated to discourage than animate the user.” The same day the British fleet arrived with gen. Howe’s troops from Halifax. They took possession of Staten-Island July the 2d. On the 4th the American adjutant-general, col. Joseph Reed, wrote to a member of congress, “With an army of force before and a secret one behind, we stand on a point of land, with 6000 old troops, if a year’s service of about half, can entitle them to the name, and about 1500 new levies of this province, many disaffected, and more doubtful. In this situation we are, every man in the army, from the general to the private (acquainted with our true situation) is exceedingly discouraged. _Had I known the true posture of affairs, no consideration would have tempted me to have taken an active part of this scene; and this sentiment is universal._” Gen. Howe is sufficiently strong, considering the goodness of his troops, to make a successful attempt upon the Americans; but being in daily expectation of the reinforcement from Europe, he will undoubtedly remain inactive till their arrival. This then is a proper opportunity for relating the operations in South Carolina. The designs of ministry against the southern colonies, were providentially discovered before the arrival of Sir _Peter Parker_. In the beginning of April capt. James Barron arrived at Williamsburgh, with dispatches from the secretary of state, for governor Eden of Maryland, which he took from on board a small vessel sent by lord Dunmore to carry them to Annapolis. The secretary’s letter is dated Whitehall, December 23, 1775, and says, “SIR,