[Extract]

I am in a poor situation to give you intelligence. I have but a very imperfect account of the military operations. The bombardment and cannonade of Boston begun on Saturday last, [March 2], and our army took possession of Dorchester Hill on Monday or Tuesday night, without any difficulty, and have strongly entrenched. What is to be next I know not. I presume you will have every particular from Head quarters. Whether Howe has a design to evacuate Boston or not is to me very uncertain, but some circumstances look like it. Where he will go if he does, is equally uncertain. Can Administration, with all their stupidity, view with indifference the French force in the West Indies, or is not that true? If true, it must be important to them or us. No prizes lately taken. A ship of 300 tons from Boston to New York, mounted with the carriage guns, thirty men, some coal, 7000 cannon ball, and a few other articles, lately run on shore on the back of the Cape, the ship bilged, and everything on board taken possession of and secured by our people.
² I can give you no particular account of the three regiments for Canada from those governments, but I dare say they are gone. Every thing was favourable when I last heard. I want to hear from your fleet, their destination, success, etc. I want to hear the character, the business etc. of the Baron de Woedke, Knight of Malta, who passed through this town in his way to Congress, with letters to Dr. Franklin, etc....