(Copy)
Sir

I am favoured by the receipt of yours of the 7th and 9th of August by Captain Montagu of the Kings Fisher. When I wrote to you on the 17th of July I really did not mean or wish that Captain Macartney should be brought to a Court Martial my only desire was that he might be removed or Superceeded in his Command here tho' I do acknowledge on my reexamining the first part of my Letter that such an inference might be drawn from it as I think will admit of the Construction you have put on it, and therefore am much obliged to you for the attention you have been so good as [to] pay to it, at the same time I am really sorry for the disagreeable Consequences it has drawn upon Captain Macartney who is I realy believe as you describe him a most exceeding diligent, punctual good Officer and perfectly well qualified to Command any of his Majesty's Ships, but I am now of the Opinion I was then, that tho' capable of Commanding a Single Ship, when he has only to obey Orders, that he is very unequal in these exceeding difficult times to Command his Majesty's Squadron here in a very extensive Colony like this and where there is a very Artful, Subtle set of people to deal with as perhaps any on the Continent, and I realy believe the inprudencies he has been guilty of proceeded more from a want of knowledge of Mankind than from any bad intention, this being the case I hope you will not only reinstate him in his Ship but also in your former good Opinion. Capt. Squire who now Commands here I have been much obliged to for every mark of attention and I make no doubt he will do as much as can be expected in this very extensive Colony for the good of His Majesty's Service with the very small force under his Command.

I am much obliged to you for your good intention of reinforcing us here whenever it is in your power, I trust in God it may be soon for this unhappy Country is at present in a very deplorable State.

If you and the General were of my Opinion you would all come and Winter here as Nature will block up all the Northern Ports for three or four Months at least.

I am Sir [&c.]