Information of another Spy given 11th of May 1776

My Lord

Since I had the honour of waiting on your Excellency upon friday evening last [May 3], I have received the following interesting Intelligence ー That the Shirt Men are and have been busie some time past in Constructing Boats every ways fitt and proper to Attack and destroy the Fleet lying off Norfolk ー That the whole or greatest part of said Boats are ready and only wait for favourable Weather to be Conducted to the Shipping ー That they are to be fully Manned with desperadoes, and have a proper proportion of Combustibles for burning the vessels, ー That their horred plan is to Opperate in various ways and Conducted with the greatest Secrecy at dead of Night ー That some of the Ships they are to Board, some they are to Bum, and cutt the Cables of the rest so as they may drive on Shore ー That the Landing on each side of the Shipping are to be covered with their Infernal demons who are to put to death all that Attempt to put their feet on Shore and lastly, that a very strong party are destined to your Excellency's Ship in Order that She may be with Certainty destroyed ー Such, My Lord, is the bloody Plan intended to be perpetrated by those Sons of Murder and devastation and Your Excellency has had Sufficient and repeated proofs of their Barbarous Inhumanity, to convince you that no Crime is too Black and dismal for them to perform, and that they are well provided with desperate Villains who will undertake to Execute the most dreadfull and horrid Butchery ー When I deliver my weak Sentiments upon this very interesting and Momentious Affair it proceeds from no presumption, but a real and great Solicitude for the Safety and preservation of your Excellency's Person, which believe me my Lord, in the present Situation of Affairs cannot be out of danger ー Your Lordship ought to have a much greater Number of hands on Board your Ship and their Characters if possible well known, for be assured, My Lord the Fleet have too many Villains on Board who give intelligence to the Shirt Men of every thing that passes in the Fleet, and they have the information almost as soon as it reaches your Own ears, and I sincerely wish that your Ship may be clear of such Vermin ー The most Strict Watch and Outlook is Necessary and every implement of defence and destruction ready and prepared to repell those Blood hounds of Murder and Rapine, ー Upon a Subject of such Consequence, I do think I cannot, especially, if I omitt any that ought to [be] mentioned, exceed, ー Your Excellency will please to know, that the three fellows that came lately on Board your Ship had no meaning in their Application but were intended as Spies under the protection of a Flag of Truce, and to observe the Situation, Condition, and Strength of your Excellency's Ship, and I think the Names of two of [the] three were Campbell and Fleming. ー