Sir:

I am Yesterday favored with yours of the 31st July; We have yet no certain Accounts of the Fleet which Sail'd out of Boston the 25th; but if our Conjectures and Information are just we may expect to hear of it every Hour. I am now, Sir, in strict Confidence to acquaint you, that our Necessities in the Articles of Powder and Lead are so great as to require an immediate Supply. I must earnestly intreat you will fall upon some Measures to forward every Pound of each in the Colony which can possibly be spared; It is not within the Propriety of Safety of such a Correspondence to say which I might on this Subject; It is sufficient that the Case calls loudly for the most strenuous Exertions of every friend of his Country and does not admit of the least delay. No Quantity, however Small, is beneath notice and should any arrive, I beg it may be forwarded as soon as Possible; But a Supply of this kind is so precarious, not only from the Danger of the Enemy, but the opportunity of Purchasing, that I have resolved in my mind every other possible chance, and listned to every proposition on the subject which could give the smallest Hope; Among others I have had one mentioned which has some Weight with me, as well as the General Officers to whom I have proposed it  one Harris is lately come from Bermuda, where there is a very considerable Magazine of Powder in a remote Part of the Island and the Inhabitants well disposed not only to our Cause in General, but to assist in this Enterprize in particular; we understand there are two Armed Vessels in your Province commanded by Men of known Activity and Spirit; one of which it is proposed to despatch on this Errand, with such other assistance as may be required; Harris is to go along as the Conductor of the Enterprize, and to avail ourselves of his knowledge of the Island, but without any Command. I am very sensible that at first view the project may appear hazardous and its Success must depend on the Concurrence of many Circumstances; but we are in a Situation which requires us to run all Risques. No Danger is to be considered when put in Competition with the Magnitude of the Cause and the Absolute Necessity we are under of increasing our Stock. Enterprises, which appear Chimerical, often prove successful from that very Circumstance, Common Sense & Prudence will Suggest Vigilance and care, when the Danger is Plain and obvious, but where little Danger is apprehended, the more the enemy is unprepared and consequently there is the fain'd Prospect of Success.

Mr. Brown² has been mentioned to me as a very Proper Person to consult upon this Occasion  you will judge of the Propriety of communicating it to him in Part or the whole, and as soon as possible, favor me with your Sentiments and the Steps you may have' taken to forward it. If no immediate and safe Opportunity offers you will please to do it by Express. Should it be inconvenient to part with one of the armed Vessels, perhaps some other might be fitted out, or you could devise some other Mode of executing this Plan; so that, in case of a Disappointment, the Vessel might proceed to some other Island to purchase . . .

Since writing the above Col. [Elisha] Porter has undert&en to assist in the Matter, or to provide some suitable Person to accompany Harris to you, who will communicate all Circumstances to you. I am &c.