[Extract]

. . . I shall pay the earliest attention to what you say respecting Roache's ship ー ² if there is a probability of getting .cannon from the Massachusetts furnace I think it best to stick close to them as the surest way of obtaining cannon for the Raleigh ー the bursting of a few, I hope will not discourage the furnace from going on ー not more than half those cast in the furnaces this way have stood the proof.

This city is still threatened with an invasion but whether the threats will be executed or not, is a matter of doubt with me. A plan of correspondence between this City and the enemy has lately been discovered ー 7 or 8 of the Traitors are under close confinement ー some of them will no doubt be hanged ー this is disagreeable business, but if we dont hang them they'll hang us, and self preservation, you know, is the first law of nature. ー A considerable quantity of the goods will be saved from the ship blown up near the Capes, as mentioned in my last ー She had a valuable cargo on board 2100 bbs of powder 2500 stand of arms and a considerable quantity dry goods amounting in the whole to 250,000 livres for account of the public besides private property to a large amount ー but the greatest loss is the life of the Captain whose bravery on this occasion is without example.³

The establishment of a Navy Board in the Eastern Department is now in contemplation and I imagine will soon be done ー this is a necessary measure and ought to have been adopted some time ago. I am much at a loss for proper men to comprise this Board. Boston, I suppose will be the place of their sitting therefore it's probable they will be of that town, or neighborhood. My only wish. is, that they may be good men ー he is my choice who will best serve my country ー some gentlemen are very urgent that I would engage in this business, but it's totally against my principles to accept an office of profit created by a Legislative Body, of which I am a member and to resign my seat from lucrative views would not only be treating honor done me by my constituents with indecency but be inconsistent with that patriotic delicacy, which ever affords the most agreeable reflections these are my present sentiments nor do I by any means think I shall relinquish them. Whoever are appointed, I suppose must reside chiefly at Boston.