Sir

Agreable to order I now transmit to your Honour an account of my proceedings since my last letter wrote while at Fairfield, since which I have enlarged my number to about one hundred and expect soon to have my complement of men. I proceeded with the brig under my command from Black-Rock-Harbour, westward, & on the 12th Instant espied a small sloop attempting to cross the sound which I brought alongside and on examination found eight persons on board who pretended they were going to New York for shad ー , but on more strict enquiry found to my satisfaction they were tories from the town of Redding in Fairfield County bound to Long Island to Join Peter Fairchild, a noted tory, who had fled to the Island before. One of the eight was Samuel Hawley whose declaration² is inclosed the contents of which declaration are a profound secret not communicated even to my officers choosing rather to leave the matter to your Honour's wise direction considering the character of a respectable gentleman who seems to be slightly pointed at. Upon discovering that Peter Fairchild was on the Island I ordered Lieut [Samuel] Smedley with a number of men to proceed to the Island in the small sloop in order to apprehend Fairchild, but upon Mr Hawley's disclosing the whole scene I hoisted a signal for Lieut Smedley to return which he did immediately, and we arrived here this day since which have despatched my orders several ways and have brought in seven Tories more whose names were given me by one of the eight taken on board the sloop and expect some of the leading persons will soon be apprehended. Have ordered a small sloop to be taken into the Government service, and Lieut Smedley with forty men under him to take the Sloop and proceed directly to Long-Island in pursuit of Fairchild with directions to take one of the eight Tories taken in the little sloop who knows the place where Fairchild is lodged and had appointed to join him there who is to write to Fairchild and acquaint him of his arrival which it is hoped will afford Lieut Smedley a favorable opportunity to seize him, I have taken this step from a full conviction of great expediency & even necessity of the measure and by the advice of Jonathan Sturges Esqr³ whom I have consulted on the occasion in the before-mentioned manoeuvre had an opportunity to open sundry letters passing the sound which have improved but made no material discoveries, I send this to your Honour by my Clerk and pray a Copy of this by him as I am so hurried as not to have time to copy. shall proceed to New London, with a view more thoroughly to fit the Brig and procure such things as are necessary for a cruise unless your honour should order me otherwise it is my opinion it will be highly serviceable to employ several small Cruisers in the Sound especially at the westward, to prevent the collection of Tories on the Island and to prevent the escape of those who are collected there, as it is hoped an attempt will be made soon to seize the whole body of them ー I pray your honours directions for my future conduct which I shall endeavour punctually to observe and shall make it my great study to serve the common cause to the utmost of my power. I am with great truth & regard [&c.]