Dear Brother, After a tedious and disagreable passage of near thirteen Weeks, I have the pleasure to inform you that I am safe arriv'd at the Mouth of New York Harbour, but am not yet determin'd on going in 'till I am fully satisfied of the propriety of such proceeding; for which purpose I am now preparing to send an Officer on shore in order to gain, the necessary intelligence. I am urged to this step haveing been near three Weeks on the Coast, and not seeing or speaking with any of the King's Ships am (consequently) oblig'd to any small Vessels for information, which I am doubtful how far I can with safety rely on the truth of at this time. I am greatly amazed at not yet Seeing any of the Men of War, my instructions strictly forbidding me "to enter Boston or any other Port or Harbour in America 'till I have Spoke with some of His Majesty's Ships ー proper Orders having been sent out for that purpose" ー How far, and, in what manner these orders are obey'd, I think my present situation sufficiently evinces ー However the present Condition of the Ship obliges me to go into some Harbour, and for these two cogent reasons, First, The bad State of the Ships rudder, wch I fear must be unhung before we can proceed any further, and Secondly, The Want of Water; in these two particulars we have suffer'd much from the frequent severe Gales of Wind we have met with, having in general had a very hard passage ー From what is here premis'd I hope you will think my present Conduct Strictly justifiable ー I have only now to inform you that from the necessary hurry of the Ship ー I am oblig'd to employ one of my Officers to write this ー therefore hope your Candour in excusing all defects ー You may fully depend on hearing from me by every opportunity either here or elsewhere.

I remain Dear Brother Yrs Affectionately

P S I am in perfect health but have not time to Write More fully Remember me to Mrs Dempster my mother&c And Am [&c.]

J H Dempster

A Most Dreadful Voyage we have made
To George Dempster Esqre No 71 Bemer's Street
In Oxford Street London England