“The person who is most indangered by the acquisition of your letter is one Higday, who lives not far from the Bowery, on the Island of New York. I wish you could endeavour to give him the speediest notice of what has happened. My anxiety on his account is great. If he is really the man he has been represented to be, he will in all probability fall a sacrifice. I am, etc.”
Nine days later, Samuel Culper’s seventeenth letter, dated July 9th, was forwarded to Major Tallmadge. He begins by saying it is a long time since he has heard from him and cannot tell if he wants him to continue the correspondence, and continues, saying: “I yesterday had an opportunity of seeing Mr. Culper, Junr. and repeated again all my instructions ever received from you. I have kept no secret from him and have consulted every thing and he’s determined to pursue every step that he may judge for advantage and is determined as soon as I can communicate to him your authority for my engaging him he will disengage himself from every other business which at present affords him a handsome living—He’s allowed to be a person of good sense and judgment and his firmness and friendship towards our Country I do assure you need not doubt. I have known him several years and confident he is a sincere friend, and will be frugal of all moneys he may receive, and hath undertaken it solely for to be some advantage to our distressed Country, and have determined to forward you for the future weekly intelligence if possible, as I have concluded to remain here as long as I possibly can (although I look upon myself all the time in danger) for the sole purpose of advantage to our correspondence.
“Below is what intelligence I could gain from C. Junr. It is but trifling but he assured theres nothing more worthy of notice. On the 4th, 10 sail arrived from Halifax under Convoy of the Romulus of 44 guns with about one hundred of the new raised Scotch, believe the Duke of Athol’s. Same day 10 Sail sailed for Cork. On the 6th, 10 sail of Merchantmen from the West Indies, but brought nothing new, only that Admiral Byron was cruising for a reinforcement that was expected to join Count d’Estaing. On the 4th, a Packet from Georgia with an account of Genl. Provost being with his army 16 miles south of C. Town, on St. John’s Island. Hardly any thing is said about the enemy in that quarter. He tells me the spirits of the enemy in general are much lower than heretofore and that he heard a very noted refugee say there would certainly be a peace or a Spanish war in four weeks. The times grows worse within the Enemy’s lines and Protection for those called rebels is almost banished, in fact Refugees are let loose to plunder within and without their lines. Parties of them are hiding in the woods and laying wait for the unwary and ignorant to deceive them, putting on the character of people from your shore, and have succeeded in their design too well. Carried off 10 or 12 men and stripped their houses lately from about 20. The roads from here to 10 is infested by them, and likewise the shores. It makes our correspondence very dangerous and requires great care and a strict observance of the before mentioned characters and circumstances. Sincerely,
“Samuel Culper.
“N.B.: Culper Junr. should now be furnished with some money. I gave him 4 half Joes on the 8th. instant.”
Meanwhile, General Washington had prepared instructions for the Culpers, a copy of which is still preserved among the papers of Colonel Tallmadge, as follows:
“INSTRUCTIONS
“C—— Junr, to remain in the City, to collect all the useful information he can—to do this he should mix as much as possible among the officers and Refugees, visit the Coffee Houses, and all public places. He is to pay particular attention to the movements by land and water in and about the city especially.
“How their transports are secured against attempt to destroy them—whether by armed vessels upon the flanks, or by chains, Booms, or any contrivances to keep off fire Rafts.
“The number of men destined for the defence of the City and Environs, endeavoring to designate the particular corps, and where each is posted.