[Extract]

My dear Sir, Since I wrote you last nothing very Material has happened with our Army and that of our Enemies, now and then, a few shot are exchanged by the scouting parties, except that, we have been very friendly Neighbours since the 16th Ulto in this Quarter, nor do we understand any thing of Consequance has taken place in Canada, Burgoing [Burgoyne] is on one side the lake perpairing to cross with a very large fleet, of Boats and some Arm'd Vessells, Genl Gates is ready to receive him at Ticonderago where he has a well Regulated Army in high spirits, The place well Fortifyed, and a fleet nearly equal to his, Our lines at this place are now very Formidable and I think sufficient to defend against twice our Number, The Troops Desart from each Army almost every night, four Sentinals left their posts two nights ago and went over to the Enemy, all of them Irishmen, four from the Enemy came over to us yesterday morning, are of the same Kidney. ー Lord Stirling was yesterday Exchanged for Govr Brown of [New] providence, he got to Head Quarters in the Evening, and relates his treatment whilst a prisoner was very polite from those in High rank, except Dunmore, who Vissited him the Morning after the Battle on the Island, with one Epthorp, The latter treated him with Complaisance, but our Old acquaintance on whose enterlex this Climate has had no Impression, Accosted him thus, "So, how do you do, I am sorry to see you in such D----nd Black Company, " (meaning other officers who ware Prisoners in the same room) He Observed to him, it was poor Consolation to Gentlemen officers who the chance of war had put in his power, and remarked, he had not of late been so fimiliar with Black Company as his LdShip, This wheel'd him on his heel, and since he never would see him ー his Lordship has returned to us Exceeding hearty, and brings account that Burgoyings Light Horse arived at N. York three days ago, They ware four months at sea, you may Guess the Order they landed in, besides this they lost 70 of them on the passage, The last Division of Hessians with a very large Fleet of Transports are still at sea, they are Bringing out several Hundred Waggon Horses, Waggons, Carts, flat Bottom Boats &c, &c, and is call'd the Grand Fleet, I hope the equinox has some hidden blast in store for them,... I inclose you a rough sketch of this most horrid Country, now the seat of war, by it you may form some Idiea of the Advantages the Enemy has over us in their Shiping, and dair say you'll wonder how this Army has so long escaped, when you come to see the Number of creeks, Rivers, and Guts that make into it, all of which are Navigable for almost any ship, and at this time a 28 Gun Frigate lays in Hellgate, a place not much wider then the Streets of Williamsburg, I dair say Andrews may be able to form a pritty Exact sketch from the one sent, the distances are laid down by Griffith who is well Acquainted wth every part...