Eagle [at Sandy Hook, N.J.] Saty. Night
July the 11th. [1778]
Dr. Sir.
Your goodness I am assured will pardon my neglect to write by Capt. Sutherland.1 The Comr of the Packet2 waits upon you with this, to receive your Dispatches, with Coll. Patterson.3 But the Fore-Door being for the present shut, the only way the Packet can get off will be through the Sound,4 as I have recommended.
If your information is good that Washington is crossing the North-River,5 attention I conceive will be necessary to send such provisions as as may be wanting for Rhode Island, before the Enemy get possession of the Chester Shores,6 and with Artillery bar the passage for Ships in the Daytime. These people7 seem to affect an attempt to enter the Port. The time they may be engaged in that consideration will I hope, secure the Arrival of the Reinforcement at Rhode Island; And if they really shall prosecute such an attack here, I think it a most fortunate circumstance, in our State. We should succeed at no time, if we can fail on such an occasion. I am ever Dr Sir [&c.]