[Extract]

Dear Sir I had the pleasure of writing you two letters dated the 14th and 16th Instt by the Ship Julius Caeser in which Mrs [Peter] Oliver & Mrs [John] Wentworth went passengers ー

This I hope will be handed to you by Captain [James] Urquhart our late Town Major, who is appointed to Command the additional Company of the 14th Regt

I am much disapointed in not having the pleasure of a line from you by the Centurian Man of War, or any of the Ships that have arrived from England ー

By a letter Majr [Stephen] Kemble this day Recd from Mrs [Thomas] Gage, I have the pleasure to hear you were well the Eighth of October last; the latest Accot we have from England is the 26 Novr The Kings Speech and the addresses of both Houses of Parliament, does not make any good impression on the Minds of the deluded people of this Continant. they interprete it into a desire of Conse[n]trating Matters on their own terms, which I think is lucky for England. No terms will Satisfy them, and there is nothing now left but a good triming to Convince them of their unworthyness. unhappy will it be for Britain, shou'd matters be made up on any other terms, ー Three Store Ships arrived Yesterday, its uncommon the long Passages they have had ー The Transport with 3 Companys of the 46 Regt mentioned in the English News papers to be missing, was spoke with 10 days ago all well, & its thought they have got into Halifax there is one transport with 4 Companys of the 55 Regt not yet arrived, its thought they have bore away for the Wt Indias.

The gloomy prospect we had some weeks ago, begins to clear up, by the Supplys from England, that have arrived, & we find that we are not forgot.

We have Plays, Assemblys, and Balls. and live as if we were in a place of plenty ー

General [James] Robertson is quite the Young Man, gives Balls and Routs, which he may do, Excha will pay for all, he has Six thousand Pounds Sterling Cash arrived in the Centurian for bills he sent home last Augt at 15 PCt and has now sent it back again in bills at 10 PCt ー the Money for which he may have out again by the last of April, which will Clear him fifteen hundred Sterling. these bills are originaly got from the Paymaster General, for Warrants he had on him, for his Barrack Department ー he talked a good deal some time ago of his not geting a Regt but he seems pritty silent now he thinks its near, as he wou'd be develishly disapointed, shou'd they give him one, and take the Barrack Office from him; he knows what he's about as well as any Man ー

Mrs. Gage Mentions in her letter to her Brother, that you told her he is appointed Major in the Royal Americans, which is the only account we have of any promotion in the Corps, Except Lt Col [James Mark] Prevosts geting a Battn ー Shou'd [John] Brown & [Beamsley] Glaser keep their intention of Quiting, I will than [be] the Eldest, And as feild Officers now go, it is not great presumption to aspire at being one; I have your Justice, and inclination to serve me, and when its my turn you'll not forget me ー

I will not trouble you again, on the Subject of my two Last Letters ー grievances is not a pleasing repetition.

General [James] Grant has moved into Hand cocks house, which General Clinton occupied till his departure a few days ago. Grant is still the same Man you saw him, he is in high Expectation of geting the 38th Regt ー both he & Robertson say they wou'd not accept of one of the American Battns ー the former its Sour Grapes, the Latter, Barrack Office. [Valentine] Jones Splutters away and is as fit for a General as ever. [Francis] Smith is very Consequencial and the King has made a good Cure of his Wounds.

We had last Night the Blockade of Boston represented without being interruptd by the Yankies, The Audience Expected something better from the Abelities of the Authors. its but a poor performance, Last Night a Deserter came in, and repeats the report I mention'd to you in my last of [Allan] McClean having given a triming to [Benedict] Arnold, who comands the Detachment of the Rebell Army that went last October to Quebec by the Kenebeck River. he further says, that they have an Accot at Cambridge, that General [Richard] Montgomery went with his detachment from Montreal to Quebec, to Support Arnold, and that He attacked the lower town and Carried it; but that General [Guy] Carleton attacked them from the upper town, and beat them. in which action, the Rebells had four hundred killed, and one hundred taken prisoners. he also says that Montgomery and his Aid de Camp are amoung the Killed. this News he says was industrasley kept from their People, but that we may depend upon it.

Captn Wallace has again Landed at Rhode Island, and attacked another party of Rebles, killed fifteen, and burnt Several Houses. he is a fine fellow. ²

Last Night Six Rebell Prisoners Confined on board the Admirals Ship the Preston found means to get at liberty, Carried off a boat, and landed at Dorchester Neck. ³

The 15 Instt a Vessell from Cork with Supplys for this Garrison was taken and carried into Plymouth ⁴ ー Governor [Francis] Leg[ge] is raizing a Corps of Provencials in Nove Scotia, Captn [John] Stanton of the 14th Regiment is to be Major, and Lt Barry of the 52 last Winter our Poet, and now his Secretary; is to be Eldest Captain. we have dayly Feild Officers and Captains selling out, and many purchaseing on, Majr [Thomas] Smelt of the 65 has sold to Captn [David] Dundass of the 63 Regt  A Return has been asked from Each Corps, of the Subalterns that will purchase; I desired Mr Haldimand to put down his Name for a Company when it comes to his turn, but I do not Expect he will be Elowed to Purchase being so Young an Officer; he lives with his Corps, and they seem to like him, and he them; and he has all the attention and Assistance in my power.

Robertson does all he can to get back to New York, where he wishes to Command and he will not rest untill he carrys that point. It is reported that Sir Jeffery [Amherst] is certainly to come out, which seems to please him much.