Friday Afternoon a Sloop with Dispatches from General Gage, lying near the Man of War, sent her Boat ashore with four Men and one Woman, who being observed by some of our People, they were all taken Prisoners and carried to the Guard House; the Woman was discharged, but the Men are detained for further Examination. The Boat was stove to Pieces on the Beach near Greenwich, and then burnt.
Tuesday se'nnight a small Sloop came down the North River from a Place called Little Esopus, and anchored along side the Asia Man of War, in order 'tis supposed to supply that Ship with Necessaries: A strict Watch was kept on her from that Day until Sunday Morning, when she set Sail and stood up the River, attended by an armed Sloop and some Boats from the Asia, but she was immediately pursued by a Number of Boats from the City, and soon taken, with 12 Men in her, who were committed to Gaol.
Since our last several vessels with provisions &c. have been stopped and detained by the man of war, who put his own price upon whatever he thought proper to take ー on the other hand, several vessels which had been on board the man of war, have been seized by our people, the men examined; some were discharged and others confined, and the vessels destroyed. Twelve persons from one vessel were confined and still remain so.
Yesterday afternoon, two sloops, Captains Holley and Hazard, from New Fields or Poquanock, loaded with grain, flour, provisions, and live stock, came, down the sound to this city, and having no clearance or other necessary papers to produce, were taken into custody on suspicion of being intended for Boston or to fall into the hands of the men of war. In their defence they said, that the committee of Fairfield knew of and did not disapprove their design; and that the reason of their want of clearance &c. was that they could not obtain them in Connecticut, by reason of a an embargo there upon all vessels, and that they came to New York to clear out.
The same Evening, Information was given by two Sailors, that the Sloop Hannah, Capt. [Isaac L.] Winn, lying here some Time, but not entered, lately from the West Indies, via Philadelphia, where it is said he was not allowed to enter, had just sailed with a West India Cargo for Boston ー The Committee was immediately called, but we have not yet heard the Result of their Deliberations.1