[Extract]

Colo Mifflin arrived in this City on yesterday with his Lady, The Delegates from Con[gress] going for Canada Sailed in the afternoon with a fair Wind ー I have in this City by the Return of Yesterday 5210 Men, Exclusive of the City Militia we are Fortifying the City as fast as Possible ー Gover Tryon having Begun to Throw up a work on a Small Island in the Harbour about a half m[ile] from the Asia man of war, I Determined to Drive him from Every part of Terre Firma Major Dettart [sic William De Hart] of the New Jersey Battalion offerd with Two Hundred men of that Regt to Dislodge them, Accordingly about Twelve o'Clock last Night they Embarked on Board Several Boats and a little after One Landed on the Island, the Men were all on Board the Ships, but near forty Women & Children were in an House on the Island they fired an the Buildings saving a Cottage in which they left the Destressed women & Children, They defac'd the works, and brought off the Intrenching Tool it is said" near One Hundred Recruits from long I~land have Joyned Tryon, But whether this [be] Certain or not I cannot tell, my best [regards to] my worthy Friends Messr [John and Samuel] Adams, [Robert Treat] Paine & [Elbridge] . Gerry, and Believe me with the greatest respect to be [&c.] W Heath