Philadelphia May 24. 1777
[Extract]
There are four Men of War and four Tenders in Delaware Bay. The Roebuck, and a Fifty Gun ship, and two other Frigates, are the Men of War. They come up the River a little Way to get Water sometimes with Fear and Trembling, and dare not come up far enough to get fresh Water, but content themselves with brackish Water.
They go on shore sometimes to steal some lean Cattle, if any happen to wander into lonely Places, where they dare venture.
1. Butterfield, ed., Adams Family Correspondence, II, 246-47.