My Dear Sir

I was honored with your Excellency favor of Yesterday last Evening¹ & am happy to find that your Zeal & attention to the Service & that of the officers who have the honor to serve under your Excellency's command, promise the most favourable Issue to our Enterprise. I rejoice that your two ships in the west channel² have fallen down to Join you; as they will be ready at hand to assist your Excellency in case of an attack & can as Effectually block up the channel by Laying off the mouth of it as by Laying further up the river. I congratulate your Excellency upon the Success of your frigates³ in the East channel & upon the remarkable interposition of Providence in our favor. These Instances seem to foretell a most happy Issue to our attempt. I am of opinion that those vessels in the East Channel Should fall down near the Mouth, to be ready in case of necessity to Join you & they may with Ease move up to cover our Landing when ready. I am however far from thinking any attempt will be made by the English against your fleet as Lord Howe will not dare to Leave Newyork, while General Washington with a formidable army Lays ready to attack it.⁴ The English fleet from home must Expect to be followed by another from france, I therefore think there is little prospect of your being attack't, but I know you will be prepared against every Event & I am sure, it is my most Earnest wishes that you may be ready for them at allpoints. I should have provided an hospital in coming a Shore but found your fleet was coming to sail & not being certain where your Exc^y would return I came forward & sent a person down to provide the hospital & Necessaries, Since which I received a letter from Lieut. Col^o Laurens,⁵ informing that the hospitals were already provided[.] I have Sent M. ___ Halsey⁶ down to Supply your fleet & your Sick with every necessary. Sixty Fat oxen Set off this morning Every other article shall bee Supplyed. The Brick & mason go off this morning, biscuit is baking & Every thing in my power Shall be done. The English prisoners & prises Shall be recd and taken care of. I have Inclosed your Exc^y the depth of water in the East channel & have provided pilots to go on board the frigates to conduct them. I have only time to add my Earnest request that you will be Kind enough to give me from time to time your Judgement upon all the operations. I can Say without flatery & with the utmost Sincerity that I have the highest confidence in your Experience good Jugement & friendship & therefore Shall be happy in complying with Every wish you will please to make Known to me. I have the honor [&c.] Signeé Jn^o Sullivan P.S. as the English vessels in the East Channel are destroy'd⁷ I beg leave to suggest that sending a fifty gun Ships to that channel become unnecessary as the British frigates cannot get round to attack them on the north & your Excellency^'s fleet will Sufficiently Secure them on the South; I also think the two frigates Sufficient to cover our Landing—