[Extract]
(No 36)

My Lord, Two Gentlemen crossing a Ferry at Rhode Island in their way from Philadelphia to those parts of the Country were stopped by Captain [James] Ayscough of His Majesty's Ship Swan, who found several Letters in their Possession, and some of them of Consequence. They are all transmitted to Admiral [Samuel] Graves who has kept the Originals, and has only give me Copys of three of them which I inclose your Lordship. Two of them appear to have been written by Mr John Adams a Lawyer and a Delegate from this Province to the Continental Congress; one directed to his Wife Signed with the Initials of his Name J: A: The other in the same hand writing but Anonimous, directed to Mr James Warren lately chosen Speaker of the Newfangled Assembly they have chosen to rule this Province, in place of a Provincial Congress. The Third Letter to Mr Washington is from a Mr. [Benjamin] Harrison, who I understand is a Delegate from Virginia.

A Fleet of Transport who had been out in Search of Live Stock is just returned with about Eighteen hundred Sheep and above one hundred head of Oxen, which will be some Relief to the Troops in general, and of great Benefit to the Hospitals.