[Extract]

I am sorry to find by your favour of the 14th. Ulto. that there is so little prospect of stopping the Navigation of the Potomack, by sinking of Vessels, or Cheveaux de Frieze; the Channel being not only deep but wide in those places which you judged most likely to admit of these obstructions. What ever plan you adopt, if executed at the expence of Individuals, should be as extensive as possible in its operation; for you will not be able to get Men to contribute to a Work of defence, from which they derive no advantage, immediate or remote; this is my objection to Colo. [George William] Fairfax's, otherwise I do not know a more advantageous Situation, as a Battery up on the Hill, in Front of the House, ³ could never be hurt by any Ship in the World and would sink any Ship before she could pass it, having the full rake of a Vessel from the time it comes within reach of its Guns, till it had got out of shot above.

I am not acquainted with the Situation of the Ground, or bearings of the River at the Indian highlands, ⁴ so that I can give no opinion of that particular spot; but think the Method you propose of fitting out two Privateers under the Conduct of those Gentlemen you have named aided by a couple of Row-Gallies (upon the Philadelphia plan) not a bad one; but then, I would have these again supported by Land Batteries in some advantageous spot, where the whole might co-operate against any considerable Force, if need be; this stand of defence I would have as low down the River as a convenient Situation could be found on account of the number of Inhabitants it will cover, and the benefits that will result from it; for I have no expectation that the Committee of Safety will take this matter up, upon a contracted Plan; if they give in to it at all, it must be upon a larger Scale.

If you could get Guns, the cost of such a defence as is above describd could not be much; Men's wages and Provisions would be the chief, the Vessels might, I should presume (Insuring them) be hired cheap, and the building of the Batteries, in a manner nothing, as a few Men would throw them up in a day or two, the Row Gallies would be the principal cost, and perhaps another Privateer might answer the Purpose of them....

Finding we had no great prospect of coming to close Quarters with the Ministerial Troops in Boston, I fitted out at the Continental Expence, several Privateers; chiefly with design to Intercept their Fresh Provision Vessels from Nova Scotia and Canada, in which we have succeeded [and within] this few days, have taken a Store Ship from London with a fine brass Mortar, 2000 stand of Arms, Shot, Shells etc. to the Amount, it is supposed, of £16,000 Stg. but no Powder; ⁵ also a Ship of Dry Goods [shipped by] a Compy. in Greenoch, Scotland [to a] Tory in Boston, worth £3,600 Stg., what [the] Congress will do with the latter I know not [the] matter is now before them.... ⁶