Head Quarters Cambridge 3d Decr. 1775
[Extract]
Long before the Receipt of this You will have heard by Express from the General, of the important Prize we have made in the Capture of the Brig Nancy loaded with Ordnance Stores for the Army at Boston. Orders were given that she should be unloaded with all possible Expedition & we have now the greatest Part of her Cargo safely housed in the Labratory here.2 The loss must be very great to the Enemy, but the Acquisition is immense to Us. Col. [William] Burbeck assured me that it would have taken eighteen Months to have prepar'd a like Quantity of Ordnance Materials, could they have been fumish'd with every Thing, requisite to make them. There are many Things which money could not have procur'd Us. I heard Col. [David] Mason say that, had all the Engineers of the Army been consulted they could not have made out a compleater Invoice of Military Stores, that we are now in Possession of. We want Nothing now but a Ship Load of Powder, to raise such a Clatter in the Streets of Boston, as to force George's Banditti to seek Protection in his Ships, or fly to his Ministers for Security
Sunday Evening
We have just had an Express from Marblehead which informs Us that the same Privateer, which took the Brig Nancy, has taken a large Scotch Ship of 250 Tons, with a Cargo of 350 Chaldrons of Coals & 5000 £ sterlg of dry Goods bound to Boston.3 The Letters are brought up some of which I have just read at the General's ー They contain Denunciations of British Vengeance against the rebellious Colonies, & Effusions of Scotch Loyalty. None that I saw had any thing very material. Both these Vessels were taken by Capt Manley, who You may recollect ー when told he was your Client formerly in an Action brought against him by Vernon. ー