[Extract]

Gentlemen ー On the 2d of this Inst. the ship Prince George, Richard Emms, Master, from Bristol bound to Boston with 1892 Barrels of Flour for the use of General Gage's army, came into our Harbour & was boarded by a number of men under the command of Lieut. Pickering of the Matross Company, & Brot up to Portsmouth, where she is detained. Gen. Washington has been consulted concerning her and has desired that the Cargo may be sent to the army and has promised to write to the Congress for their directions in what manner the Cargo should be disposed of, and what should be allowed the Captors &c.

As there is not a Barrel of flour to be sold in this Colony, & we were under a necessity of taking a Hundred Barrels of the Flour for the support of our soldiers & workmen at the Battery erecting on Seavey's & Pierce's Islands, there being employed thereon upwards of a Hundred soliders besides workmen; which we have since represented to Gen. Washington with a proposal to sell 500 Barrels to the inhts of Portsmo & deposit the money safely until directions from the Congress should be obtained. . . .

Our Batteries are almost compleated. The work done on them will surpass your Imagination. Several hundreds of men from the Country round about having voluntarily labored thereon, a considerable part of the time since they were begun.