Dear Sir

The Two foregoing Letters are Copys,¹ thinking it necessary to transmit at least Three Copys these precarious Times, w^ch. I shall think no trouble in transcribing, if a single line thereof gives you the least satisfaction—The building the 74 Gun Ships are order’d to be stoped for the present, I suppose it to be in consequence I [of?] what You requested me to write M^r. Ellery upon the subject²—nothing New in the Naval department since my last—

The Enemy from Newport made an excursion upon the Main Yesterday morning, they Landed about 700 Men at Warren at Day light, under the command of Co^l. Cambell³ they burn’t a number of boats that was collected there the last Winter, sat Fire to the Baptist Meeting House w^ch with three or four other buildings were consumed, the Militia collecting to the number of 120 they retreated towards Bristol made a stand, Two or Three Mile from that Town, while a number Rob’d & plundered the Inhabitants destroy’d furniture &c &c, sat Fire to the Episcopal Church and 22 of the best dwelling houses in the Town, retreated hastily down to the Ferry landing—opposite to Rhode Island,⁴ where a Frigate an Arm’d Brig^t.5 & several Cutter was ready to receive them on board under cover of their Guns w^ch. constantly Fir’d upon our People who pursued & harassed them in their retreat & embarkation, although not a fourth part of their number. Co^l. Barton⁶ (who took Prescot)⁷ was Wounded with one private we made three Prisoners, and its very probabil Kill’d some and Wounded many, as much blood appeared upon the Hill where they made a stand & several were seen to fall. Thus ended this burning thieveing Expedition in six hours from their Landing after retreating 8 Mile & stealing Twenty respectable Inhabitants out of their beds, whom they took away, we suppose to Starve & Murder on board their Prison ships, as they have done with some Thousands before—I forgot to tell you Ten days past they sent a party into the Eastward sound⁸ and Rob’d the Elizabeth Islands of 1500 sheep & 100 Cattle, burn’t some buildings &c. they did not Land at the Vineyard. return’d to Newport with their booty.

We are impatient to hear of your safe arrival. I am [&c.]