I am amazed at the stupor and supineness of your Admiralty. For God's sake what are you doing in England? Are the friends of Great Britain and their property to be left exposed at this rate, to the dictates of an inhuman rabble? . . . Where is the boasted Navy of our country, that only one poor sloop is stationed here? Whereas, if we had but three ships of war, one of fifty and two of forty guns each, this place would not only be kept in awe, and the friends of Government secured, but a sufficient quantity of provisions might be had at all times for your fleet and army, which, we are informed, are half starved at Boston. As to the sloop we have here, the Nautilus, I fear she will soon go to the shades; for our good friends are building above fifty row-boats of large dimensions, which are to have a twenty-four pounder in the stern sheets, several swivels in the sides, and plenty of musquets for the people on board, and all for the purpose of attacking the King's ships that may arrive here. But if Government would order the Navy to sink all these vessels to the bottom wherever they met with them, a few examples of such timely severity would keep them on shore. I must not forget to tell you, that they are smuggling from the French West-Indies in pilot boats, all the ammunition they can get; but two or three cruisers off the Capes would soon put an end to that business . . . We had a schooner a few days since who brought a considerable quantity of gunpowder stowed under molasses, and when she arrived, she hoisted in bravo a French jack, ensign and pendant. If government mean to do anything, they must do it quickly, or the contest will be the stronger. I am surprised you do not take and stop all the ships going in or coming out of these ports. Conceal my name; or I should run a great risque of my life and property, were it discovered here that I had sent you any account of these prosceedings: Indeed, I incur some danger in writing at all; nor should I, if I could not confide in my conveyance.