Clel smith having Rode All Night Return’d this Morning at four o’clock from Elizabeth town and Gave me the following Account of his journey.1

he first Saw the doctor whom I wanted to Employ, who told him that Every one of the Men Arriv’d from England had been Reimbark’d Again a few days ago—that he Saw himself Many of them Going on Board—that he thinks General philips will have the Command2—he went in Again last Night and from him I will get pretty Accurate intelligences By the 21st or 22d—Clel Smith has fix’d a New Chain Through A Gentleman in Elizabeth town, who told him the Same Thing as the doctor, and Added That Mister Lenox A British d. Commissary of prisoners had Confidentially told a friend that there was an Embarkation Going on—Lenox’s private opinion was that they were Going to possess The heights of Wilmington—I don’t Believe Mr Lenox’s plan of Campaign, Unless There is A Treaty Going on, and they want to have a footing Every where3—But it Seems My informants of Yesterday were Mistaken, which I Attribute to the precaution the Ennemy Take of Embarking theyr Troops from the points of staten and Long island.

the Ennemy have Not A Mouth full of forage for theyr horses upon staten island—They have been Very particular in inquiring about the State of forage, hay, grain &c. in the Neighbourood of Elizabeth town and Newark—So that they are Expected to Come out.

General smith is Gone to England4—Skinner Commands on The island.5

This is, My dear General, what I Could get Since our Conversation of Yesterday, and these Accounts Seem More favorable than the Last ones.