[Philadelphia]
[Extract]
[December] 27. . . a certain something a peice of Clockwork, a Barrel with Gunpowder, &c was found in our River, which blew up near the Row-buck Man of War, and distroyd a boat near it1 several others they say are found, thought to be the contrivance of some designing evel minded person or persons, against the Shiping. . . .
Elizabeth Drinker, The Diary of Elizabeth Drinker, edited by Elaine F. Crane, 3 vols. (Boston: Northeastern University Press,), 1: 270–71.
1. This explosive device was the work of David Bushnell. It was probably similar to the type of mine he used against H.M.S. Cerberus off New London, Conn., earlier that summer. NDAR 9: 740–41, 746–47. For additional documentation on Bushnell's plan, see Jonathan Trumbull to Colonel William Worthington, 4 Nov., Colonel William Worthington to Jonathan Trumbull, 20 Nov., and Jonathan Trumbull to Brigadier General Samuel H. Parsons, 21 Nov., above.