[Extract]
Sir

I last Night threw myself into this Garrison, where I am Sorry to inform your excelly that I find everything in the utmost Confusion. not as many Cartouches as will last one day & the very necessary Cartouches for the Block Houses not Sufficient for an Hour. 60 untrain'd Militia are all the Artillery Men in the fort. the provisions almost out. The Militia refus'd Obedience to Capt [Samuel] Treat & have underwent no Sort of training. This day one of the frigates was taken by the Enemy² which effectually cut off our Communication with Trenton, as Commodore Hazlworth [Hazelwood] thinks it will be very imprudent to attempt an attack on her, So well guarded as She is by their Batteries. So that the Stores I Send for by this Express to Trenton must Come by Land which will take up much time. Should the Enemy in the mean time make a vigorous attack on the Cheveaux de frize, & the frigate Come down on our Backs where we have no Battery & No Cover but pickets, the fort & Garrison may probably fall into their Hands. . . .

A Flag just appears from Ld Cornwallis demanding to know why the Commodore wishes to fire on the defenceless Inhabitants of the City. that Should a Repetition of the Kind happen, he must expect that he would retalliate on the prisoners in his Hands & further observ'd the folly of a future Attempt as he had Sufficiently fortified Approaches by water to the City. He further added that he Still held up the Hand of Clemency & Mercy to all that would Submit, & beg'd he would Consider the Situation we were in. that in a very few days he would be able to attack us with Such a formidable force that would be impossible for us to resist. Capt [Isaiah] Robinson³ of the Navy for answer, inform'd that Ld Cornwallis must have been misinform'd with the Intention of the Ships being Sent up as the Commanding Officer had orders from the Commodore to prevent any Works being thrown up I have the honor to be [&c.]