[Extract]

You would observe by the paper sent Mr. Elusly that Ld. Dunmore had ordered the power out [of] the Magazine at Williamsburg on board the Magdalen schooner. This has occasioned a great deal of blustering. We hear of 2000 men coming from Fredericksburg headed by James [sic! Hugh] Mercer, and as many from Hanover. There was a few men got together about Fredericksburg not however a tenth part of the report, and Young Man[n] Page came down to know the truth of matters. The speaker went that way to the Grand Congress to quiet the minds of the people, and [the] thick headed treasurer who finds it more difficult to extinguish a flame thari kindle it, is in a terrible panic, writing leters all over the country to prevent these meetings. Williamsburg did well enough for the seat of government during the golden age; it will not do now, it should be here or some place where a ship can go. What can a governor do without a little force? No man can I believe make better shift than ours on such an occasion, like Charles XII he has fortified his House, with several guns at the windows, cut loop-holes in the Palace, and has plenty of small arms. His Lady and famillie are on board the Fowey at York . . . It is suspected the patriots intended that powder for their friends in Boston.