Ambuscade New Port, in Rhode Island
10th February 1777 —
Dear Betty
I wrote to You about the 30th of Octr last from New York, since which have not heard from You or any of my freinds, The report of all Letters from America being open'd in England at the P: Office, confines me in saying much about myself. I am still on board here, and the Captain if possible continues more & more kind and civil to me, This Frigate a most desireable sea Boat in all respects has been since her coming to America, only employed as a Convoy to Transports & Wooders, We are now going on a two months Cruise to the Joy of all hands — The 7th of Decr last We got possession of this place without any resistance, the Rebells and Hopkins with his five Frigates runing up the River to the Town of Providence, where they are hem'd in by our Frigates and cant get away. Our Troops have been most surprisingly successfull, We have taken so many Islands, Towns and Forts that We have not men to spare from the Garrissoning of them to undertake any important blow, before that more Succours come Out. Twenty thous'd Russians are expected and five thousd Troops from Cork. It is reported there is a hot Press at London, a Rupture with France expected, and that Twenty new Regmts of Marines are a raising, I coud wish I had freinds of sufficient Interest to procure for me a Leiutenancey in One of them, a Sea life agrees well with me, but found the land service woud not. The Leiuts Anderson & Greg on board here are both old first Leiuts and no doubt new Regmts be a raising they will be promoted, I shoud think myself quite happy to be appointed in the Room of One of them, to continue with Capt [John] Macartney who is a great and good Man. I [illegible] Jamey is well and expects preferment, as there is a new [illegible] Battalion of Rangers to be added to the One Colonel Rodgers commands.
It is a miracle to me how well I keep my health, and all that are on board, We have not One sick person, tho there has been most part of this winter and at present the most severe frost I ever see, yet I make use of no hoods or Great coat, only wears three W astecoats and covers my self at night with five Blanketts and a Quilt, The Lark came in here yesterday, but it has since blown so fresh no boat coud come from Her, She lost Her Main Mast at Sea in a hard gale and We left her a New York getting a new One. I lately heard Mr Jesse Adair & son are both well, The Captain and I live very plain and temperate, which I am certain is very conducive to health
My love to all my freinds, When You write name all the Children and what they are doing. We are unmoored ready for sailing I am Dr Betty Yrs Afftly
P S It is the Juno and not the Lark, that arrived here lately, the Lark is at Hallifax and Stationed there Ten Miles below the Town of Providence the River begins to grow narrow and the water shoal, When Hopkins came there He put on shore his Great Guns, and made Batterys of them on each side of the River, by which means He got out of reach of Our Frigates, In the Spring when our Men march up each side of the River, and Our Sloops follow them up, these Frigates must be taken, The Congress is so well convinced of this, that by information of a Deserter, Hopkins has got Orders at all events to endeavour coming down, and has prepared all things for it, but as there is a fifty Gun Ship and four Frigates lying within five Miles of him, and a fifty and Six or seven Frigates and 20 Gun Ships here, lying ready to slip their Cables, all which He must pass, He cannot possibly get away. I cannot inform You of Our Cruise as Our Orders are not to be opened untill We are out of the Harbour, God Bless You All J. D.
In conversing with Our Pilot this morning find Arthur Seed lives here, He has a Wife and One Child, and commands a Sloop of His Br in Laws, at present He is from home, if We return here as I expect We shall, I shall wait upon Her
[Addressed] Miss Dunlop near Belfast 2