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Sir, According to your desire I send you such Intelligence as I have met at different times since I wrote last to the Admiral ー A Fort is built about sixty Miles up Hudson's River intended to prevent the communication with Albany. ー Many of the most Violent in Town being become very moderate, & the Loyal Party having shewn themselves and spoken with greater Freedom than they have been used to do, & Rivington having ventured to put several Paragraphs from England in his Paper against the Rebels, about three Weeks ago [Isaac] Sears at the head of Seventy Armed Men on Horseback came into the Town, beset Rivington's House, took away his Types, & robbed him of three or four Swords which he had for Sale, having done this he quitted the Town and carried off his Plunder to Connecticut. This Insult is highly complained of by every One, and the Provincial Congress, a New One that met about Ten days past for the first time 'tho it was chosen the 8th of last Month, have remonstrated, and it is said have demanded restitution and satisfaction to be made; The Connecticut Assembly deny the Authority from which Sears acted. ー In East and West Chester Counties many of the Inhabitants have been Disarmed and very ill treated by Bodies of Men from Connecticut. ー The People of Queens County in Long Island expecting the like Usage (they have been so threatend) have associated and Published a Declaration that they will defend themselves if attackd; they have nearly Fifteen hundred Men Arm'd, half the number of which are kept in readiness to turn out at a Short notice; on Governor Tryon's Application to me by Letter, I have supplied them with two Barrels of Powder, some Flints, and 300 Weight of Musquet balls. ー The Collector of Rhode Island has taken refuge on board the Rose, and the King's Money in the Custom House at Rhode Island is Seized by the Rebels ー this Intelligence comes from Mr [Andrew] Elliot Collector of New York. ー The Assembly of New Jersey passed a Vote very lately to Petition the King, one Dissentient only, on this being known to the Continental Congress, three of their Members were sent (Dickenson [John Dickinson], [John] Jay, & another whose Name I dont recollect) to Jersey, where after an Harangue of three Hours they persuaded the Assembly to rescind its Vote.
Lord Dunmore who has hoisted the Standard and declared all the Negroes belonging to Rebels, Free, is entrench'd at Suffolk, he is allowed to be Two thousand strong, some say much Stronger, and that numbers join him every Day. ー Preparations are making at Philadelphia fo send three Regiments to oppose Him, and One is to go from Jersey, to go by the way of Cheseapeak ー The Ships fitting at Philadelphia are, One Ship of 32 Guns of 350 Tons only, One of 20 of 300 Tons, One of Sixteen & one of Ten, and a Privateer also of Twelve Guns from New Haven ー The four former are to be fitted at the Expence of the Congress for Six Months, at an Estimate of 93 Thousand Dollers, for which they have Voted the Money ー some pretend that they are intended to attack the Ships at Virginia, others say they are going to Cruize for Our West India Ships ー from late Accounts they do not find Seamen willing to Enter 'tho they offer very high Wages. It is said they will Sail the latter end of this Month ー Continental Money in much disrepute even in Philadelphia, it passes with difficulty in the Markets and the Quakers absolutely refuse it; in this Town It passes in Exchange at a Discount but is much disliked in the Country and no One will take it that dare refuse ー A Gentleman of Long Island told the Governor two days ago in my presence, that in his Neighbourhood, a Dollar Bill would not buy an Egg ー Governor [Robert] Eden in Maryland lives still Unmolested a Shore ー Governor Tryon's Letter acquainting the People of his having the King's Leave to Quit the Government &ca. &ca. occasioned a Warm Debate in the Provincial Congress in consequence of which, Five of their Members have quitted it, and they have not assembled since ー Those are the most material Circumstances that have come to my knowledge and I believe can all be depended upon. I am Sir &ca