[Extract]

Dear Sir

Since writing to you by express on Thursday last, I have not received any further Intelligence from the Eastward; The Inhabitants of this City and Kings County on Long Island have very Chearfully turned out to work on the Fortifications; every thing is going on as well as the badness of the weather will permit. Two Companies of the Millitia of New ark in New Jersey are coming in this morning and I hope they will soon be followed by others; I have not yet heard from Col. [Elias] Dayton Although I have wrote twice to him. The five Companies of Col. Sinclairs [Arthur St. Clair's] Regiment will be very little detained by coming to this place, as they will now be able to go by water all the way to Albany and they must at any rate be too late to pass the Lakes on the Ice; and too early in the year to cross by water.

March 17th 10 oClock P.M. I have this evening received your letter of the 15th by express. one Company of Col. Sinclairs arrived this day at Hoebuck [Hoboken] opposite to this City, they will embark tomorrow for Albany, the others will as they arrive, embark at Dobb's ferry for the same place. I have forwarded the packet for Governor Trumbull with a letter to him of which the Inclosed is Copy.

I have received no further Intelligence from General Washington, but by accounts from that quarter on Monday last, it appears that the Ministerial Troops were proceeding in their embarkation; one letter Says that five thousand of them were Actually embarked; Another Account Says that Twenty Odd Ships were Sailed out of the harbour (perhaps with Stores) for I can not beleive they will divide their real force in the presence of our Army. However if they do not Interrupt us in Ten or Twelve days more I hope we shall be in a Situation to prevent they making an Lodgement; unless it be at the west end of Long Island near the Narrows about which I am very anxious but defer doing any thing there untill the other works are Compleat and more Troops arrive. Bergen Neck may be so Improved as to preserve the Communication with Jersey and all the Country west of this place in Spite of. them. The people in New Jersey are very uneasy about the Defenceless Situation of Elizabeth Town and Amboy; a decent may easily be made at the latter and is worthy of Attention. The former might be Secured by a Small work on Bergen Neck near the Kills, and a Small Fort and proper Batterys at or near Elizabeth Town poinL The powder designed for Cambridge will all be shifted by tomorrow evening and ready to proceed by Tuesday, if that be the Determination of the Congress.

By some prisoners taken into Custody there is great reason to beleive that Governor Tryon has his Emissaries in Several parts of the province, engaging men to Serve both by land and water; one tells us that he is engaged with Fifty others under a Certain Vernon who was to fit out an armed Sloop to Cruize in the rivers, a Sloop was actually purchased lately by Vernon and we have her along the wharf; I have referred some others to the Committee of Safety to be examined and I doubt not we Shall find out and defeat their Machinations. I am [&c.]