My dear Colonel,

as I was still at trenton, I thought, that I Could employ my leasure, usefully at Cooper's ferry, and I went down to that place, to try if I could, with five or six Determined militiamen, Creep upon the ice, & set on fire one or two of the enemys ships, by means of two sulphured shirts, that I had Ready for that purpose.

but the River is not frozen at all, & I have been disapointed.

During my station at Cooper's ferry, I have done some observations, which I pray, that you present to his excellency;

I begg together that you send me his answer by the bearer, as it is not time to be lost. I am dear sir [&c.]

Burlington, 20. January.
1778.

send me your answer to trenton turn over

the enemys, were yesterday Cutting the loggs of the wharf upon windmill iland. I suppose for firewood.—

they are Rising palissades, from their Redoute nearest to the River, till the very place, where the tide when gone down... it is likely to prevent the desertion, or for their safety.

they have two hessians Centrys, close by the water, below the beach.—

[Enclosure]

Observations
Made at Cooper's Ferry.—
the 18. January. 1778.—
Situation of the River.

The River Delaware which is frozen at trenton, is not such opposite to philadelphia: the Current being very free, the ferry boat goes & Comes back every day. (that I have seen Myself). But the boats Can not Land in any other place, than the wharf of kings point, & the two of Cooper's ferry. all the Remainder of the shore is incumbred with ice, half floating, half fasten'd to the shore, in such manner that neither boats, nor men Can Land.—

Batterys.

the nearest place, to the enemy fleet, is king's point. twenty eight bigg trade ships lay together, Below, the windmill iland, & opposite to the old fort, about 1000 yards from the Jersey shore.—

as the king's point's wharf is very Narrow, only one eighteen pound^r. Can be placed upon; but two others, can be advantageously in the shore twenty yards behind. the both parapets, by taking Caution, to have Fascines & gabions Ready, can be done canon prove, in one night. one mortar, or howyzt, to throw Carcassess, or shells, would be more useful; if they were possible to be had.—

N.B. the Canon of the galleys is on shore, near burdentown, & the Commodore haselwood¹ has told me, that he has send above trenton two field eighteen p^dr. Carriages.

Coll. ellys,² who Commands the militia at hoddenfield, think that he Could, defend the batery in time of ice, as it is now, with his militiamen.—

if the enemy would attempt to attack the battery by landing, & that we think not, to can Repulse them; it would be easy to carry back the guns & secure them, to the other side. of Cooper's creek; by taking the bridge way. (it is only of boards.)—

one big brick house which Lays close by the wharf, Could successfully defend the battery against Landing storm.—

fire boats.

two kinds of fire Boats may be employed. the first, would be Loaden, with tuns powder, & burst in the midle of the fleet. they could be surely directed, by one strong Racket filled with particular Composition, & fasten'd in the very midle of the head of the boat, to give him direction & velocity. . .

one Mast sunk in the stern of the boat, horisontaly under the water, & to which one sail would be circularly bound, would hinder the Current to Drive it out the way.—

the head of the boat, armed with a strong sharp point of iron, would remain fixed in the enemy's ship, till its bursting up.—

N B . . . the expences will be small. every flat bottom boat answer the purpose ... the Commodore haselwood offers to help me by his knowledge, in their Construction, & Rectify my ideas.. . . he promises to come at trenton, where we Could try, by one boat, before executing by several.

the galleys have salpeter, & powder; I can make the Composition; & one turner will do the moule under our direction.—

besides I suppose that the park of artillery has some quick maches already done.—³

2.^d. kind of fire Boats.

that second kind is not to be used so soon. the nord est wind blows very often, & very hard in the month of february & march, & according to the instrudtions that I have Received of the ferrymen, several boats, filled with tar & other Combustibles, Could be Leaded in the night, over the barr, between Cooper's ferry, & philadelphia, & after, the wind, & the tide, would surely Drive them streigth to the wharf of t[h]e cyty, where the ships lay.—

if his excellency aproves the above schemes; I begg to send me, positive orders ... the commodore will be glad to Receive the same, & we will work friendly & cordyally, together; nor day nor night will be spared from our part tojustify the truth of his excellency.—

L. fleurÿ⁴

Burlington. 20.January 1778.