[Newport] Rhode Island Febry 16th [1777]
Gentlemen
Herewith I acquaint you of my Safe Arrivall at this port after a tedious Residen[ce] at Swansy in the State of Massachusetts Bay of five months I arrived the 8 Inst with 32 other mast[e]r[s] & 90 Seamen in a Cartel appointed for the exchang[e] of Prisoners this day Arrived here the Ship Tho[ma]s Late Collison master having been Captur'd by the Same Sloop I had the misfortune to fall in with but with better fortune being Retaken by the Unicorn he makeing little or no Resistance it his here Imagined by every one that he must have gave her away as he was in Company with the Sarah wich two Vessells ought to have defended themselves against any Vessell of double the Sloops force her Cargo his took for the Use of the Army & She will proceed home !mediately by whom I Shall take a passage they Vessell this comes by not being Arm'd & Sails without Convoy Otherwise Should not have mist So favourable an Oppertunity Here his no news Stirring Here both Armys lying Quiet the Rebells when I left them In high Spirits but hope the ensuing Campaighn will go a great way to reduce them to Obediance I Remain Gentlemen Yours to Command
D. Wise
Pr the Lucretia Capt Bishop
1. Copy in log of brigantine Ann, EI. The Ann, 120 tons burden, was taken by the Massachusetts privateer sloop Revenge. See Volume 6.
