I have now wrote by every Vessel that I have heard was going to your port those going this day (the last upon which any can go to the West Indies) affords me the only Oppoys I may for a long time have of writing you ー the resolutions of the Congress will be most sacredly kept, and shou'd any one offer to break thro' them, the popular Vengeance will be shewn in an exemplary manner ー this I mention to convince you that no Island British or Foreign will from this day be supplied with any comodities of this Country, untill the present Controversy is ended. ー I am to the last degree distressed at the prospect that presents itself at the present Crisis; it is perhaps as important as ever was agitated, and big with consequences that may involve a great Empire in the most inextricable difficulties. ー the Suspension of Trade with every part of the World will be attended with the most terrible Effects, and Plunge thousands who once lived in Affluence into the most poignant distress, ー this great City will sensibly feel it; and what to do with those who have always maintained themselves by their daily labour is very difficult to say ー some Employments must be found out for them, but of what nature is yet to be determined on ー Upon this very day have a whole Continent. shut up all their Trade and by this Step will Convince the World that they will Sacrafice everything in defence of the rights of Freemen ー since the Creation of the World there has never been perhaps a more remarkable union in so large a Country and of so great a Number of People; by the lowest Calculations not less than three Millions ー and is it to be supposed they will tamely surrender up their rights to any power on Earth believe me they will not, and whatever you may hear of disunion do not attend to it as there is not one in a thousand in this Continent but will stake his Life in the Contest. ー We have good information that Genl Schuyler has before this time proceeded to the Reduction of St. Johns with 7000 Men ー this is the Key of Canada and if he succeeds, the Way will be open to Montreal and the Reduction of all Canada must inevitably follow ー Genl Carlton has an Army at St Johns and Genl Schuyler it [is] imagined will have a bloody piece of Work of it before it is accomplished ー the Regulars have not above 1000 there but strongly fortifyed ー we now daily look for Intelligence from that Quarter. ー but as after this day no Vessells will go for your Island, you will not be acquainted with any of our proceedings ー this is Saturday and on Monday we shall not have 10 Sea Vessells in Port ー the purchase of Flour, wheat &ca. is now ceased and the Price is now down to nothing ー the Country People offer it on any Terms even at 11/ or 12/. and everything else in proportion ー Corn 2/. wheat 4/ or 5/. but no purchasers appear. ー Mr. Cuthbert carries this, going in Shield's old Brig consigned himself ー Mr Morris's Brig is gone to Windward ー Howell & Douglass's Brig is supposed will be lost and the Cesar, Miller, will not get away for sometime being entirely unloaded at Reedy Island. ー² I wish I cou'd inform you of some Vessells to your Address ー but there is none ー I am half Mad at the Circumstance and hardly dare to trust myself with Thinking on it ー you must be as calm as possible as it will be to no purpose to fret ー I preach philosophy to you but do not practice it myself. ー I confess it hurts me more than I can describe to see so many Vessells going out and none to your Shore. ー I cannot help thinking rather hardly of two Houses here who have always flattered you with great support ー I must think it cruel and especially at a time when there was so good a prospect of a Market. ー I tremble at the Consequences of these Matters, but cannot paint my feelings so sensibly as you may easily conceive them to be on these most alarming occasions. ー

Our Good Father now writes you also, the last perhaps that he may for a long time have an Oppo of writing you and informs you that we are all well.³ ー

there is only one matter that may possibly keep open some kind of a communication between your Island & us, but it is a way that notwithstanding all its Risks will be adopted by some adventurous Spirits amongst us. ー it is this the Congress well considering that every Incouragment ought to be given to the Importation of Powder into the Colonies has agreed that every Importer of that Article shall be allowed a profit of £ 4 P hundred weight and have the Liberty of Exporting the Value of any quantity thereof in the Produce of this Country to the Country or Island from whence he has brought it ー this with all Risks will be attempted as the Encouragement is great and the prospect of a market to any of the Islands after a little time will be much greater. ー this Intelligence you may Rely on ー Jos. Whitall told me of it and I believe will make some bold attempts towards affecting it ー I wish something of the kind cou'd be adopted by you in conjunction with some persons of capital in your Place. ー Willing & Morris in this Place wou'd be the best House to send it to here, as Mr. R[obert] Morris is one of the foremost in the Cause and wou'd do everything in his power to Effect it ー however it is worth thinking of ー I am pressed for time as the Vessells will be going in a few Hours and I must send a Copy of this by Blowers Brig in case of Miscarriage ー Adieu ー My Love to Tommy & Beleive me always Your most affe Brother