[Extract]

Last night we had a brush with the Asia ship of war, tho' but little damage done, considering the guns fired. Particulars are, that it was last night concerted to remove the cannon and warlike stores from the Battery, of which the ship was previously informed by some of their good Tory friends here; and being [provi]ded with a spring on her cable, and every necessary for engagement, at about long musket shot from the battery in North River. Our people came to the guns about 11 o'clock, with much silence, but found the Ship's boats full of men, lying very silently on their oars at about fifty or sixty yards distant; and on their beginning to move a cannon, they made signal by a fuse in their boat and discharge of a musket or two on us, which was instantly followed by a cannon-ball from the Ship. On which Capt. [John] Lamb ordered Fire, and there was a discharge of forty or fifty muskets into their boats, who made the best of their way on board. The Ship then fired two more cannon, with langrage &c., which wounded one or two of our men.

During this there was a great alarm through the city; the drums beating to arms, &c. &c., and the poor women and children screaming and flying from the city. After a cessation of about fifteen minutes, (during all which time we were drawing away the cannon,) they fired another shot into the Battery; on which we gave three Huzzas, and one imprudent fellow fired a musket, contrary to orders. The Ship gave us almost her whole broadside, being 9, 18, & 24 lb. shot, with two swivel balls accompanying each large shot, as we find in several places where they struck in range on the fence, houses, &c. This redoubled the consternation, and vast numbers of helpless wretches fled into the fields, &c. Others, in coaches, carriages &c. left the town in a hurry. After which, all was tolerably quiet.

This morning we find many shot holes in the houses, and particularly in the fence at the lower Barracks. One 24 lb. ball went through and through the Barracks, and then thro' two bbls of flour on board a vessel in Whitehall Slip, where it stopped. Early, a company of soldiers are dispatched to Long Island to seize Govr [William] Tryon and Capt. [George] Vandeput, who are both said to be there. The remaining troops are going this afternoon to carry the shot from the lower Battery, which will bring cannonading enough, I expect. The Ship now appears to be very well prepared, and they are continually levelling their guns, as the tide rises or falls. Were it not for the expectation of being a spectator of the fray, I would set out this afternoon; but shall not tarry long here.

The Tories here are pretty silent and look wild. The warm Whigs curse their Provincial Congress, as being infested with [too ma]ny scabby sheep. The Congress are taking depositions concerning last night's work, as 'tis said the people here are charg'd by the Ship with firing first and killing six of their seamen.

We have drawn twenty-one fine Pieces with good carriages, up to the Green, and expect to get the others this afternoon. I am, &c

P.S. Capt. Lawrence, of an armed Schooner here, was last night intercepted with letters from Govr Tryon to Gage, it is said, which might have hastened the proceedings here.