Sir ー

A transport is this instant arriv'd in this harbour with Troops altho it is said that General Clinton gave his honour that not a Soldier was destin'd for this place as We have, Sir, a great deal to do, many works to throw up, Long Island to secure ー and a considerable deal of duty necessary for the safety of the City ー and as the four Battalions orderd to be rais'd in this Province can not possibly be prepar'd for any sort of service in a very short space of time it is requisite to provide ourselves with an adequate force immediately ー it is true the Committee of safety (whose zeal and alacrity seem most fervent) have ordered three Regiments of Minute Men into the City but I apprehend even this addition will not enable us to accomplish the measures resolv'd upon ー if, Sir, a Battalion of the Philadelphian Associators, or a detachment from the several Battalions amounting to the Number of a compleat Battalion coud be spar'd us They wou'd not only be of infinite use to us, but of considerable to themselves, as it will afford 'em an opportunity of instructing themselves in the construction of Field works and [of] the Method of fortifying and in trenching camps. ー I confess I am the more solicitous of being immediately put into force as I am extremely apprehensive that a very large Body of the Ministerial[ists] will be here in a very few days either from Boston or from England. I think, Sir, likewise as probably the number of Troops will be increasing here every day ー the Congress wou'd do well without loss of time to establish an hospital in this Colony I am, Sir [&c.]