Dear sir

After a passage of 15 days, from Cape Henry we arrived here on the 10th Ulto the day following (in the Morning) a Ship of war appeared in the Offing of this Road, which made Capt Dickinson & I anctious to have the Cargoe landed from on Board the Schooner to effect which we were both on Shore endeavouring to make Sales, or find a convenient place in which to Store it ー In the mean time to our Great Surprise we perceived the Schooner under way at the appearance of which I applyed to some Boat men to Row me off, but before I could reach her, she was under the Guns of the above mentioned Ship of war who positively denyed to admitt me on Board of her; at my Return on Shore; I found three of the people who gave Capt Dickinson & I the following relation; that the Mate & one Man had Cut the Cables and delivered themselves with both vessell and Cargoe up to the above Ship that they were obliged to make their escape in the Boat after many imprecations & Threats from the Two villans who were each armed with a Broad Ax ー I consulted Mr Jennings what to do who advised me to apply to the Governor of this Island to demand her again as Dutch property being anchored under the guns of the Fort & Regularly Reported. This I did and obtained a Flag of Truce pass with Letters to Adml [James] Young, giving a detail of the Matter and demanding the Vessell and Cargo to be Returned ー I went to Antigua where the Adml was Supposed to be and delivered the Governors Letters when I received for Answer that he could not comply with his request his orders being such it was out of his power; all I could obtain from him was an order for my Cloths and that with Difficulty what ever money I had in my Chest was taken and confiscated along with the Cargoe, The Schooner & Cargoe is now at Navis [Nevis] where they will be tryed & sold; I shall attend the Tryall and if it is possible you may depend upon it to tak[e] any further Step for your advantage I shall not fail to do it; There was neither Lette[rs] nor pappers of any kind left on Board that could argue any thing against us but that of not having a Regular Clearance what ever expence I have been at I was oblig[ed] to borrow here, being left without the means of procuring a Dinner or a Shift of Cloths. I shall write you again after the trial of the Vessell In the Mean time I am Dr sir [&c.]

Inclosed I Returned the Bills of exchange.