Portsmouth, April 1, 1776
[Extract]
I congratulate you on the precipitate flight of our enemy from Boston. May the same panic and confusion in which they went off ever follow them. We are strongly fortifying Boston so that a return of the troops will be impracticable .... Our man of war goes on at a supassing rate 2 I am fully persuaded if her sails and guns were ready she will be at sea the 1st of June.