Gentlemen,

Inclosed you have Copies of my Letters from the time of my departure on the late Expedition from Rhode Island down to the 12th Current. I am now to inform you that by a letter from Commodore Hopkins dated on board the Warren January 14th 1777, which came to my hands a day or two ago, I am Superseded in the Command of the Alfred in favor of Captain Hinman, and Ordered back to the sloop in Providence River, whither this Order doth or doth not Supersede also your Orders to me of 10th Ulto ² you can best determine, however as I undertook the late Expedition at his request from a Principle of Humanity, I mean not now to make a difficulty about triffies especially when the good of the Service is to be consulted. As I am unconscious of any Neglect of duty or misconduct since my appointment at the first as Eldest Lieutenant of the Navy, I cannot Suppose that you can have intended to Set me aside in favor of any Man who did not at that time bear a Captains Commission, unless indeed that Man by exerting his Superior Abilities hath rendered, or can render more important Services to America, those who Step't forth at the first in Ships altogether unfit for War, were generally considered rather as frantic than as Wise men, for it must be remembered that almost every thing then made against them, and altho' the Success in the affair with the Glasgow, was not equal to what it might have been, yet the blame ought not to be general, the Principal, or Principals in command alone are Culpable and the other Officers while they stand unimpeached have their full Merit, there were it is true divers Persons from misrepresentation put into Commission at the beginning without fit Qualification, and perhaps the number may have been increased by latter appointments, but it follows not that the Gentleman or Man of Merit should be Neglected, or overlooked on their Account, none other than a Gentleman, as well as a Seaman both in Theory and in Practise is qualified to support the Character of a Commission Officer in the Navy, nor is any Man fit to command a Ship of War, who is not also capable of communicating his Ideas on Paper in Language that becomes his Rank, if this be admitted, the foregoing Assertion will be sufficiently Proved but if further Proof is required it can be easily produced.

When I entered into the Service, I was not actuated by Motives of self interest. I stept forth as a free Citizen of the World in defence of the Violated rights of Mankind, and not in Search of Riches whereof I thank God I inherit a Sufficiency, but I should prove my degeneracy were I not in the highest degree Tenacious of my Rank and Seniority, as a Gentleman I yeild this point up only to a Gentleman of Superiour Abilities of superiour Merit, and under Such a Man it is hly highest Ambition to learn.

As this is the first time of my having Expressed the least Anxiety on my own Account, I must entreat your Patience untill I account to you for the Reason which hath drawn from me this Freedom of Sentiment, It seems that Captain Hinman's Commission is No 1, and that in consequence he who was first my Junior Officer by Eight, hath expressed himself as my Senior Officer, in a manner which doth himself no honor, and which doth me signal Injury, there are also in the Navy [those] who have not shewn me fair Play after the Services, which I have rendered them, I have ever been blamed for the Civilities which I have shewn to my Prisoners, at the request of one of whom I herein inclose an Appeal, which I must beg you to lay before the Congress, could you see the Appealants accomplished lady, and the three Innocents their Children Arguments in their behalf would be unnecessary, as the base minded only are capahle of inconsistances, you will not blame my free Soul which can never stoop where I cannot also Esteem.

Could I, which I never can, bear to be superseded I should indeed deserve your contempt, and total Neglect, I am therefore to entreat you to Employ me in the most enterprising and Active service, accountable to your honorable Board only for my Conduct, and connected as much as Possible with Gentlemen and Men of Sense.

When I was fitting out for my late expedition at Rhode Island, the concerned in Privateers Invigled away the Seamen so fast that Commodore Hopkins repeatedly gave me express Orders that whenever I met with a Privateer, I should cause her to be strictly searched, and if I found a single Man belonging to the Fleet I must take out all who had deserted and as many more as I thought proper so that I left a number barely sufficient to Navigate the Vessell into Port.

In consequence of this Order I sent my Boat to examine the Privateer Schooner Eagle in Tarpawling Cove, and finding two Men belonging to the Fleet, and two more belonging to the Rhode Island Brigade, concealed in Such remote parts of the Vessell that my Officer was Obliged to break open a bulkhead before he could come at them, I took them with Twenty others on board the Alfred and proceeded. To my great Surprise I have now received a letter from my Attorney Colo Tillinghast of Providence informing me, that an Action hath been entered against me there, by Samuel Aborn and the concerned in the Privateer for Ten Thousand pounds Lawful Money, altlio' the Vessel was then inward bound, but what is truely Astonishing is, that the Commodore (as I am Informed) should prevaricate in the Matter because forsooth the Order was not given in Writing, I do not apprehend that he means to Justify me in it, however be the consequence what it will I glory in having been the first, who hath broke thro' the Shameful Abuses which hath been too long Practised upon the Navy by Mercinaries whoe's governing Principle hath been that of Self Intrest. Colo Tillinghast hath entered an Action against the Owners of the Privateer, in behalf of the Continent for the same sum, and the first Monday of next Month this important Cause is to be determined.

One of my Prizes with Coal from Cape Briton got into Rhode Island, and was retaken after standing the fire of three of the Enemies Ships, another of the Coal Ships was retaken, and carried to New York by the Frigate that chased the Alfred on the Edge of St Georges Bank, but it doth not appear that she retook the John. The Active and Mellish are safe at Dartmouth, the Kitty is in this Port, so that the John and One of the Coal Transports, are the only Prizes whereof we have not had an Account, the first Frigate that chased me in the Providence was the Solebay, that within the Isle of Sable was the Milford.

I am now employing myself to settle the Alfred's and Providences Books and pay off the Men whoe's term of Entry is expired, when I have the honor of hearing from the Board, I must request that the Letters may be forwarded thro' the hands of Messrs [Abraham] Livingston and [William] Turnbull of this City, meantime I have the Honor to be with great Respect and Esteem. Gentlemen [&c.] The Honorable The Marine Board.³