[Extract]
The Manoeuvers of the Camp has afforded nothing important for a month past. The Works at plough'd Hill are finish'd, but are useless, because we have not Powder to annoy the Enemy & if we had, it would be an idle Expence of it to expend it in Cannonading at such a Distance. The Enemy have fir'd from their different Works 2000 Cannon Balls & 300 Bombs, without killing ten men of ours.
When Orders were given for 1100 men under Col. [Benedict] Arnold to march for Quebec, the men offer'd so readily, that 5 Times the Number might have been draughted for this laborious & hazardous March, had they been wanted. We were in anxious Suspense, during their Passage from Newbury to Kennebeck; We have Accounts since of their safe Arrival in Kennebeck River, & are now only solicitous to hear of the successful Movements of General [Philip] Sc[h]uyler.
The Lovers of Turtle in the Camp are like to be indulg'd with a feast of it, by the Marblehead men this Week taking a Schooner belonging to Lewis Gray bound from New Providence to Boston, loaded with Turtle & Fruit. This is no very great Acquisition for Us, but will be a severe Disappointment to our ministerial beseig'd Enemy. The next Day some Boats from Cape Ann took a more valuable Prize, in the Capture of a Brig sent by Genl [Guy] Carleton to Boston from Quebec, with 45 horned Cattle & 60 Sheep on board, & the Hold full of Wheat. This is lmt a small Retaliation for the dayly Piratical Acts of [Samuel] Graves's Squadron. There is scarce a Vessel that escapes the Clutches of the Cutters & Men of War that infest the Coast. The Week before last they carried eleven sail of Vessels into Boston, where after the Formality of a Trial in an Admiralty Court, they are confiscated, to the Use of Graves & his Harpies. ー Notwithstanding these continual Depredations, our Assembly will not be prevail'd to fit out Privateers. The Delicacy is absurd surely . . .
The Carphenters are all at Work here, building 20 flat bottom Boats, which are to carry 50 men, & which with 250 Whale Boats, which it is said are ordered here, can carry 3000 Men. There are 3 floating Batteries which carry 1 nine pounder & 2 six Pounders each, besides, Swivells & small Arms. They are man'd with 30 Hands apiece; From these & some other Preparations it is conjecturd, some great Attempt will be made before the Winter sets in. . . .
