[Extract]

Hond Sir Your Letters of 16th 21st & two of the 24th are to Hand ー Our Privateers took, the last Week, four Prizes, two carried into Salem & two into Plymouth, the first two mentioned, were in plain Sight of the Shipping at Nantasket, the Sailors said the Yankees would come next & carry away the Admirals Ship ー the Ships carryed to Salem we hear are loaded with Coal & Potatoes from England, the Acquisition is of no great Value to us, but, for the present, an irreparable Loss to our Enemies, I do not yet learn the Loading of the [othe]r two Captures ー we are told our Enemies are [fitti]ng out Privateers ー want much to hear what becomes of our Fleet at the Southward... it is lately found that almost all our heavy Cannon must have new Carriages before they are put to hard Usage ー &C &C ー