(Copy)

Sir Agreable to your Order of the 13th of August founded upon a Complaint against me on the 17th of July last by His Excellency Lord Dunmore Governor of Virginia, I was Superceeded in my Command of His Majesty's Ship Mercury by the first Lieutenant of His Majesty's Ship Preston Mr Alexander Graeme at Norfolk in Virginia on the 8th of September and immediately put under an Arrest; I must therefore beg you will be pleased to Order a Court Martial (as soon as I am able to attend one, being at present in a very weak state of health, owing to a long dangerous fit of illness and anxiety of mind, which when I recover a little from I shall make you acquainted with) to enquire into my Conduct and to support the Dignity of the Navy in general, and the honor of your Flag in particular (who sent me.) ー His Excellency by a Copy of his Complaint which you was pleased to send me refers the particulars of my Conduct to Captain [George] Montagu of the Fowey, I hope, Sir, you will Order his Strictures upon that head to be sent to me that I may be the better able to answer for myself, and I can make no doubt but that his Lordship has supported his first (base) Charge by sending you every particular of my behaviour, which I must also beg you will be pleased to send me.

I am Sir [&c.]