Sir:

I wrote you the 14th. Inst., giving Information of the sailing from this Harbour, of the Phoenix, Savage, and Nautlus Men of War; which, I apprehended were designed to join [James] Wallace in Order to block up the Fleet under your Command. The latter Part I since find to be groundless, as they have returned, and I find they make a Practice of stretching off from and soon returning to this Port. This convinces me that they are in Expectation of a Fleet and I am preparing for their Reception.

I expected to have met here a Force much superior to what I have found it. I was obliged to lessen it by detaching four of our strongest Battallions to Canada which lays me under the Necessity of requesting you to dispatch to this Place as soon as possible the 200 Men lent you from this Army that they may join their respective Corps, which are much weakened by their Absence. I am, etc.

P.S. Inclosed is a Copy of two Resolves of Congress respecting the Cannon and Stores &c.²