[Extract]

... you will doubtless be Informed by the General of the Military Operations, in what manner and when the Army began and advanced their works on Lechmore's Point, and of the Cannonading and Bombardment that has Ensued, and of the Success of it, of the several Prizes our Privateers have taken, and of the Loss of one of the Continental Privateers taken and carried into Boston. ² it is said the People are sent to England. I shall therefore leave all those matters and, after Congratulating you on our Success in Canada and wishing for the Completion of our wishes in that quarter, tell you a little General Court News, and ask a little Congress news in return. the Capital matters we are. Engaged in are regulating the Militia, paying of the Soldiery, aiding and assisting the Quarter-master General in Supplying the Army with Hay and wood, two very scarce Articles, fixing out Vessels for Importing Powder, etc., promoting the Manufacture of Arms and Salt Petre, Building Powder Mills, and in short every thing else... we are fixing out ten Vessels for powder etc. these are all to go to the foreign W. Indies. We Conceive by your resolves we are not at Liberty to carry any produce, etc., to any other place, therefore, tho we have fine merchantable Fish we do not Ship it to Spain, where probably we might get powder, etc., with more certainty and less money. Was this intended or was it an Inadvertency.... May Vessels be permitted to go to the W. Indies and elsewhere in Ballast to purchase molasses, etc. I dont know that it is against any of your resolves, and those Articles may be wanted. but then all the hard money will go. what Effect that may have on our Currency, etc., may be worth Considering. do let me have your Opinion as soon as you can on this subject.