[Extract]

Dear Sir  As I never keep copies of familiar Letters, its probable I may sometimes repeat what I may have given you in the preceding one, if that shod be the case I flatter myself your candour will forgive such an error, without any further apology I shall proceed to give some account of matters here; we have an exceeding Good Battery on Peirces Island mounting three 32 pounders one 24 one 18 six 6s four 4s well provided with all necessary implements, on Seavy we have only one 24 six 4s, & 6s the work on the Batteries are well executed, and were nearly finished when we were alarmed with the news from Falmouth of the destruction of that place some account of which you have had in the Papers, but least you should not have had the particulars of that cursed piece of barbarity, I'll give it you here by way of digression, as I had it from a Gentn who left that Town two days after that act of Cruelty. The pirates arrived in the harbor on Monday afternoon [October 16] but lay some distance below the Town. on Tuesday P.M. they got under sail and came before and as near as they can lay to the Town and sent a Boat ashore with that pretty piece of Composition published in the Essex Gazette with the signature of H Mowet, on the receipt of which a committee of three gentlemen, who had been particularly kind to the Barbarian who commanded went on board in hope that their influence might prevail so far as to have the distruction of the Town delayed 'till they might have time to move their women & children & effects out, but their efforts were to little purpose, indeed the savage made them this generous offer, that if they would deliver up all their arms & ammunition, & swear allegience (I don't know to who but suppose it must be to the Devil as it is evident they must act under the influence of his Infernal Majesty) send on board four of the principal gentlemen as hostages, he would delay the destruction of the Town 'till he could hear from the Admiral, on the whole, the best terms they could obtain; was if they would deliver up part of their arms he wod suspend the execution of his infernal orders 'till 9 o'clock, next morning, they being intirely defenceless; not one cannon fit for use & very short of powder for their small arms comply'd so far as to send him eight Muskets. At the time set next morning the agents of Hell began their work and kept a constant fire 'till evening. About ¾ths of the Buildings were destroyed and about half the effects, the news reached us about 8 o'clock on Thursday morning, & that Mowatts orders were to come here next. This alarmed many people so that they set about moving out of Town, expresses were immediately dispatch'd to all parts of the country to call in assistance  the summons was readily obeyed; people flocked in from all quarters, & in a few days were in such a situation as to wish the approach of the enemy, that we might have it in our power to revenge the abuse of our Brethren of Falmouth. We also sent a messenger to General Washington telling him our situation and begging a little powder as we had only 17 lbs but none could be obtained. I am certain it gave the General great pain that it was not in his power to assist us, however, we were tolerable easy with what we had as the crookedness of the river and strength of the tide is a great security to us, the flouer ship is sunk in crooked Lane to stop up that passage. A boom placed obliquely across the River from Henderson Point to Peirce's Island, four vessels moored just above the boom to set fire to if there should be occasion twenty pr fire rafts ready to burn off whenever called for; this is our scituation at present, there has been 1000 men in pay ever since the alarm (about a fortnight:[)] The [Provincial] congress voted yesterday eight companies of 100 men each, exclusive of 200 montrosses before ordered to be enlisted, for two months the Expenses attending these preparations are immense for this poor colony, but I hope the benevolence of the United Colonies will consider us on some future day, at present it seems to me to be the determination of every one to risque his all in support of his liberties & priviliges, the unheard of cruelties of the enemy have so effectually united us that I believe there are not four persons now in portsmouth who do not justify the measures persuing in opposition to the Tyranny of Great Britain ー the men of war arc frequently cruzing of[f] in the Bay, but dare not or at least do not venture in, about a week ago a frigate² anchored between Bass Rock & Odiornes point; when she first appeard it was thought she was coming into the Harbor but she disapointed us by going off early next morning. About 250 men are stationed on New Castle; the inhabitants have all left that place There is a Battery of six guns on Kittery point. 12 pounders is the heaviest mettle there. I am very sorry they are not better provided; however on the whole our harbor is in such a state that if the Enemy shod think proper to make us a visit we should give them a warm reception³