Sir,

The immediate Occasion of my giving the Congress the Trouble of a Letter at this Time, is to inform them, that in Consequence of their Order signified in your Letter of the 20th Ult. I laid myself under a solemn Tye of Secrecy to Capt. [John] McPherson, and proceeded to examine his Plan for the Destruction of the Fleet in the Harbour of Boston, with that Care and Attention, which the Importance of it deserved, and my Judgment could lead to: but not being happy eno' to coincide in opinion with that Gentleman, and finding that his Scheme would involve greater Expence than (under my Doubts of its Success) I thought myself justified in giving into, I prevailed upon him to communicate his Plan to three Gentlemen of the Artillery (in this Army) well acquainted with the Knowledge & Practice of Gunnery. By them he has been convinced that inasmuch as he set out on wrong Principles, the Scheme would prove abortive. Unwilling however to relinquish his favourite Project of reducing the naval Force of Great Britain, he is very desirous of building a Number of Row-Gallies for this Purpose. But as the Congress alone are competent to the Adoption of this Measure, I have advised him, (altho he offered to go on with the Building of them at his own Expence till the Congress should decide) to repair immediately to Philada with his Proposals, where if they should be agreed to, or Vessels of superiour Force agreeable to the Wishes of most othere should be resolved on, he may set instantly about them with the Materials upon the Spot. Here they are to collect. To him therefore I refer for further Information on this Head.

A Vessel said to be from Philada and bound to Boston with 120 Pipes of Wine (118 of which are secured) stranded at a Place called Eastham in a Gale of Wind, on the 2d ー Inst ー another from Boston to Halifax with dry Goods &c amounting per Invoice to about £ 240 lawful  got disabled in the same Gale near Beverly.² These Cargoes, with the Papers, I have ordered to this Place, the Vessels to be taken Care of till forther Orders. I have also an Account of the taking of a Wood Sloop bound to Boston, and carried into Portsmouth by one of our armed Vessels, Particulars not yet come to Hand; and this Instant of two others from Nova Scotia to Boston with Hay, Wood, live Stock &c by another of our armed Schooners. These are in Plymouth.

These Accidents and Captures point out the Necessity of establishing proper Courts without Loss of Time for the Decision of Property, and the Legallity of Seizures: otherwise I may be involved in inextricable Difficulties.

Our Prisoners by the Reduction of Fort Chamblee (on which happy Event I most sincerely congratulate the Congress) being considerably augmented and likely to be encreased, I submit it to the Wisdom of Congress whether some convenient inland Towns remote from the Post Roads ought not to be assigned them the Manner of their Treatment ー Subsistance &c defined, and a Commissary, or Agent, appointed to see that Justice is done both to them & the Public ー proper Accounts rendered &c. Without a Mode of this Sort is adopted, I fear there will be sad Confusion hereafter, as there are great Complaints already.

I reckoned without my Host when I informed the Congress in my last that I should in, a Day, or two, be able to acquaint them of the Disposition of the Soldiery towards a new Inlistment. I have been in Consultation with the Generals of this Army ever since Thursday last [November 2], endeavouring to establish new Corps of Officers, but find so many Doubts & Difficulties to reconcile, I cannot say when they are to end, or what may be the Consequences, as there appears to be such an Unwillingness in the officers of one Government mixing in the same Regiment with those of another, and without many must be dismissed who are willing to serve, notwithstanding we are deficient on the whole. I am to have another Meeting today upon this Business, and shall inform you of the Result.

The Council of Officers are unanimously of Opinion that the Command of the Artillery should no longer continue in Col: [Richard] Gridley; and knowing of no Person better qualified to supply his Place, or whose Appointment will give more general Satisfaction, have taken the Liberty of recommending Henry Knox Esqr to the Consideration of the Congress, thinking it indispensably necessary at the same Time that this Regiment should consist of two Lieut Colonels, two Majors, and twelve Companies agreeably to the Plan & Estimate handed in, which differing from the last Establishment, I should be glad to be instructed on.

The Commissary Genl not being returned will apologize, I hope, for my Silence respecting a Requisition of the Expence of his Clerks &c which I was to have obtained, together with others and forwarded.

I have heard Nothing of Col: Arnold since the 13th Ult. His Letter of, and Journal of that Date will convey all the Information I am able to give him. think he must be in Quebec. If any Mischance had happened [to] him, he would, as directed, have forwarded an Express. No Account yet of the armed Vessels sent to St Lawrence. I think they will meet with the Stores inward or outward bound.

Capt. Symons in the Cerberus lately sent from Boston to Falmouth hath published the enclosed Declaration at that Place, and it is suspected intends to make some Kind of Lodgment there.³ I wrote immediately to Col Fennie [Edmund Phinney] (of this Army) who went up there upon the last Alarm, to spirit up the People, and oppose it at all Events. Falmouth is about 130 Miles from this Camp. I have the Honour to be [&c.]

P.S. I send a genl Return of the Troops, & Manifests of the Cargoes & Vessels taken at Plymouth.