[Extract]
(No. 32)
My Lord, . . . Your Lordship was informed that the Forts in Rhode-Island and New-Hampshire had been Seized by the People and the Cannon removed up the Country, and the Pieces Separated and concealed in such Manner that no clear Account was to be obtained of them. Those Forts and Castle William excepted, there is None of Consequence from Casco-Bay to New-York. Fort Pownall on Penobscot had a few indifferent Guns, which were removed some Weeks ago by a detachment of the 64th Regiment assisted by an armed Schooner; and I can't learn that there is any thing at New London, unless an unserviceable old Gun or perhaps two.
Admiral [Samuel] Graves has sent a Ship to cruize for the four Regiments destined to New-York where it's Judged they could be of little use in the present Situation of that Province, and to order them to join the Troops here, where the Rebels have collected their Main Force.
Such of the Transports as can be spared will be discharged; We are obliged now to depend upon them totally for our Subsistence; and have used them for Magazines as well as transporting Troops. The Sudden Refusal of all the Colonies to Supply the Troops with Necessaries of any kind, has put us to Shifts to increase our Stock of Provisions. The Admiral has detained Ships with Flour and sent them in here and we have sent Transports to Quebec for Flour and so much Flesh-Meat as can be procured, but as little Pork or Beef is to be had in that Province, and as it is a Chance if the King's Ships meet with much at Sea; we have fallen upon various Means to procure Pork; and I hope in Some we may Succeed, so as to Supply the Troops, till Sufficient Quantitys can be Sent from Europe . . .
I am obliged to use extraordinary Means also to procure Fuel; Contracts are made with traders in this Place to bring Coals from Newcastle, and I have applyed to Governor [Francis] Legge concerning the Proposal of supplying the Troops with Coal from Louisbourg, and have at the same time tryed all Methods to get Wood from the Eastern parts of this Province, from whence the Town and all this part of the country, have usualy got their Fire-Wood. If Transports and other Ships sent from England took in Coals for Ballast it would help considerably. Forrage is another Article we are now deprived of, we send our Transports to the Bay of Fundy and other parts of Nova-Scotia for Hay, and to the Province of Quebec for Oats, but hope in a little Time to supply ourselves with Hay with more ease.