[Extract]

Sir  On consideration of the Advantageous Situation, and natural provisions & circumstances of the Harbour of New London, to render it a place of Safety for the Shipping of the Colony, as well as of the Continental fleet, We were induced to set ourselves to fortify it, at Mamacook, Winthrop's Neck and on the Rock, and height on Groton Side, places fit for the purpose, & were seeking the Cannon necessary, ー At the time that other help failed ー Providence smiled on our endeavours, ー a Supply of Cannon & Stores was bro't into that harbour from New Providence by Commodore Hopkins ー On receiving your Letter of the 17th of April last ー enclosing one to the Comodr ー after observing the Contents, sealing and enclosing it I transmitted the same to him ー and early returned you intelligence of his proceedings relative thereto ー In pursuance of the resolve of Congress ー I directed twenty four of the Cannon left at New London to be mounted on Carriages, this work is accomplished, ten of them are put into their births on Groton Rock & Height ready for Use, the rest will be soon carried to Mamacook & the places where they are to be used ー There are not eno' of them, yet so as to answer very good purposes, with them that we had before ー I thought it my duty & necessary to write to the Comodore concerning the Cannon & such other of the Stores as are not necessary for the fleet and were to be landed & left at New London ー To my very great Surprise received for Answer the Comodore's Letter of the 21st instant & an Order by Messrs [Levi] Hollingsworth & [Thomas] Richardson to deliver them twenty of the heavy Cannon &c ー whereof Copies are enclosd ー Mr [Samuel] Huntington passing thro' this Town from Congress, informed me that the Order to the Comodore by those Gentlemen mentioned twenty of the heaviest Cannon he brought from New Providence to New London & had since carried to New Port ー and that it was not intended to remove from us any of the Cannon left at New London ー An Answer is returned by those two Gentlemen ー with a denial to deliver the Cannon on his Order being sensible that the Honble Congress would justify my non compliance with his Order ー not having even a Copy of theirs to him ー That on a Candid consideration, he would approve my conduct. I do gratefully Acknowledge the Goodness of your Body In directing me to employ those Cannon in the defence of that Harbour & trust the same will not be taken from thence considering the Necessity and the Advantage they will be of for the Interest & safety of the united Colonies, as well as of this ー to secure their fleet and the Navigation of the Sound are both obvious & important Objects ー

Colo [Samuel] Mott an Experienced Surveyor, and Engineer employed in that Service the last War ー at St John's the last Year & now in Erecting the works at New London ー Whose Skill & integrity may be relied on ー hath lately made a Map of the Harbour which is inclos'd ー I flatter myself On Consideration of this Harbour in comparison with others it will meet the approbation & encouragement of Congress, to be fortified at a general Expence ー