Hond Sir

this may Inform you that, Last Satorday Morning a Vessell from the Mole was Cast on Shoar Neer the Herring River and Neer the House of Wm Chase [illegible] her Lading Consists of about one Hund Hogsheads Malasses, and One of sugar, with a few small articles on being Informd of it the Committee of Yarmo with Zenas Winslow and Joseph Nye Esqrs of Harwich met to Consult what to Do with regard to the affair, and on making Strict Inquiry, and Diligent Search, the Best Intelligence that we are able to obtain is that One Seth Pinkham of Nantuckt was master, (if they Could run Safe to Nantuckt[)] but if they Should be in Danger of an English man of war then they had a French Capt both of which Capts with 2 of the Crew Left Said Vessell abt 9 Days Past, and in a boat made for Nantuckt which we hear got safe there, before they left her they had lost both of their Anckors Riding to the Eastwd of Nantct & their Sails almost all Blown away and She Leakt very Much ー the French Capt we Understand is the Owner of Vessell and Cargo. the Cargo we have Landed, the Vessell I be[l]eive will be Lost, as she is very old and weak. the Capts we Expect over to Day ー in said Vessell Came Passengers a Gent from Germini [Germany] with a Waiter both of them we Propose to send to your Honr with this Letter, we have met with a good Deal of Difficulty to Understand his Business, and Could not git any Interpreter, till last Eveng when Luckily Mr Youst Came hear and Can talk and Conver[se] with him without Difficulty, the Gent has got with him a Numr of Letters for Doctr Franklin and says he is acquainted with him (for further Perticulars I Shall Refer you to Mr Youst) ー the Gent it seems is bound to Philledelphia, ー you will Do as you think Propper with him, I Suppose he is no Less than a Knight by a Gold Star which he has &c the Jmmige of which he wears on his Left Brest ー the Gold Star he has shewn us &c ー ² we have found a Pockt Book with an English Regr and we Suppose a french One and Sever! other Papers which we Suppose to [be] a Clearence &c and Capt Pinks Journal to Sunday before last. we Propose to take of them, and when they Come over, to make Strict Inquiry and if we find they were on a bad Diseign to send them altogether to your Honr to Examn ー (if you think it Necessary Pleas to give us further Directions) I most think their wont be much Difficulty but if their Should we Shall Emmediately apply to your Honr ー I am Sr [&c.]

Honl James Otis Esqr Barnstable
P:S: Sr Since I wrote the above we have been Informd by Mr Yost: who was Converssing with the sd Gent in another Room whilst I was writing that the said Capt Pinkham, and the french Capt or Owner, were within four Days after their Coming out fully Determind to go to Boston, and it appeard so also by their having Divers Chances to go into Harbours from Cape May hear, but always tryd to avoid it, and he also says that they would have been Glad to meet with a man of war and he took it that they Endeavord to Do it, and Put themselves in their way, but Unluckey for them Could not meet with any; ー I hope and beleive now, that we shall soon know the Truth, as I am this moment Informd that a Vessell is Coming its supposd to be Capt Downs who went to Nantuckt for the Capt & Owner, ー this Gentn says the frenchman was Owner but Pinkham Commanded at Sea, ー it seems the Gentn was Loath to Discover any thing about the affair untill he by Conversing with Mr Yost was Sattisfid that we were not friends to Government, but is now free to Discovr all that he knows Concerning it Sirl am [&c.]

Enoch Hallet