[Extract]

I have not lately heard from Cape Fear nor do we know with any kind of certainty what number of Troops may be there, by the last advices there were about seventy sail of Vessels in the River of different Burthens, some of them large Transports, it was likewise said that two large Ships supposed to be Men of War of fifty Guns lay without the Bar. It is difficult to conjecture their meaning or what they propose to themselves should they succeed, a circumstance which appears to me very improbable, but you know the great contempt Governor Martin has for American Armies and American Councils.

Our want of a proper supply of Arms and Ammunition throws a damp on all the Operations of our Military and the immense price that the Dutch and others make us pay for the little we get is really alarming a Vessell that arrived here a few days ago with a little Cannon Powder paid at the rate of 6/ [illegible] for it in 'Statia ー the dreadfull expence at which we pay & supply our army is truly alarming...

...I am afraid Commodore Hopkins will make a poor figure on our Coast at this time, had he called at Cape Fear on his return from Providence he might have done essential Service; Governor Martin, Genl Clinton and a fine parcel of Military Stores would have fallen into his hands, almost without firing a Gun, and he would have given a deadly blow to the Expedition against this Province by nipping it in the bud, but he wanted intelligence and it was impossible for us to convey it to him.