Ruggles, Boston. - 3 quarter casks of Madeira wine, & other things on board were shipped by Govr. Tryon for Genl. Howe. &" David Rhea says that Capt. Haines told him he was put in jail because he refused to deliver up his arms, & that his punisht. had been determined, "that he shd. not eat nor drink until he had delivered them up." That he broke jail by breaking 6 grates out of a window, & stole a boat about midnight, & got on board of the man of war. That the Sloop Polly & Ann was purchased for him abt. 3 days or less before the time of her sailing, & that she was purchased of Isaac Gedney. pp. 257-258 / The New York Committee of Safety -to- Genl Charles Lee." - New York, 21st Jany. 1776." "*Sir* The Inhabt. of this City are much alarmed at various confident advices of the desti: nation with a considble. [considerable] body of forces, for active service here.
"Confident, however, as these advices may appear to people ^without out of doors, we cannot readily credit them, as we conceive it most probable, that were you preparing to execute any plan of that kind, it wd. [would] be preceded by some intimations to us on the subject from the Continent. Congress, Genl. Washington, or yourself. &c…Enable us to allay the fears of the inhabs [inhabitants] … For these reasons we conceive yt [yet] a just regard for the public cause, & our duty to take a prudent care of the City, dictate the impropriety of provoking hostilities at present &…We therefore ardently wish to remain at peace for a little time, & doubt not we have assigned sufficient reasons for avoiding at present, a dilemma in wh [which] the present entrance of a large body of troops into this City, will al: =most certainly involve us.