[Extract]

I have Accounts from Boston, which I think may be relied on, that General Clinton with about four or five hundred men, hath left that place, within these four days ー Whether this is part of the Detachment which was making up, as mentioned in my Letter of the 4 Inst, & then at Nantasket, or not, is not in my power to say ー If It is designed for New York, or Long Island, as some think, throwing a body of Troops there, may prove a fortunate circumstance ー If they goe further South agreable to the Conjectures of others, I hope there will be men to receive them ー Notwithstanding the positive assertions of the four Captains from Portsmouth, Noticed in my Letter of the 14, I am now convinced from several corroborating circumstances ー the Accounts of Deserters, & of a Lieut Hill, of Lord Percy's Regiment, who left Ireland the 5 of November, & was taken by a privateer from Newbury Port, that the 17 & 55th Regmts are arrived at Boston, & other Troops at Hallifax agreable to the information of Hutchinson, & others ー Lieut Hill says that the Transports of two Regiments only were forced into Milford Haven.

Congress will think me a little remiss I fear, when I inform them that I have done nothihg yet towards raising the Battalion of Matines, ² but I hope to stand exculpated from blame, when they hear the reason ー which was, that already having 26 Incomplete Regiments, I thought It would be adding to an expence already great in Officers, to set two entire Corps of Officers on foot, when perhaps we should not add Ten men a week by It, to our present numbers ー In this opinion the General Officers here concurred, which Induced me to Suspend the matter a little longer. Our Inlistments for the two last weeks, have not amounted to 1000 men & are diminishing ー the Regiment for Canada It is thought will soon be filled, as the men are to choose all but their Field Officers, which are appointed by the Court.