His Excellency George Clinton Esqr. Sir, His Excellency William Livingston by Order of Congress was pleased to Desire me and Capt'n Patrick Dennis to Collect as many Branch Pilots¹ as Could be had in this State for the use of His Excellency Count D'Estaing's Fleet now Laying within 4 Miles of Sandy Hook. I have the Pleasure to Inform your Excellency, that we have Collected Eight and Delivered them to the Count in Persons, four of which are the first Branch Pilots we had at New York before these Troubles, the other four are Men Capable of Carrying any Ship which draws less water than those under the Command of the Count. However they are Sufficiently acquainted to Follow the largest Ships in the Channel. I have Prevailed on Capt. Patt: Dennis to Remain on Board in Order to Encourage the Pilots there on board who is also well acquainted with the Channel. 

As it was hinted to me by the Count, as well as the rest of the Commanders to have Several Coasting Pilots Sent on Board, I beg Your Excellency will forward Major Will’m Dobbs Down to Black Point,² or any other Coasting or Channel Pilots you may have in our State, Dobbs I well know is a Proper Coasting and Channel Pilot; they Signify also, to have at least one Pilot for Each Ship for the Channel if they are to be had. From appearance I find the Count will get a Long side the English fleet if He Can, which lay last Fryday Morning in line of Battle, from Sandy Hook up the Channel. They appeared when on Board the admirall's Ship to be about 30 in number, most of them from 14 to 36 Guns. I believe they may have five or Six Battle Ships with them. I hope you'll Excuse this Incorrect account, as I am much Fateagued and almost Burnt up with hot Sand, in going through a Villanous Tory Country. We had lik'd to have lost all our Lives, Pilots Included, on Board of a French open Boat, going over the Barr at Shrewsburry Inlett,³ as the Boat Struck on the Barr and Fill'd half full of water. One Sea more whould have finish'd about 30 in Number half of which was English men. I have the Honor to be Your Excellency's Most Obed't Humb'e Serv't