Copy.
Flora Newport
August 3d. 1778.
My Lord,
I have just now the Honor of both Your Lordship's Letters of the 29th. & 30th. July by Messrs. Furnival and Jann,1 who arrived within two Hours of each other; and beg leave to acquaint you the Force under my direction has been employed, from time to time, as the General2 has desired; and was drawn into the Inner Harbor except the Cerberus, who was lying between Pest Island and the Blue Rocks to stop that Passage:3 But on receiving your Lordship’s Dispatches, they have proceeded up the Middle Channel again: The Lark off Arnold's point; The Orpheus off Dyer's Island, the Cerberus below it; agreeable to the General's desire.4
As to the time the Garrison may be able to sustain the Attempts of the Enemy; Is, the General says, very uncertain, and depends upon the Numbers they throw in— With respect to the nature of their hostile Operations; There are two Ships of the Line up the Naraganset Passage; Two Frigates, a large Brig and two Sloops in the Seconnet;5 The rest consisting of Ten Sail of the Line and one Frigate are still at Anchor without any form, between Churche's Point, (which forms the West Side of Easton's Beach) and Brenton's Reef, the Southmost at about 5 Miles Distance from the Island; The other Frigate is supposed to be Cruizing off Montock Point.
This Morning I caused five Transports to [be] sunk in the passage between Goat Island, and the Blue Rocks, to prevent the Approach of the Enemy too near the North Battery, so as to attack it with Advantage. And Five more Transports are proceeding out, in order to be sunk between Goat Island and Rose Island for the same Purpose.6
The moment I am convinced your Lordship is off; I will use every possible means to get a Boat with an Officer to You.
Messrs. Furnival and Jann were both chaced by the small Vessels; the former escaped and got his Sloop safe in; the latter ran on Shore on Easton's Beach.
I think it proper to acquaint Your Lordship the following is the Signal settled between Gen[eral] Clinton and General Pigot.
If an English Fleet appears off; the Enemy being in the Port, You are to hoist an English Red Ensign on Beaver's Tail, if not in possession of that Ground, on Castle point.
I have dispatched this by Mr. Jann in a Whale-Boat to your Lordship. I have the Honor [&c.]
It is impossible at present, the Winds hanging so much to the Southward, for a Sailing Vessel to get out; &c the Mouth of the Harbour so Vigilantly guarded: but should there be any opportunity, I shall embrace it, and dispatch Furnival.
J:B:
