Sir,

Not having an Opportunity to convey to Admiral Graves at Boston my Arrival here, nor any probability of one, I think it my Duty to beg you will be pleas'd to acquaint the Right Honble the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, after a Passage of fourteen Weeks from Spithead I brought hither the Brig, Maria, Ordnance Vessel, the 18th December, a most dull and heavy Sailor, and but for the indefatigable attention of Lieut Hemmings, my first Officer, in Distilling fresh Water, I should have been under the necessity of bearing away for the West Indies, having no more than one Cask of Water, excepting what was under the Cables and that only five Ton and impossible to be come at but in the fairest Weather.

I found here His Majesty's Ships Otter and Kingsfisher, whom, with the few Kings Troops, were debarr'd from all Supplies of Provisions by the strength of an Army of Rebels, to the amount of about fourteen Hundred Men; my People from the length of the Passage falling down fast in the Scurvy, obliged me to condescend to send a Flag of Truce on the 24th of December to the Commander of these Men representing the terrible consequence which might ensue by a perseverance in such a Resolution; this answered no good purpose; humanity obliged me to send another the 30th. of December, their Centinels frequently firing into the Kings Ships and Guard Boats by night, and hourly insulting us by relieving their Guards within a Cables length of us, a Cop[y] of which I do myself the Honor of sending you, this was to as little purpose as the former, for on the 1st of Janry at 3 o'Clock in the Afternoon, in particular, their Centinels came to the Wharf very near me, from their Guard House, which was close to it, and used every mark of insult; I then ordered three Guns to be fired in to the House, ² it had its effect by setting them running; my Lord Dunmore sent (under those Guns) his Boats Arm'd to fetch off a Long boat they had taken from him, whose People set fire to some Store houses, which burnt a good number of Houses, the Rebels have since destroyed the greatest part of the Town.

His Excellency my Lord Dunmore, not being able entirely to unload the Brig Maria, of the Ordnance Stores, and being directed by their Lordships Orders not to open the Seal'd Pacquet 'till she was unladen and discharg'd from His Majesty's Service; I am constrain'd to remain here tho' perhaps design'd for other Service, and to act by Admiral Graves's Orders to Captain Squire of the Otter and Lord Dartmouths Instructions to Lord Dunmore, with whom I shall co-operate with in every thing for His Majesty's Service.

Lieutenant Governor [Robert] Eden of His Majesty's Province of Maryland has transmitted to my Lord Dunmore, information of three small Vessels well Arm'd being fitting out from that Province, ³ I shall use every possible step to intercept them and to keep those small ones, which His Excellency has already taken up, employed in the best manner for the Protection of His Majesty's faithfull Subjects and for the Annoyance of those who are not so.

Incols'd is the State and Condition of His Majesty's Ships at this place. I have the Honor to be [&c.]