Unknown [Plan for setting fire to British ships in Boston Harbor]

Any Person acquainted with the Harbour of Boston must see the Practicability of setting Fire to the shipping without Eminent Danger, - also must see with what ease any number of Men may be Landed in the Town without being expos'd to any Battery or Breast Work, - (in order to Fire the shipping the following may be of some use.)
Viz That Neither Officer or soldier be acquainted with the Expedition till 4 hours before Execution
That 50 Whale Boats, with 10 Men each be pick't for the service each Man to
have his Arms in Good order & a sufficiency of Ammunition.
That One Floating Battery be in the service to mount a 4 Pounder & 6 swivels,
That Every Boat be muffled, viz Oars, thowl Pins, & Gunwales.
That Every Boat Carry 8 Oars, but only one Boat in 5 to Row, the other 4 to be
tow'd by a Rope held in the Hand of the sternmost Man of each Boat, in order to
Prevent any Boats being tangled.
That Every Boat Carry 8 Spears for Close Quarters, the other Two Men to keep
Oars out to Guide the Boat.
That a Swivel be fix'd in the Bow of Every fifth Boat.
That Every Boat be fix'd for Carrying the spears, Arms &c in such a manner
that no Noise may be made by their Rolling, no Man to go that has a Cough,
nor any Man to go with shoes on.
That a Watch Word be fix'd on for that Night.
That in Case an Alarm is given, the Floating Battery to begin Cannonading the
store ship to [divert] the Fire of the ships of War.
That a Whale Boat with Two Men attend the Battery to bring off the Man if occasion
That Every 5 Boats be Commanded by a Cap.n who is acquainted with sea affairs
& to have on Board with him the bearing of the Ferry, or as soon as the Fire
has taken a Lanthorn to be Hoisted about Half a mile East of the Ferry
House to divert the Fire of the ships from the real Landing.
That 3 Boats be fill'd with Combustible matter, each attended by 2 Boats.
that in case the Ships are Boom'd, to either Sink it, or raise [strikeout] [inserted: them] over it.
That 6 Boats to Carry each 4 Casks of Oil, each Boat to be Lind & made so
tight that if occasion the Oil may be Carried in Bulk, the Lining of each
to be pass'd over with Pitch & Turpentine, the fire to be Communicated be-
tween the Lining, which will effectually Fire the Oil.
That each Boat be chok'd between Two Ships before 'tis fird.
That in case no alarm is Given till the fire [struck: is] [inserted: has] taken hold, every Boat to make the best of its way to shore.
That the Execution be at Low Water, for many Reasons. One of which is,
there is a Chance of many Boats being aground at that time, also some
of the Shipping.
That a Feint be Made on the ship (or ships) in Charles River if any alarm
is given, for the follo. Reason Viz. No doubt an attempt will be made to
surround our Boats with theirs, as the Cannon cannot be pointed with any
Certainty, & a Feint will detain the Boats belonging to ships in
C: River.