My Lord
I have the honor to Inform your Lordship, that in Waiting in this Harbour for a Wind to proceed to the Island of St Johns We were on the 20 of this month taken by Two American Armed Schooners of Six Carriage Guns. Several Swivells and Seventy five men Each ー2
They had just arrived from Our Island and had on board Mr Callbeck Our Governor in the absence of Goverr Patterson and Mr [Thomas] Wright Prisoners, who they had taken there and were Carrying up to New England ー
Upon my Applying to the Commanders they released me and my Wife with my Servants giving us only our Cloaths and bedding the Rest of my Effects they Carried with them3 If they had known that I had the honour of being One of the Councill of St Johns and that consequently the Government of said Island devolved upon me, they would undoubtedly have carried me up with the Rest ー
Mr Disbrisay our Chaplain was released with us
I have hired a Small Schooner to Carry us to the Island when shall take every necessary Step for the Internall Pollice thereoff As to Defence we can make none, but hope we shall have some Man of Warr next Spring to protect us, Otherwise an Armed Vessell or two may Lay the Whole Island Waste at any time
I thought it my Duty to take this Earliest Opportunity to inform Your Lordship of the above transactions And I remain with due Respect My Lord [&c.]