[Extract]

I shall now beg leave to request the determination of Congress as to the Property and disposal of such Vessels and Cargoes as are designed for the Supply of the Enemy and may fall into our Hands. there has been an event of this kind at Portsmouth; as by the Inclosure No. 3,² in which I have directed the Cargo to be brought hither for the use of the Army, reserving the Settlement of any Claims of Capture to the decision of the Congress. As there are many unfortunate Individuals also, whose property has been Confiscated by the Enemy, I would humbly suggest to the Consideration of Congress, the humanity of applying in part, or in the whole such Captures to the relief of those Sufferers, after Compensating the Expence of the Captors and for their Activity and Spirit. I am the more induced to request this determination may be speedy, as I have directed 3 Vessels to be equipped in order to cut off the Supplies, and from a Number of Vessels arriving, it may become an Object of some Importance. In the disposal of these Captures for the Encouragement of the Officers and Men, I have allowed them ⅓ of the Cargo, except Military Stores, which, with the Vessels, are to be reserved for the Public Use. I hope my Plan as well as the Execution will be favoured with the approbation of Congress.

One Mr. Fisk, an intelligent Person, came out of Boston the 3d Instant, and gives us the following Advices ー That a Fleet consisting of a 64 &. 20 Gun Ship, 2 Sloops of 18 Guns, 2 Transports with 600 Men were to sail from Boston as yesterday ー That they took on Board two Mortars, four Howitzers, and other Artillery calculated for the Bombardment of a Town. Their Destination was; kept a profound Secret. ー³ That an Express Sloop of War which left England the 8th August arrived 4 Days ago ー that Genl Gage is recalled, and last Sunday resigned his Command to Genl How ー that Lord [Hugh] Piercy, Col: [Francis] Smith and other Officers who were at Lexington are ordered Home with Gage ー tnat 6 Ships of the Line and two Cutters were comeing out under Sr Peter Dennis ー that 5 Regiments and 1000 Marines are ordered out, and may be expected in 3 or 4 Weeks. No Prospect of Accomodation, but the Ministry determined to push the War to the utmost.⁴

I have an Express from Col: Arnold and herewith send a Copy of his Letter, and an Inclosure No 4 & 5.⁵ I am happy in finding he meets with no Discouragement. . . . The Capt. of the Brig from Quebec for Boston⁶ informs me there is no Suspicion of any such Expedition, & that if Carlton is not drove from St Johns, so as to be obliged to throw himself into Quebec, it must fall into our Hands, as it is left without a Regular Soldier, and many of the Inhabitants most favourably disposd to the American Cause ー that there is the largest Stock of Ammunition ever collected in America.

In the above Vessel some Letters were also found from an Officer at Quebec to Genl Gage, and Major [William] Sheriff at Boston, containing such an Account of the Temper of the Canadians, as cannot but afford, the highest Satisfaction.