[Extract]
You have heard that 3 ships have passed fort Washington & gone up the river with out meeting with the least difficulty from all those obstructions which we have attempted to create ー I am not surprized at it having long ago from the manner in which that work was conducted predicted what has hapned & proposed to the Genl what wd have secured us agt the whole navy of England at Less expence than this has cost us ー The sinking blocks tho' he inclined to it it was over ruled at head Quars
10th Octr 1776 Fishkill
1. Robert R. Livingston Papers, 1765-1776, LC.