Dear Sir/

I have ordered the ship Lion and the Packet¹ to be taken out of the Creek² & run as high up the River as they can go & there anchored in the Stream. Should the Enemy make an Attempt this Way by Land & not by water or should the Gallies be able to keep off their small Boats the Vessels will be safer in the Stream than so near Shore—there are many other Reasons that induced me to take this Measure—& I hope you will approve of it;—Capt. McGinnisjust now applied to me respecting the Sloop & Schooner under his Charge—He concurred with me in opinion, & will dispose of his Vessels in the same Manner.

Capt. Robinson³ of the A: Doria, went in about 10 Days ago with a Flag to carry Supplies to our People Prisoners in the City—The Flag was perfectly regular Leave having been first obttained for it's going in, & yet Genl. Howe has ordered him & Capt. Galt of the State Fleet,⁴ who accompanied him, to be seised under pretence of their being Spies, & has thrown them into the common Gaol—I have wrote to Genl. Washington but know not what has been done.—M^rs. Robinson is in great Distress⁵

General Lee⁶ passed thro' Crosswicks yesterday in his way to Philadelphia—

Brother Wharton⁷ has been gone some Time to Salem to see his Wife—What is become of him I know not—I hope he is safe—but the Enemy have been & now are at Salem & in it's Neighbourhood.

We are told D^r. Franklin is dead of his wounds—I sincerely hope it is not so—

M^rs. Hopkinson joins me in affectionate Regards to M^rs. Morris & M^rs. Bach, my Compt^s. to all Friends at Manheim—I am dear Sir [&c.]