[Extract]

There are at Wilmington about 2700 men chiefly Militia & Minute Men. Governour Martin is near Brunswick with 35 Vessels great & small armed & unarmed. Clinton is with him expecting Cornwallis with 4000 men, With a few Musquets & those bad no cannon, little powder must we oppose them ー but the spirit of this people is equal to any thing. If they fail be assured the victory of Britain will not be bloodless. The Congress must direc~ their particular attention to this Colony. Our Strength I am well assured is not equal to our Spirits, and dreadful would it be should we sink in the generous effort to preserve our Liberties. We must be immediately supplied with field pieces and other articles of defence, let the expense to the continent be what it will The negroes are deserting from the Sea Coast to Gov Martin, Three of mine were lately intercepted on their way and are now in Goal ー They have burnt one House for me, and every hour I expect to hear that my property in Wilmington and at the Sound are in flames The people here are loud in their Clamors against Hopkins certain it is that with his two largest Ships, Martin, Clinton, [Lord William] Campbell the Cruzer & Scorpion the only vessels Martin had with him for a considerable time ー 20 large Merchantmen 3000 Stand of Arms and all kinds of Ordinance Stores would have been easy prize to him, & this Colony saved the expense of 300,000 £ Where is he ... When I was at Richmond your Vessell had not sailed, she was full with 200 Hds of Tobacco but from the Tenders being on the Watch would with difficulty escape Halifax April 17 1776