Honored sir Governor Treat -- I have writt to you twyce and understand my letters came to hand to which I referre myselfe since I have used, all the diligence imaginable to fortifye & repaire the fort the wail is fully compleated, there is seven foot very good water & is 36 feet deep, all the platformes renewed, all the gunes substantially mounted, the pouder house will be ready to day, the pouder is made good and elevates the engine from 13 to 26 degrees, we have now in the fort of the kings pouder tounes pouder 6000: lb & 800: lb of the best spoiled pouder for salutations & about 100 armes well fixed, we had inventoried

LIEUT. GOV. LEISLER. 21'

400: which seemed good in the eye, but when examined amongst twelve hardly one fixt, there was a battery imder the fort, which being quyte demolished and ruined In place of which I am making an halfe moon of 100 foot over grass which defends the landing of both rivers & also the comeing in, and it is defended easily by the fort we are getting stockadoes & soods to stockad S: breastwork the fort according to your advice for which I am obliged & hope within fourteen days if it please God to compleat all, since myn last I have made Coll: donganes man James Larkines prisoner of warre for having forged news to discourage the folks, It was that the late King James was in Ireland & the protestants of that kingdome & of Scotland joined to him in his army & that he was in company when Russell (who is gone) 4lrank the late King James health, but is left out by a councill of warre & paroll for his good behaviour was past by Capt Broun, the company of Capt Cuiler being at work & when at the spurre wanting stones to finish it, resolved to pull doun the pigeon house of.Coll: dongane which was made of the stone soe missing & went armed with collours & drum without Capt or Lieut: & begane to breake but being offered immediately 50 load of stone at the work they left of & had done very little damage they intended at the same tyme to breake some walls and stairs at Grahames house made of the same stones, but 36 load was given for that, wee have noe news but from Boston therefore mentione non, the enclosed is a petition of two of your* souldiers with which I could not prevaill to stay, so I have given them leave as you will see by the answer upon the petition I intend to list two others upon your Counties account we are compleat 53 men n the fort, & the other five of your souldiers are resolved to ^tand till released from England they have promised me to write to you, & I referre me further what passes to the bearers, & ex- ^•»ecting the honor of an answer & after myne respects I remaine &c.