Your favour of the 23d of May is just come to hand—togather with five ginis—Austin Roe hath Just returned from N. Yk but brings very little intelligence—He saith all is Silence. And no kind of movement about to take place—Admiral Arbothnot is off Sandy Hook—And the Fleet for Urope mentiond in my last are in number near one hundread and are about to Sail. The Confedaricy is one of their Convoy farther cannot Say. The Enemy are much alarmed at So large a French Fleet arriveing in the West Indies See the Papers forward with the Magizean—We think here that a peace must Shortly take place—A few days past a number of men commanded by one Stephen Smith a Deserter from Coll Ludlows Regnt much abused and plunderd several Houses at a place Called Drownd Meadew, Broke their windew, fired into thier hous, whiped and threatend both old and young—The [Acme] hath happend at the South Side of long Island and Eighteen (out of forty two) by thirty men under the command of one Henry Nicol (Were) made prisoners—We live in dayly fear of death and destruction, This added to my usual anxiety hath allmost unmaned me—I must now (as painfull as it is to me) disappoint your expectations, And out of my power to avoid if matters were ever So Secure on my part Which is the reverse. I dare not visit New York myself and those that have bene employed will serve no longer. Through fear I am fully perswaided by various circumstances and observation that have made from time to time—That if it Were in my power to continue it regular without any intervail, Should shortly be devoted to ruin, And it appears Clear to me that it would be presumption to take one Step further at present—And could not expect that protiction from Heaven that have hitherto enjoyed. You must acknowledge and readily conclude that have done all that I could, and Stood by you, when others have failed And have not left you in the darkest hour. But when our affairs appears as Clear as the Sun in the Heavens, And promiseth a Speedy and I hope a happy Conclusion Inclosed you have an account of transports as required and Should be exceedingly happy to See you. And in the Interim wishing you health and prosperity. I remain your ever mindfull and Huml. Servant