[Extract]

...By every account from Lake Champlain whe [we] had reason to think ourselves in no danger on that water for this Campaign. Nor did Gen. Arnold seem to apprehend any until he was defeated by an enemy four times as strong as himself. This officer, fiery, hot, and impetuous, but without discretion, never thought of informing himself how the enemy went on, and he had no idea of retiring, when he saw them coming, tho so much superior to his force. Since his defeat our people evacuated Crown point, and joined their whole strength at Ticonderoga. We do not hear the enemy have thought proper to visit them there, and the Season must now stop operations on the Lake. on the borders of the Sound it has been a war of skirmishes, in which I think we have gained 5 or 6. Never was a Ship more mauled than a Frigate that lately attempted Fort Washington, she had 26 eighteen pounders thro her and most of the guns double shotted....

Among the various difficulties that press our Country, I know of none greater than the want of Ships and Seamen -Perhaps a good basis for remedying the latter might be an alteration of the Act of Assembly for binding out Orphan & poor Children, and direct that, for some time at least, the whole of such children should be bound to the Sea. Without safe Ports to build ships in, and give protection to foreign Vessels, our trade must long languish. Would it not [b ]e proper therefore, to make Portsmouth and Norfolk immediately as strong as Cannon can render them, by adding to the guns already there as many from York as will answer the purpo[se] Gen. [Adam] Stephen tells me that the works he laid out at Portsmouth will put (if properly gunned) that place in a state of security.from any Sea force that can come against it. The Cannon are of no use at York, experience proving incontestibly, that Ships will pass any fort or Battery with ea5e, when favored by wind and tide. The quantity of seasoned timber said to be in the neighborhood of Norfolk would furnish a number' of fine Vessels, whether for fighting or for commerce. I think the large Sea gallies that carry such a number of men for war and for the navigation part of the Vessel, are well contrived for the defence of our bay and for raising seamen quickly. I sent our Navy board a draught of the large gallies building here by order of Congre.5s. It seems to me, that for the different purposes of battery and Ships our Country could well employ a thousand Cannon. How very important it is that the Cannon foundery on James river should be pushed on with all possible vigor and attention. . . . Let us have Cannon, Small Arms, gunpowder, and industry; we shall be secure -But it is in vain to have good systems of Government, and good laws, if we are exposed to the ravage of the Sword, without means of resisting -This winter will be an age to us if rightly employed. Let us get strong in Vessels, Troops, and proper fortification in proper places. Let us import plenty of military stores, soldiers cloathing, and Sail cloth for tents, shipping &c[?] -I do not think our armed Vessels can be so well employed in any other business as in [?] two or three trips to the French & Dutch Islands for these necessaries, carrying Tobo & fine flour to purchase them ....