Sir
Your letter of the 19 Inst was delivered early yesterday & would have been Answered before this Evening, had not his Excellency's time been much employed in dispatchg Expresses to sundry places.
His Excellency is much pleased that our fleet is likely to get out again & wishes your return as soon as you have dispatched them. Herewith you will receive the Commissions you wrote for, also a Copy of private Signals used by the Kings Ships in the American service, which his Excellency desires you to furnish each of our Captains with & to return the Copy sent, when you come back.
As to the Attempt on the Fowey, he thinks that the situation of our affairs at present will not Justifie It ー But on your arrival will consider more of It, should there be the same prospect of success that you apprehend there is now.
The report you have had is too true, but not so bad we hope as you have heard ー However It is certain that the Great & Gallant [Richard] Montgomery is no more ー he with his Aid de Camp Capn [John] McPherson, & Capn [Jacob] Cheeseman of New York fell the first fire ー Also Col [Benedict] Arnold is wounded in the Leg ー I am &c.
