[Extract]

. . . I shall consider myself much obliged by your advising me by the earliest Opportunity of the arrival or appearance of any considerable Fleet on your Coast or of any other intelligence that you may conceive important and interesting.

Since Genl Howe left the Capes of Delaware with his fleet on the night of Thursday forenight, we have not obtained any accounts of him nor can we fix his destination with any certainty or satisfaction by reasoning on the subject. — 'till he sailed from Sandy Hook I had no doubt in my own mind but that he would have pushed up the North River to cooperate with Genl Burgoyne; his expedition to the Capes of Delaware and departure again without further information of him have put us all into a State of conjecture as to the line of conduct he means to pursue — Whatever it is, I hope eventually, he will be disappointed. I have the Honor to be with great respect Sir [&c.]

P.S. If Genl Howe should arrive on your Coast and make dispositions for landing, I would recommend, that All Cattle & every specie of Provision may be removed out of his reach — Also, All Teams & Carriages to prevent him penetrating the Country, if such be his design — You will readily perceive the propriety of this measure and I am persuaded will put it into execution G W