We are now almost as much blocked up by the sea as we have been for these eight months by land. By this opportunity you will receive a confirmation of the rebels having taken the Ordnance brig. This is a great loss to us and a great acquisition to them. The rebels have also just taken another vessel from Britain, valued at 10,000 l. loaded with necessaries for the army. ² These vessels have been carried into Cape Aren [sic Ann], which is only seven leagues from the mouth of this harbour, and they were taken almost within sight of our Admiral's ship. Yet there is nothing to prevent the rebels taking every vessel bound for this port; for though there are near twenty pendants flying in this harbour, I cannot find that there is one vessel cruising in the bay. Surely our Admiral cannot be allowed to remain here much longer a curse upon the garrison. We used to say here that the suite of our former General were intent on nothing but profit; but we have more reason to complain of our sea commander. All the summer while the sick and wounded were dying daily for want of fresh provisions, not a boat was permitted to fish in the harbour till Mr. —————, ³ the Admiral's secretary, was softened down with a dollar from each boat. You may be sure we were not silent at this exaction, which was both impudent and barbarous, and after a long time got it abolished. But after this we found ourselves in a worse situation. As no dollars were paid, fishing passports were with difficulty procured; the Admiral was never to be seen, and his secretary was always busy; so that it often cost many days attendance before a single boat could have leave to fish, You may guess what execrations were poured forth against them by all sorts of people, the sick, the wounded, and the well, the army, and the inhabitants. If a vessel was fitted out by the army for to sail in quest of fresh provisions, General Gage's desiring a pass was sufficient reason for a refusal; for the Admiral and his 'spouse entertained a mortal antipathy against the General and his Lady. On a second application the reply was, that such a pass was against the Port Bill. To this it was answered that the Port Bill was not passed to starve his Majesty's troops. In such messages as these, eight, ten days, or a fort'night, were lost, and a pass was at last granted on the General's absolutely demanding it for the sake of supplying the sick and wounded who were languishing in the hospitals. A vessel detained in this manner was taken by the rebels on her return from the Bay of Fundy, fully laden with live stock. She was taken by the first vessel fitted out by the rebels and must have came saf[e] had she not been detained as above. The disagreement between the General and Admiral first originated with their wives; both of whom led their husbands. Every plan of the Generals that miscarried afforded matter of laughter to the Admiral's family, who sneer'd and cried out, "Well! this is Mr. General's fine plan!" The General soon had his revenge, for Mr. Admiral undertook himself to defend Noodles's [Noddle's] Island; but the rebels soon made him retreat, defeated his marines, burnt all the hay and barns, and carried off the live stock. Then he undertook to defend Long Island; there again he was defeated, and the women and children who resided there for their health carried off before his face: Then he undertook to defend the light house; there he suffered more disgrace than ever; it was burnt while he and his ships lay in full view: When the rebels had done their business they retired; upon which Mr. Admiral ventured to land a party of marines and a number of workmen to rebuild it; they were no sooner ashore than the rebels in their whale boats landed again on the island, and his marines and his carpenters were killed or taken prisoners under his own guns. ⁴ During all this Mr. and Mrs. General had their revenge, and they enjoyed it: all their cry was "Well! these are Mr. Admiral's fine plans!" In a few words our navy never made so disgraceful a figure. If our sea commander is not speedily recalled no service can be expected from our fleet. He has quarrelled with the General, the army, with all his own officers except his own hangers-on, with the Commissioners, and with all who had any business with him. After all I believe the man de[s]igns well; but his own wife says that a fit which he had on his arrival here has rendered him good for nothing.