Mercury at Boston Octo. 7, 1775
(Copy)
Sir I am honoured with your favor of the 1st instt inclosing A Copy of your Letter to Captain Montagu on his arrival at Boston from Virginia and of his answer; of your Letter to Lord Dunmore on the receipt of his accusation against me, and of his Lordships answer, and I cannot enough express my acknowledgements of your generous open and candid proceedings on this affair. I beg leave to lay before You the peculiar embarrassment of my situation. His Excellency Lord Dunmore in his letter to you of the 17th of July last has thought proper to charge me with Crimes of the most heinous nature, such as highly Concern my Honor, my Life and Property; in Consequence of which you were pleased to suspend me from the Command of His Majesty's Ship Mercury. His Lordship however in his letter to you of the 12th of September has thought proper to contradict the essential points of his accusations.
As this Affair is of so Singular and delicate a Nature wherein My honor and Character are so deeply Concerned, I am to beg that you will be pleased to order me home to England that I may at a publick Court Martial vindicate my Conduct in Virginia and support my honor and Character as an Officer. I am further to beg that as my health is Much impaired owing to my Confinement and anxiety of Mind, that you will be pleased to give me leave to go to England as Soon as possible. I have the Honor to be Sir [&c.]