[Extract]

... The Governor and Capt of Man of War had threatend perdition to the Town if the Cannon was remov'd from the Batteries and wharfs, but I ever considerd their threats as a Brutum fulmen, and even perswaded the Town to be of the same way of thinking ー We accordingly conveyd them to a place of safety in the middle of the day, and no cannonade ensued ー Capt [Hyde] Parker [Jr.] publishes a pleasant reason for his passive conduct ー He says that it was manifestly my intention and that of the N England Men under my command to bring down destruction on this Town so hated for their loyal principles but that He was determin'd not to indulge us, so remain'd quiet out of spite ー The People here laugh at his Nonsense ー and begin to despise the Menaces which formerly us'd to throw 'em into convulsions ー to do 'em justice the whole shew a wonderfull alacrity ー and in removing the Cannon Men and Boys of all ages work'd with the greatest zeal and pleasure ー I really believe that the generallity are as well affected as any on the Continent ー the Provincial Congress have order'd in fifteen hundred Minute Men ー a Num[ber] equal to two Battalions are coming from Pensy[la] and the Jerseys ー Lord Stirlings Regt is already here but not compleat ー when the Major part or a sufficient number arrive We shall begin our works ー my intention is to pull down that part of the Fort on the Town side to prevent its being converted into a Citadel for the Enemy ー and to erect a Battery on a traverse in the S W to prevent their Makg a lodgment in it ー a redoubt and battery at the pass of Hell Gate will prevent their Ships and Tenders passing and repassing to and from the Sound ー We have fixed on a Spot in Long Island for a retrenchd Camp... the batteries on the pass of Hudsons River will be secur'd as soon as possible, some of the heavy Cannon from here must be sent up for the purpose ー