[Extract]
It is now almost three Months since, by the Smiles of Providence upon our Army, that General Howe, with the rest of our unnatural and perfidious Enemies, were forced, with Ignominy to abandon the Capital of this Colony; on which memorable Event I sincerely congratulate you: ー But, to my Astonishment, Anger, and just Resentment, a single fifty-gun Ship has ever since kept Possession of Nantasket Road; and by her Tenders taken more Prizes, than at a moderate Computation, would have fortified and rendered impregnable every Island in this Harbor: Besides, had the remaining naval Force been excluded, after the Army sail'd, a Trap would have been found, in which Prizes wou'd probably been taken to the amount in Value to us of near or quite half a Million Sterg ー For when a Ship with a leading Gale of Wind at East is off the Lighthouse, with a flood Tide, and Night coming she must enter the Harbor, or be beat to Pieces upon the Rocks on one Side on, or the other. Sentiments similar to these, were published almost two months ago, but to no Purpose.
To increase our Hazards, and add to our Mortification, the 10th Instant, 7 Transports filled with highland Troops arrived in Nantasket Road: ー
This Event has "waked the Watchmen of the publick Weal" for, whilst I am writing I hear, there are Parties with Cannon, Mortars, and Entrenching Tools going this Night, to fortifie the Moon, great Hill at Hough's Neck, Petticks Isld Long Isld, and Nantasket: ー The Commodore, about 11 o'clock, brought his Broad Side to bear upon Nantasket and fired about 20 of his lower Tier Guns at which Place I suppose they are now at work.