[Extract]

I have the pleasure to acquaint you of my safe arrival here on the 1st instant, having had one continued storm of wind since my last letter to you, dated at sea, November 6th. The sea continually washed over us, and froze so excessively hard, that, had it not been for our masts, we might have been taken for an island of ice.

I was told that I might depend on meeting agood many cruisers at a distance from the land, who would conduct us safe into port; but I did not see ship or vessel for three weeks after I got over St. George's Bank, and my orders from the Admiralty forbade me to go into any port without first speaking with a King's ship, who was to conduct me into port, or inform me of a place of safety.

After being baffled about for three weeks, with only six men fit for duty, the rest being frost-bitten, or sick through fatigue (having, besides, had the misfortune to lose one, washed overboard,) I made for the land, and got, as I judged, from my reckoning, within three leagues of Boston light-house, when, it coming on to blow a gale of wind, and meeting neither cruisernor pilot, I was forced out to sea again, and continued in a storm, at sea, eight days more. I got in with the land again, with the wind at north, and though thick, snowy weather, I stood in boldly, and made the light-house, and met one of the King's schooners, and asked for a pilot, but he could not spare one, as he was going on a cruise. Soon after, I got to an anchor in Nantasket Road, and found several King's ships, I believe ten sail, in all. To them I applied for a pilot; but they had none to spare, and were so weakly manned that they could give me no assistance. They told me there were many privateers out, well manned and armed, and that they were going to cruise for them; but if they meet with any bad weather, as I have done, they are so badly manned they will make no hand of it.

At last I got a pilot from Boston, who tells me that a ship with ordnance stores is taken by the Rebels, and that, likewise, several coal and porter ships are taken 2 which I find, now, to be likely, for there are only eight sail, of the forty, arrived yet, and they had no force to resist.

They have not begun to unload us yet. We have split several of our sails, and the rest are much the worse for wear. All our running rigging is bad; our ropes cracked like glass, and we broke our maintopmast backstay; and all our rigging is much damaged.

I can see the Rebels' camp very plain, whose colours, a little while ago, were entirely red; but, on the receipt of the King's speech, (which they burnt,) they have hoisted the Union Flag, which is here supposed to intimate the union of the Provinces.

About a week ago, the Rebels made an excursion into Charlestown, and burnt down some few houses that were left standing, and carried off a sergeant and four men prisoners; but, at present, all is quiet.

You had better, if any of your ships should come out, get higher freight, for the loss, in wear, is greater than I expected, and no supply can be had. If you send some naval stores, they will sell well. There are a great many privateers out, and more will be soon ready; but I suppose the ships, after this, will come with convoy.

I am, &c.

P.S. I brought but fourteen hogs alive; and another ship, that had one hundred and thirty sheep, brought in five, and all as thin as you could expect, and, as the sailors say, only fit for lanterns.