Sir,

I beg Leave to acquaint you, that on the Seventeenth November last, two Privateers belonging to Beverly, one of them Armed with Six Six Pounders, the other four Six Pounders, and each of them with a number of Swivels, and Seventy five Men, Arrived at Charlotte Town, the Capital of His Majesty's Island of St John (where I reside as Commander in Chief, the Governor being absent on Leave:) and immediately made Preparations to fire on the Town, at the same time their Commanders with armed Partys landed. ー Not having heard that the Colonys had fitted out Privateers, I judged them to be Pirates, and by their Conduct they were Actually such. Therefore in order to preserve the Town from being burnt, I determined Singly to face them, not having force of any kind to make resistance. Upon their landing they made me Prisoner, and instantly conveyed me on board one of the Privateers; after which they proceeded to commit the most wanton and flagrant Outrages on Governor [William] Paterson's and my House, possessed themselves of the whole of my Property, after which made a Prisoner of a Mr [Thomas] Wright one of the Council, and then Sailed for New England. We landed at Winter Harbour, and proceeded to Cambridge, where, upon relating our distresses to Mr Washington, our being torn from our Families in the most cruel manner, and I being robbed of all I had, he thought proper to release us, and I am thus far in my way back to re-assume the Government. The reason, they assigned for their Conduct, was, that I had recruited for the King's Army, and sent the People, I got, to the assistance of Quebec.

Prior to their attacking the Island they had remained in the Gut of Canso sometime, during which they took five Vessels laden with Fish, and in their return they took three more, without meeting with the least opposition.

I have taken the Liberty, Sir, to trouble you with this detail, in order to excuse my observing that if there had been last Summer, a Frigate cruizing as usual in the Gulph of St. Lawrence, our Persons and Property, and the unfortunate Owners of the Vessels before mentioned, would have been secured against the hostile Depredations, we have had the misfortune to experience; at the same time to make my most earnest request, that you will be pleased to order a Frigate to be as early as possible in the Spring at the Island, and to remain there as long as the Season will permit; Otherwise the Gentlemen belonging to His Majesty's Government and Myself will be under the disagreeable necessity of departing from our duty, and abandoning our Fortunes, most of which have been expended on the Island in Improvements. To take this Step, Sir, will naturally occur to you to be very disagreeable to us; Yet our Preservation so much depends upon being secured in the manner I have made free to point out, that unless you are pleased to give me hopes that our Request for Protection will be granted, we certainly shall, as I have said before, be obliged early in the Spring, to take the sad alternative of seeking an Assylum else where.

I am to observe, Sir, that if you should be pleased to grant my request, it will not only be a means of making us happy in being secured, but it will also prevent the Rebels from making an Acquisition of Sixteen Nine Pounders, one eight Inch Mortar, some Cannon ball, and Grape Shot, which are now at Fort Amherst, at the entrance of Port la Joye ー If there were no other Temptations for making a second Visit, the object of gaining this Artillery, would to them be a sufficient Inducement, not to Add the Gratification of their avowed revengefull Disposition (on those who in a manner assist the Crown:) by ruining several Gentlemen's Settlements, their Tenantry and others on the Island. These Gentlemen were Inhabitants, but stimulated by Loyalty to His Majesty, immediately enter'd his Service, and have taken off Recruits, all of whom are now on Duty in different parts of America.

There was a circumstance took place while I was Prisoner, which I think my Duty to communicate to you. A Transport from London called the Jenny, Captain William Foster, was taken by a Privateer, who decoyed her by an Imitation of one of the King's Armed Schooners. The Master after he found his mistake, threw overboard his Pocket book in which he had the Signals. This he did five Leagues from the Coast. In two days afterwards, I saw the Pocket book, which was found a Shore. Of course the Rebels are in Possession of the Signals.

I am sensible, Sir, that your Vigilance in your important Station, inclines you to procure every necessary Information, and that you will not think I too far encroach on your time while (as a faithfull servant of the Crown) I endeavor as briefly as possible, to communicate to you a few Observations I made, while I was in New-England: The trade they carried on, surprised me exceedingly. At most of the Ports east of Boston, while I passed, and repassed, there were daily Arrivals from the West-Indies, but most from Saint Eustatia; every one brings more or less Gun-Powder. Some Vessels had Sailed, Numbers were fitting out, loaded with Fish, Lumber, and some with Specie, all I believe bound for the West Indies, and Saint Eustatia. At Portsmouth there were four ready to Sail. at Sacho two Brigs. I suppose they will be on their return in March, and most of them will bring Gun-Powder. At Cape Ann, Marblehead and Beverly, they have Forts, and now some Powder; the second is a st[r]ong one. Salem and Newberry have Vessels sunk, so, as to confine the Channel to a narrow Pass. Portsmouth has the same, besides a boom and three strong Forts. From Portsmouth to Casco every harbour and Creek has some insignificant Redoubt, Log-wall, or other defence, and upon the least alarm, the Country People come in, but from their appearance and Preparation, I should imagine their stand would be of short duration.

I have nothing further to add, but my Request that you will be pleased to favour me with an Answer directed to this place, where I shall wait for it, and that I have the honor to be with great respect, Sir, &ca