Sir

I came to this place on sunday evening and was much serpris'd to learn that Mr [Levi] Hollingsworth had not retur[ned] froin Hartford, where he went on Thursday last to demand the Cannon of Govr Trumbull in: Consequence of the Order of Congress, when he saw his Honr he could not obtain the Cannon untill the Assembly met which was appointed on Saturday, pieces of eight and 4 bits. Mr. Sands requested Ordered, That Mr. Sands' application be referred to the committee of pay table. when they met they would not come to any determination untill the Western Post arriv'd by whom they expected an answer from Congress to the Remonstrance they sent forward in consequence of the first demand we made when we presented your Order. the Post came in without any answer, & on sunday evening they. determind to Send 6 of the heaviest Cannon & detain the Remainder untill they should hear the Fate of their Rmonstrance, we have shipd the Six Cannon on board of a Vessel ー of Mr [Nathaniel] Shaws which the Govr gave us an Order for & are now preparing to get part of our way towards [New] York this evening, I am much afraid the delay we have met with, & at last being obligd to return with little better than half our errand will be as disagreeable to those that sent us as to ourselves but as we are not Conscious of neglecting any par[t] of our duty we hope to meet the approbation of our employ[ers]

We learn by some Vessels that left this port on Sunday evening that there is a Sloop Tender Cruising off Montock point, which was the Occasion of their puting back again, ー We make no doubt but you have or will forward the Fly as soon as you possibly can consistant with safety as we shall wait with the greatest impatience in [New] York for her Arrival. Congress have demanded of this Colony 7000 Troops to be raisd immediately in Consequence of information that an attempt is to be made on New York by the British Troops in a very few days, this ought in our opinion to hurry the Cannon, that in Case they cannot be got further they may be appropriated to the defence of that place in the present immirgency. I am [&c.]

Please to excuse haste not having time to Copy what I have wrote