Sir

I received your favor of 5th Inst in favor of your Friend John Dunlap, to whom on application I have advanced 80 Dollars and Debit'd your Account for the same. — Inclosed you have a minute of Cash pd by Mr [John] Manley & myself wch you'll please have enter'd to their Accots before Setled with. —

I have now to Inform you of my being serv'd with a Copy of a Writ agt Jno Paul Jones Esq Jno Rathbum [John Peck Rath'bun] & Philip Brown to answer the Complaint of Sameul Aborn &c Owners of the Private Schooner of Warr called the Eagle in an Action of Trespass for that the Defts wth force of Arms & agst our Peace did enter the Sehr & then & there weigh the Anchor & Cut away the main Sheet & knock out the Bulkhead & take out of said Sehr 24 Men whereby the Cruse was entirely broke up & other Enormities the Defts did to the Pl[ain]t[iff]s to the Damage of the Plts Ten Thousand Pounds Lawfull Money — In consequence of wch I have sued the Owners of the above Privateer in the Continents behalf for receiving & detaining the Alfreds Men for the same Sum — I thought I would Inform you of the above as the Court is adjourned to the first Monday in Febuary 1777 —

Observe your Intentions of Visiting Providence in a Short Time — nothing further Offering I rest Sir your [&c.]