Sirs.

Enclosed are some let^rs. received this morning p^r. dragoon from Wilmington.

By intelligence from Philad^a. we learn that a large fleet sailed from thence on friday last; they had with them a number of flat-bottomed boats. My intelligencer did not know the design of their expedition. Conjectures in the city were various. Some insinuated that Wilmington was the object; others, that they were gone on a grand forage to the lower county and the eastern shore of Maryland. I have the honor to be [&c.]

March 16^th. 78.