[Extract]

Dear Brother ... The last accounts from [North] Carolina mention that Clinton landed on an Island. in Cape Fear with about six hundred men, where he is chiefly employ'd in teaching his soldiers the street firing. ー General [James] Moore watches his motions with an army of 3000. ー General [Robert] Howe, in a letter I reced yesterday from Halifax, N .Carolina, speaking of the Convention which now sits there, says "they have raised three new regiments, and are contemplating on[e] more; ー they loose all thought of expence in their ardor to promote the common cause" & further, "Independence seems to be the word, I know not. a dissenting voice" The last certain intelligence of the continental fleet left them in Charles Town S. Carolina An express was sent to [Esek] Hopkins there, from N .Carolina, to inform him, how sure a prey G. [Governor] Martin, Clinton, & all the immense naval and military stores at Cape Fear would be to him, if he moved with his fleet to that place. This event has been since constantly expected with great impatience. General Lee has held up to the Council of safety at Newbern a noble object of Naval enterprize at Norfolk & has urged them to propose the affair to Hopkins, if he comes this way; with this additional inducement, that should it be imprudent to return to sea on account of the number of british ships of war which may be expected on the american coast, he can, by a battery erected on an Island, at the mouth of the river leading up to Norfolk, make for himself a safe harbour against the Navy of G.Britain: The committee have returned the General an answer that they think the matter of great importance, & will inform the Admiral. ...