My Dear Sir,ー

I am now to inform you that there is a 20 gun ship and two tenders in the Sound. They have begun their work, that is, to intercept the trade of our vessels. Yesterday they run a vessel ashore off Seabrook, which had duck, &c. on board, but [this] was hove overboard before the Barges boarded her. She is now south from this harbor. Capt. Trobrige told me that a man of character and truth told him, that he saw a brigantine off Watch Hill engage one of the sloops of war, and it appeared the brigg got the better till she lost her boom; they then parted and the sloop got into Newport, and could but just keep above water, and was obliged to heave down immediately. I think it shows the necessity of a small squadron to be fitted out immediately. The adjournment of the [New York] Congress has given me an opportunity to be here. I am &c.