I wrote you a few Days ago informing of the Loss of Billingsport.¹ The Troops that took Possession of that Place consisted of Highlanders, and Marines from the Men of War, about Thirteen or Fourteen Hundred in Number, by the most Intelligent Peo­ple that I have spoke with. The 4^th. October they embarked all their Men but 300, after making some Efforts to remove or weigh the Chevaux de Frize, which I believe they could not Effect. Yesterday Afternoon the Enemy set Fire to all the Works & Houses that were left at Blingsport and embarked the Men. In the Evening Commodore Hazel­wood went down and attacked the Ships very smartly; they got under way and fell down to Chester, were nine of them now lays. I was in Billingsport this Morning, and every Thing that would take Fire is burnt, and most of the Ambrusers [Embrasures] destroyed. The Commodore is now sending down a Scow to bring off the Iron Work that is there. M^r. Sam^ll. Massey having a sum of Money by him near this Place we have browed [bor­rowed] it, and have ordered the Fleet to be paid their Months Wages—Our Fire Ships are very badly off for Men, the Vesuvius Brig & Strumblo Ship have not one Hand;² they are now stripped of their Rigging &c. and ready for sinking in such Places as may be thought necessary if the Enemys Ships should attempt to come up; tho' I am of Opin­ion they think they cannot possibly get thro' the Chevaux de Frizes at Billingsport­ A prodigious Desertion has prevailed among the Galleys. A few Nights ago Cap^t. Mont­gomery³ lost Eleven Men, last Night, after the Action, Cap^t. Mitchel⁴ lost Twelves; Three other Galleys are so reduced that all their Men will not Man One Galley—We are pretty well off for Cattle and shall get some more on the Island this Day, and the Boats are just now going of to fetch Six Waggon loads of Flour that is at Timber Creek Bridge.—Cap^t. Blewer is gone up to General Washington for a few Days. I shall do all I can for the good of the Cause, and am [&c.]

P.S. I am confident the Fleet cannot get up this River as we are now [situated—Tho' should] they get Red Bank [were we have not] one Man, I do not know the Conse­quence Three Days ago the Men of War sent up a Flag to the Commodore, desir­ing him to give up the Fleet and he should with his Men have his Majestys Pardon and be treated kindly—The Commodore  sent him Word he should defend the Fleet to the last and not give them up, and was not afraid of all the ships they could bring, and desired they would send no more such Flags.