The whole Town was alarmed with the Removal of all the Cannon from the Fort and Battery to the Fields ー Carts were imployed for the Stores & Ammunition & the Cannon drawn by Hands with an astonishing Uproar & shouting & the Work continued all Day long with an almost in tire neglect of all public Worship. The Multitude expected every Moment a Firing from the Ships. The Wind was at West and the Tide flowing up till the latter Part of the Afternoon so that the Ships could not come round till the Ebb when a Tender fell down took a View and returned & with a speaking Trumpet informed the Phoenix that they were removing the Cannon and 3000 Men were at Work. This was a Finess for their laying quiet all the Morning tho' the Eastern Docks were lined with Soldiers & the Noise undoubtedly heard. The Asia & Phoenix now unmoored & the Mercury with General Clinton & two Transports put out to Sea, but the Wind rising at North West the two Station Ships let go their Anchors in the same Ground. ー About Midday Lord Stirling stepped into my House &boasted of his having the Conduct of this Business & applauded himself for transacting it in open Day at least alarming to the Inhabitants but I withheld my Confidence in the Message from Mr. Tryon & let [f]all no Reproaches for distressing the Town at such an intemperate Season because found the attempt to perswade People to continue at Home was ill taken by the Committee.

Mr [William] Axtel informed me yesterday that he hinted to Mr Tryon a Design of removing the Cannon and knew his Resolution to bear it  [John Tabor] Kempe came into the Gabbin & on hearing the Conversation exulted with a then the Ball will begin, expressing great Pleasure in the expected Attack. Axtel turned upon him with a Reproof of his Inhumanity ー I am surprised Sir to see you pleased ー You may be safe but there are 16000 Souls in that Town in Danger who can neither prevent the removal nor firing of the Cannon ー He went all silent and ashamed ー I was shocked says Axtel at the Cruelty of the Fellow who was as gay at the Thought of an Attack as a giddy Girl at the Invitation to a Dance. ー These Times try all Characters!

The Day after Mr. [Henry] Clinton arrived there was a Conference on Board of the Dutchess of Gordon between him the Govr. [Hyde] Parker [George] Vandeput [James] Drummond and [Andrew] Elliot and as they have now born patiently the levying of Men seizing Stores & will bear the Erection of Works I imagine it is from a Perswasion that Administration mean to save the accessible Towns till their Overtures are Tried. And that if Clinton has not communicated the Intelligence they rely upon Lord Drummond's suggestions ー I saw this Company collect from the Coffee House Bridge & knew from [James] Jauncey Junr. that Elliot was sent for before he came down there where he waited some Time for Ld Drummond.