Dear Sir
I have not been favour'd with any of your's Since my last: I yesterday engaged Ten or Twelve Tons of Iron & am to give Thirty Six pounds lawfull Many p Ton for it, this is a very high price but it cannot be got under that price, at Newbury Port they Sell it for £40 p Ton ー I hope to hear soon from you About the Cannon ー pray write me particularly What the Congress are doing: do you expect the Commissioners from England Soon; we hear from Boston they were to sail immediately after Chrismast ー a Large Detachment of our Army under Genl [John] Thomas on the Night of the 4th Instant took possession of two Hills in Dorchester About half way between the late Govr [William] Shirley's House & the Castle; a valuable Acquisition, especially as it was obtained without the loss of a Man ー The Enemy never came out or Any way Molested our Troops, untill the Next day they attempted to disturb them by firing some Cannon at their work but did No Mischeif - General Washington the last week Informed the Committee of Council of his designs & desired them to furnish him with about 12 or 15 hundred of our Militia, we accordingly ordered six Regiments to be ready, at a Minute's warning, with their Arms & Ammunition & three days provision to repair to the Lines at Roxbury & Charlestown, upon their receiving Notice for that purpose from any one of the General Officers, they had Notice on Monday the 4th Instant & accordingly immediately march'd to the Lines & as the Most of them were Sent from the County of Suffolk, Brigadier General [Benjamin] Lincoln is there at the Head of themー
Mr John Brown writes me that at Providence they framed one of the Vessells before they received the Drafts, by which means the large[r] Vessell will be built differently from the plan you sent them, it differs I hear 4 or 5 Inches in the dead rising - It was too late to alter it without great Expence and delay, I hear she is so flatt that It is feared she will not be a good Sailor ー I hear a Vessell of about 200 Tons & 14 Guns loaded with Provisions & stores for the Men of War at Virginia is on Shore at Cape Cod, I hope these Stores will be suitable for our ships ー I wish this news may be true
I remain with respect [&c.]
