Wednesday 4th Inst Brig. Gen. Esek Hopkins with about 300 [400] Troops marched on to Rhode Island & came to Newport. Of these 150 were raised in Little Compton & Tiverton in nine Hours. They were ordered by Dep. Gov. Cook to protect the Stock on this Island. They encamped at Mr Dudlys Mr Banisters & Mr Irishs on the Hill about a Mile out of Town. Then marched & drew up in order on the Parade. Two Tories Ned Cole & Ned Thurston were apprehended & bro't before the General in the Court House, tho' not by his Order. He bro't them out to the Head of the Battalion, & declared he should not take up any of the Inhabitants of the Town, & so dismissed them. But he would apprehend all the Men o' Wars Men & Foreigners factors buying Things for [Thomas] Gage: accordg the Doctor of the Swan, & a man detected in bringing round Goods from Boston & selling them here, &c were apprehended, brot before the General & sent to Providence. The Brenton Stock was left on the Point, & the Men o'War & Transports drawn up close or near ー but it being very rainy & stormy on Thursday the Men o'War had not took off the Stock tho' they had set Marines to guard it. These resolute brave Men 280 of them marched down into the neck on Thursdy & to the very extremity of it in the sight of the Men o' War & very near, & boldly bro't off 60 or 70 Head of Cattle, 100 Sheep, besides Hogs, Turkies &c It was expected that there would be Firing from the Ships & Landing Marines ー but the Marines ran off ー & they fired only two swivels. Our Forces returned to Town, & the Men o' War drew up close before the Town, & swore in great Wrath that he would fire upon the Town at Vh P.M. But he did not. However his Threatngs threw the Town into a general Panic and the Inhabitants immedy went to removg their Effects with Women & Children out of Town. The removing continued all Night, all Friday & Saturday both day & night. All Friday Wallace continued his Menaces, but fired not. On Saturday all the Ships and Transports sailed off to the northward towards Prudence or Bristol Ferry: but with what view is unknown. Additional Reinforcemts came in. & it was reported that a Detatchmt from the Army at Cambridge was expected here to day: and some suppose Wallace is gone round to the No End of the Isld to prevent their passing the Ferry ー others that he is gone to take Stock off of Prudence. The Army here may be near 500 strong. They instantly marched for the north End of the Isld. or Prudence to watch the Men o' War.

An Express from Gov. Cook to Gen. Hopkins arrived this Morng bringing a Copy of a Letter from Gen. Washington, informing that a Detachmt of the Kings Troops with some ships of force lately sailed from Boston; doubtless to attack some Seaport, & therefore he notified Gov. Cook. The Expecta of Regular Troops, & also of Colony Troops, & the Anticipation of a Conflagration of the Town in their Rencounters, renewed the spirit of Removal in which Multitudes have been employed with the greatest Assiduity. The Evacuation is incredible! The perhaps Three hundred Houses on the Isld (exclusive of 1100 in Newport) are all filled. The poor Tories cant remove.