[Extract]

My dear General

I have now the Pleasure of informing you that a Vessel long expected from France & Holland arrived a few Days ago with 25 Tons of Powder ー 300 Stand of excellent Arms & 1500 Weight of Salt Petre. ー We are hourly in Expectation of further Arrivals, but we must now soon expect some Ships of War in our River which I fear will cut off all further Enterprizes of the like Nature.

We have Accounts from Virginia that Clinton was arrived at Hampton but seemed to be waiting for his Reinforcements ー Nothing farther new therefore from that Quarter ー We have not heard a Syllable from our Fleet for a considerable Time but expect Intelligence every Hourー

Upon the Arrival of the Act of Parliament authorizing the Ships of War to seize all American Vessels & condemn tham as lawful Prize, Application was made to Congress by several Persons for Letters of Marque & Reprizal but they could not feel bold enough ー tho many of the most timid & those who have hanker[e]d so much after Reconciliation seeing so little of a Spirit of that Kind in Great Brittain have come off very much from those Sentiments the Result of old prejudices & new Fears.