My dear Lord

A Vessel is this very moment arriv'd at our Quay in 28 days from Philadelphia & brings letters from thence, some of which are now before me, replete with exultations on their Success against the Fort at Ticonderoga ー they surpriz'd the Garrison consisting of only 45 men & possess'd themselves of all the cannon & ammunition.

the congress were sitting & had determin'd that all American ports should be shut on the 20th of July, & New York & N: Carolina had determined not to avail themselves of the Privilege granted them by Parliament ー the American correspondent adds "here all degrees of People are arming; even N: York is now violent in defence of American freedom, & so unanimous are the Colonies in the common cause that it is determined to march from any one province to another where it may be necessary" I wish my dear Lord my intelligence had been as satisfactory as it is early but such as it is I thought it might be important for your Lordship to know it ー All the letters agree in the account of an Universal armament: believe me with the sincerest esteem [&c.]