Extract of a Letter from New-York, to a Gentleman in Philadelphia

v4:942

Yesterday, about the same time, Generals Lee and Clinton arrived. The Committee of Safety met immediately, and we expected something like a commencement of hostilities to-day. The Mayor went on board, and the Governour and General both assured him not a man was to be landed here. A twenty gun ship, said to be the Mercury, and a transport, came into the harbour yesterday. Clinton came in the frigate, and is going to the Southward, I believe to Virginia. A Dr˙ Gilson has been taken into custody at Newport, and sent to Head-Quarters for treasonable practices at Rhode-Island. Lee says, he will send word on board the men-of-war, that if they set a house on fire, in consequence of his coming, he will chain one hundred of their friends together by the neck, and make the house their funeral pile.