Sir

The Loss of our heavy Cannon on the North River,¹ and the possibility how­ever remote of our losing those which are in the Forts on the Delaware, in which case we should be totally divested of these necessary opponents to the Enemys Fleet, make it adviseable to remove from Red bank and Fort Mifflin all the large Calibers that can possibly be spared from the necessary defence of those posts—to some Place of Safety where they may be kept in Reserve—Fort Mifflin has had an acqui­sition of Cannon, taken from the Wreck of the Augusta—by which this will proba­bly have a superfluous number—The Approaching Frosts will effectually stop the Blasts of our Furnaces which is a farther cogent Reason for making a Store of heavy Cannon in case of accidents to our Forts—I mentioned in my Letter to Gen^l. For­man² that the Crews on board the Galleys should not expose themselves to the Fire of a Battery which he thinks the Enemy have raised for the purpose of interrupt­ ing them—but if a Plan which I have suggested to him can be carried into execu­tion—the difficulty will be removed and a farther acquisition made of the valuable Article in question I am—

P.S. It will be necessary to consult the Commodore, upon the Subject above men­tioned, he will judge of the safety with which the Galleys may proceed in dragging for the Cannon.³