Gentlemen,

I wrote you 23d Ulto advising of the Ship Mary being in this Port, Since that I have not Received any of your favours — have now to informe you that this day there came out an Order from the Govr & Council of this State to have the Cargo unloaded & sent up to Norwich to the Mills with orders to have it Ground & made into Bread. I Suppose the reason for this is, that Wheat is become avery Scarse Article this Way and the great probability of a move being made of by the Brittish Troops to Newport, for this two days past we hourly expected a Vissell from them in this Town, a Large Fleet of between Sixty & Seventy Sail of Ships lay at anchor Just back of our light house, & yesterday Saild to the Eastward, we sent out a Boat to Watch their motions and they Returned & say the whole fleet Sailed between Block Island & the main, and Doubled round Point Judith so that undoubt[e]dly they are gone into Newport — Expect soon to have you[r] directions Relative to the Ship for I believe now she will not be able to get out this port by reason of the Men of Warr which are Crusing of[f] this Harbour for this Ten Days past — If you approve of it I can git the Commissn Bills for the Amo of the Cargoe Pay in Phila I am &c