Sir,

My Letter to you of the 24th from on Board of the Ship Blue Mountain Valley, off Amboy I hope you received. the Next day we got her into the Sound near Blazeing Star, where she Grounded, but by lightening her, we got of[f] again Yesterday Morning, and brought her up to Elizabeth point where she now lies, under the Care of Capt [William] Rogers is [sic] whose Charge for the Use of the Continent Congress I have put her and is Guarded by a detachment of my Regiment, I thought it most prudent to Unbend her Sails and to have her unladen as soon as possible, and have given directions to have the Cargoe & Stores brought into this town as soon as possible Capt Rogers who was recommended to me by the N York Committee of Safety, has been very Alert and Steady throughout this Whole Affair, is well worthy of the Confidence they placed in him. ² I would Now give a More particular relation of this transaction, But the Cold & fategue I have been exposed to for the last fortnight has almost got the better of me, it is with difficulty I can set up to write this. I shall enclose a Copy of the Manifest & Bill of Lading of the Cargoe of this Ship, a Strange Cargoe! and twenty odd Similar ones Sailed about the Same time! the Capt is Brother to George Dempster Esqr a Valuable friend to North America in the House Commons, he is a Sensible Genteel Young Man, all his property, about £ 100.Sterling is on Board, a trifle also belongs to the Mates; I must beg it as a favour of the Congress to order me to restore it to them, for they have all behaved Extreamly Well, and were very Usefull to us in Working the Ship; and the Sailors are now assisting the Soldiers in Unladeing her. I have great reason to believe that more of these Ships will Come on this Coast & try to get into New York, four or Six small Vessels kept ready and in good Weather to Run between Sandy Hook & Egg Harbour might pick them up, and prevent their receiving any assistance from Capt [Hyde] Parker [Jr.].

Major [William] DeHart returned Yesterday from Long Island with the detachment of my Regiment, and has brought me four Colours of Long Island Militia; the Arms they took, they have delivered up to Col: [Nathaniel] Heard. I shall enclose a Copy of Major DeHarts Report to me. I am [&c.]

The Honble John Hancock Esqr

[Enclosure]

Ship Blue Mountain Valley
Manifest of her Cargo ー

Sundry Stores of the Ship Vizt
Masts, Sails, Rigging, Cables,
Anchors &ca
Quantity Uncertain

[Endorsed] Copy from the Mates Book

Stirling.