I Imagine it would be Agreable to you to be Inform’d of the movements made by the Brittish Fleet, have now to Inform you that on the 22d Inst. three French Ships Saild from New Port as I am Inform’d to Secure the Comeing in of Two French Friggates and a Store Ship that was Expected from Boston, and Imediately Four Brittish Ships of the Line Saild from Gardners Bay to meet them, but a Gale of Wind ar⟨is⟩ing, the French Ships Return’d to New Port, the Brittish Ships came to Anchor in the Evening without Fisher Island, and in the Night their were many Cannon heard—Suppose to be fir’d for being in distress, & the Next Morning One Ship was discover’d to be Standing to the Southward of Montaug, Under Jury masts, one Ship was of[f] our port with all her masts Gone by the Board, and one Ship run on Shagwomanack Reaf near Gardners Island and is Intirely lost many of her hands drown’d, and by Report the Ship of our Harbour threw over her upper Teir of Guns, I am Just now Returnd, from the Lt House, and Can Observe with a Spy Glass that they are now takeing out the Masts from the Ship on Shore, I Suppose for the one that is Dismasted and all Anchor with the Fleet.1

their is Eight Ships in Gardners Bay—now Riding att Anchor and by the best Information we Can git they Consist of the Dismasted Ship, Five Other Ships of the Line and Two Friggates, in order to get an Acco’t more Particular we have Sent over a Boat to Long Island, and all the Intelligence we Can Obtain Shall Continue to Send our French Friends att New Port, who we Wrote to directly Upon hearing of the Disaster, and Shall ⟨write⟩ you Again as Soon as we hear from the Island—I am Sir Your moast Obedt hume Servt