Gentlemen Having considered the state of the River Delaware since I had the pleasure of examining part of it with you yesterday, I am sorry to say any effectual defence thereof, so as to protect this city from an Insult by water, appears to me very difficult, tho' not impossible, but fear the expence of doing it to good purpose will be thought too heavy.
Little I apprehend can be expected from land batteries, they may occasion a trifling delay to, but cannot obstruct the passage of vessels of force. Booms and floating batteries unprotected may soon be destroyed. If the force of a large vessel impelled by a favourable wind should not break the former, they might be cut by men in boats while the piers necessary to support a boom sufficient to cross the channel would afford shelter to the men employed on that service from the fire of batteries. From these considerations I am induced to think that the only effectual opposition that can be made to ships of force, is by ships of force. As the vessels to be opposed on our side are not intended to resist the storms and other casualties of the seas their construction may be considerably varied. They may be built so flat as to draw little water, top masts, yards and other appurtenances would be unnecessary, her stores few, this would probably put a vessel of 80 guns in such a state as to draw no more water than one of 50 equipped in the usual manner, besides the expence of half her guns might be reduced to that of so many tuns of pig iron as would ballance the other half, as guns would be required only on one side, her masts might be higher and tops larger than usual, by means of which she could command the tops and decks of enemy.
Two vessels of such force as may be thought necessary, moored across the channel I believe would, with other defences, effectually obstruct a naval force attempting to come up the river. I conceive the most eligible place to station them would be just above the new Fort, because ships lying with their broad sides to them might be raked by a few guns on shore & by floating batteries placed on or behind the bank to the eastward of the channel where they could only be attacked by men in boats, and might be protected by the same means, as a number of armed shallops, boats, &c. might lie behind one of the islands ready to push out when necessary. In this case a boom placed a little below the two vessels would be effectually protected, besides some mortars on shore or on board boats constructed for the purpose might be usefully employed.
It would be requisite to keep an officer and a few men constantly on board these vessels which might be augmented to numbers necessary as follows: Publick notice to be given that on a certain signal the sailors in town should repair on board 'till the crews requisite should be compleated, each sailor to receive __ p day while employed, any hurt to receive smart money, such as are disabled to receive a pension of ___ during life, the first 20 that get on board each vessel to receive a gratuity of __ p man besides his daily allowance.
This, gentlemen, is what at present occurs to me as the most effectual means of protecting the city, which I take the liberty of submitting to your consideration, begging you will excuse any inaccuracies occasioned by the hurry in which I am obliged to write, & that you will permit me to assure you that I am with respect,
Gentlemen [&c.],
July 6th, 1775
