Since the arrival of the provincial troops the men of war here are not allowed provision nor water, and they, in their turn, are driving back all boats from the Jersies, and cutting off our supplies of provisions from thence ... We are well supplied with Dutch goods, and soon shall with French; it is impossible the men of war can watch all our vessels, though they lie at the Hook on purpose; we have so many creeks and harbours that they know nothing of, that they cannot ruin us.