My Lord

A distressing Circumstance hath taken place relative to the Island St John, but more particularly to Mr Callbeck (then commander in Chief) and to myself, who were on the 17th day of last Month taken as Prisoners from our Families at Charlotte Town, by a number of armed Men from two New England Privateers then at Anchor before the Town. ー They plunder'd Governor Patterson's Mr. Callbeck's and other Houses, of almost every Article which they thought worth carrying off, even the provisions which Were stored for the Winter; likewise the Church Furniture, province Seal &c.

I will not trouble Your Lordship at this time with a particular account of our unhappy situation, more than that we have undergone a disagreeable and hazardous Voyage at this season of the Year upwards of four hundred Leagues; our Families left (in all probabillity) to want the common Necessaries of Life and in an infant settlement without a Friend to protect them, and must be debarr'd (by the Season) of the Consolation of hearing of our safety for several Months to come; these Circumstances My Lord together with the cruel manner in which these Barbarians seperated us from them are truely Distressing.ーーThese Privateers were Schooners of about sixty Tons, mounting six carriage Guns and Ten Swivels each, with Eighty Marines, their Instructions were from General Washington, ordering them to Cruise at the entrance of the River St Lawrence to intercept such Vessels as should be loaded with supplies for the army at Boston. ー

From the reception we met with at Head Quarters in Cambridge, and particularly from Gener} Washington, I have reason to believe that these Transactions were not intended, but proceeded from a spirrit of Revenge in the Commander's of these Vessels, on their having been informed that Recruits had been raised on the Island, and sent for the defence of Quebec; of this they accused us with to the General; and particularly that I (although it was my Duty as a Magistrate) had been very active thereto, in having attested them. We were released from our Captivity, to make the best of our distressed situation, without the least offer of redress for the injuries we had sustained; almost the enevitable ruin of my Family, which induces me to hope that your Lordship will in some degree prevent, by a further continuation of my Salary on the General Survey of America, to which Service I will repair should Your Lordship think it requisite. ー I have the Honour to subscribe Myself with the greatest Respect