Last week the Inhabitants had Intelligence that the Mercury Man of War was off the Hook with Orders to direct all Transports coming here with Troops from Ireland to proceed to Boston & that she had fallen in with several & communicated General [Thomas] Gage's Orders for this Purpose, which gave much Satisfaction to the Town, become thin of Inhabitants upon Apprehension of Hostilities on their Arrival especially as the Congress of this Province had required General [David] Worster [Wooster] to march here from the Eastern Confine of this Province where he had been ready with 2500 of the Connect Levies.