[Extract]

The town is at present much more quiet than it has been, those people who in consequence of our firing had removed to the Country are all returned, and such as are known to be friends to Government do not seem to be under so great apprehensions as they were a short time ago ー I cannot pretend to say what occasions their present quiet, but it is thought by some that several of their principals are not so sanguine as they have been; they find that they have lost all their Friends in England, and it has been reported that they have met with a considerable loss at Saint Johns, but they keep every thing that is against themselves so secret, that the truth cannot be come at; All the Connecticut Rabble that were here are gone up the Country to join the rest, at the Isle aux Noix ー Nothing transpires that is doing at the Continental Congress, only that we hear there has been a dispute amongst the Delegates whether Hancock or Randolph shall be President. [John] Adams denies having written the Letter that was intercepted, but they dont believe him ー The 29th of last Month was the day on which the City Magistrates were Chosen, it was imagined that the Mob Party wou'd do every thing in their Power to get some of their Set Elected for this purpose Hand Bills were distributed about the day before with a list of those Men whom they recommended, and the Sons of Liberty were invited to meet on the Morning of Election, at the Liberty Pole this appeared like advertising for a Mob, but these proceedings availed nothing every thing went on very quietly and the Magistrates of the last Year were rechosen; Who, (tho I know not any thing they have ever done to deserve to be regarded) are yet much better than many who might have been put in their places ー The Governor continues on shore unmolested, but I cannot help saying, that I wish he was on board; I send you Enclosed two Extracts from Letters from Lord Dartmouth to his Excellency which he transmitted to me about three weeks ago.

Captain [Samuel] Holland resides at Amboy in the Jersey's in which town I understand the people are in general well affected. He has sent to England his most valuable Drawings, should he make any Application to me I shall be sure to give him every possible Assistance.

I have this Morning received advice, which I believe to be certain, that Doctor Franklin, Mr [Thomas] Lynch of South Carolina and Colo [Benjamin] Harrison of Virginia have been sent from the Continental Congress as a Committee to Cambridge, it is pretended here, that they are gone with Orders to Washington to attack the King's Troops before the Reinforcements which are expected from Europe Arrive.