Yesterday a party of the enemy landed upon Pettick's Island (at or near the Sheep-Pen) & traveled about upon it a considerable time; if these companies had had the Whale-Boats, 'tis not likely the enemy would have ventured so far ー I find that a considerable number of inhabitants of Hull are returned, & boats from the Ships have been observed to go thither; no doubt can be made, but that intelligence and provision are conveyed in that channel, & for want of Whale-Boats we can't prevent it; It would be better to burn the Town than permit such communication ー but a party, perhaps 50 or 100 men might prevent it, & protect the Inhabitants: They certainly know that the W-Boats are taken off from hence, or they would not venture to look after our Fishing Canoes so far up the Harbour, wh[en we werle so near to our Guards upon Hough's Neck: The Comte of W[ar] will doubtless consider this matter.

By inteligence from our Guards, our Armed Vessels, this morning took a ship & Brig a little without the L[ight]-House; Some say only a ship: I saw [George] Dawson endeavour to go out, at the time of the Firing, but wind and Tide being agst him, he cou'd not get out;² The like has taken place several times before, & is evidence to me that the enemy do not think it safe to ride outside the L-House: Just before their great Fleet left Nantaskett Harbour, several of them anchored below the Lt-House, but soon returned; similar instances I can give, which fully evince that they do not think it safe to anchor so low down:

It may be well to consider, whether, if they are driven from their present station, they may not attempt to lodge in Marblehead Harbour, or some other within the Capes. It ought also to be considered, how they may be dislodged from the heights of Hull and the Islands, should they possess them, & also how they will dislodge us, shou'd we have possession of those heights. I am &c.

[To] The Honble Thomas Cushing, Esqr.
Chairman of the Comtee of War Boston