Mr Trumbals
3rd Decr 1777, 1 oClock P.M.

sir

Col: Laurens Letter came to hand this morning.

I am sorry a Guard of Militia under the Command of Colonel Warner took up one of my Friends going into Philada which has prevented my getting some very material intelligence as I had formed a channel through which every thing in that way wou'd have come with secrecy & for that purpose had sent a little provision to my Correspondent in Philada from whom I herewith send you an extract of a Letter just from the City & you will observe what necessity there was for so doing-"We are pretty well of as yet, have a barrell of good Flower & some Potatoes-Money is very ill to be got-numbers of People in Town will take no paper Money of any Currency-Brigadier General Pattison,? has taken your new Shop Yard & Stable for his Cattle & live Stock, there's a Centry placed over them & no fire or Candle allowed some of his principal Officers is quarter'd in Falconers ? new Houses & I have a Young Scotch Officer quartered on me."

The Enemy are in motion have a number of flat bottom'd Boats on Carriages & Scantling-& are busy pressing Horses & Waggons-no persons permitted to come out except those on whom they can depend-they were busy this morning-I have ordered the person to be discharged & hope you will approve of the plan I had adopted-the impropriety of communicating it to you by Letter will plead my excuse-and I am under every circumstance Your Excellency's faithful

Jno. Clark Junr