[Extract]

We have taken 5 transports loaded with provisions from England for the Ministerialists ー the General [Washington] writes that the enemy are making as fast as possible dispositions to evacuate the town, & to embark their troops they do it in so much confusion & hurry that they do not take an inventory of the stores embarked: should they sail from Boston he has directed Commodore Manly to watch their motions & to hang upon [them or] the wings of their fleet to intercept some stragglers ー in one of the transports taken were 3 Tons of powder, a valuable article ... I shall mention some facts related in a letter to John Adams dated London 21 December. the Ministry find great difficulty in raising recruits: wherever a division hath happened between Addressers & petitioners, there have been 9 petitioners to one Addresser. even in Scotland the recruiting goes on slowly: the irish R.C. will not inlist: France & Sweden haveremonstrated against the Russian troops coming over to America: the Empress of Russia declines sending them on pretence that no cartel is settled between England & America ー thus far Adam's letter. I will not answer for the truth of all this information from England: what I have mentioned as coming from G.Washington may be relied on ー [Robert] Temple brings word that 3 thousand troops were sailed or on the point of sailing the beginning of January for Virga he did not bring advice that there were no more troops coming over to America, but that none were sailed, when he ieft London but the 3 thousand just mentioned

... As commissioners are coming over I do not apprehend any Attack will be made on Annapolis or Baltimore, unless the negotiations for peace should miscarry, wh I think will not be the case if they mean to treat bona fide with us; for I am persuaded all the Colonies are desirous of peace on safe, just, & honorable terms.ー

I dine this day with the Massachusets Deputies ー Mrs [John] Hancock will be of the party: she is not very handsome, yet handsome enough, and appears to be a most affectionate Wife, of an easy amiable temper. Hancock is well behaved, and generally liked, a proof of a good disposition.ー

Saturday 16 8 o'clock

Temple was very strictly examined at Falmouth for letters he brought home rapped up in Cotton, wh I believe gives no other information than the destination of the 3000 troops above mentioned ー Temple knows no more of the powers entrusted to the Commissioners, than I do, nor does he know who the commissioners are to be: my Lord How is certainly one of them it is said they are to treat Separately with the Colonies and Temple supposes they will treat with the Congress, if they cannot prevail on some Colony to treat with them. We hourly expect to hear that the enemy have evacuated Boston: where they will go to is only conjectured: some suppose to N Y. others to Halifax I am of the latter opinion, because from Halifax, I imagine they will sail up the St Lawrence to Quebec as soon as the weather will permit. it is of great consequence to both sides to be in possession of Canadaー

Lakes George & Champlain are now impass[a]ble: the ice is too rotten to bear & too much of it to allow of navigation ー I suppose if the weather continues mild the lakes will be open in ten days from this time, yet that depends entirely on the weather. our instructions are not yet compleated: there remains one thing to be settled, wh occasions no little difficulty the extent of the coercive power to be given us over the military ...