The following hints from a real Friend to Government are Most humbly submitted to His Excellency General Sir William How, Knight of the Bath & Commander in Chief of His Majestys Forces in America &c &c &c

Toward the last of March after the Equinoctial Gales are over, I woud humbly recommend [blank] Troops to Cheseapeake Bay, to Baltimore Town on Patapsco River for the following reasons—'Tis the only Town of any consequence the Rebels now possess, from Boston to Charles Town, Its astonishing the Commerce that is carried on there, tis from Baltimore mostly the Rebel Army is supplied with Provisions and Ammunition, the latter is supplied from the French and Dutch by Two Inlets on the Eastern Shore of Maryland & Virginia One called Sinapuxent, the other Chingotegue. (both to the Northward of Cape Charles) and transported in small Craft to Baltimore; The whole Trade of the Bay centres there; 'tis but Thirty Miles from Annapolis, the Rebels Seat of Goverment, (where His Excellincy the General has been) laying nearly centrical between the two grand Rivers, Patowrnack, & Susquahanah, and commands a fine Country for some hundred Miles North West—You wou'd secure the Eastern Shores of Maryland & Virginia, and the Three Lower Countys on Dellaware by which the Inhabitants will chearfully supply the whole Army, (under His Excellency) with more provisions than they can consume for three Years besides Fish in great abunda[nce]

The Inhabitants of the Eastern Shore of Ma[ryland] (a few Oliverians excepted)¹ have always been friendly to good Government, and have not been much disturb'd 'till lately. Those on the Western Shore who have been much distress'd by the Saints² will have an opportun^y. of becoming free and will have an opportunity of retaliating their persecutions—I wou'd recommend Two Sloops War, one in Chester; the other in Great Choptank Rivers, with Three or four Tenders, which will support a Trade with the Eastern Shore. Two or three Ships about the Capes, blocks up their whole Trade, of Maryland and Virginia, in that case the Rebels small Trading Vessels will have no other place to take shelter in, except Egg Harbour, in the Jerseys or the Carolina's—

From intelligence I have lately received, there lies in the Bason of Baltimore, a Fine Frigate, of 28 Guns, call'd the Virginia, Two New Frigates, an old 18 Gun Ship call'd the Defence, a fine New Brig call'd the Sturdy Beggar of 14 Guns with other privateers, Galleys & small Craft, which greatly Annoy the British Subjects—

At this Town of Baltimore (well known to Sir Rob^t. Eden, the late Governour) about Twenty Independants kept the whole province in Confusion and there dictated, to the Congress, and burn'd the Hessian Colours taken at Trenton, headed by Hancock—There is between 18 & 19 feet Water in Potapsco River with soft Ground, Caton, one of Lord Howes pilots, whom I sent off with three others know's the River well—

About two miles below the Town on Weston point there is a Fort mounted with Guns, two of which are 32 pounders which I can have spiked; also a Boom across the North East Branch, but the best way woud be to run the Shipping two miles higher up in the North West Branch, where the ships may lay within 30 yards of the Shore, and land the Troops on a fine dry place called the Ferry point and March into the Town or Fort without opposition—When in possession of Baltimore you are in a most plentiful Country, it lies only 80 Miles from Carlisle, their Capital & principal Magazine.

The sending Troops to Baltimore early in the Spring, wou'd prevent the Southern Malitia being obliged to join Washington's Army, and who, wou'd enter into the New Levies under His Excellencys Command, Thousands of whom wou'd rejoice at an opportunity of assisting His Majestys Army—

Philadelphia
Jan^ry., 12^th. 1778
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