Townsind [Townsend]2 June th 11 1777
Mr Sammuel Philip Shavage Esqr Prasadant of the board of war in Boston Sir
I have the Pleasher of Righting a few Lines to you to aquante you of my arival in the harbor of townsind after forty three Days Pasage from Nants at my Arivel Capt Skeammer3 told me that their is three English frigets a Cruesing between hear and Paseataway [Piscataqua] which I Send a Express to aquante you of which I Shall Lay hear tell I have a answer from you their was a Ship two Days ago of[f] of this Place tuck three wood Slops in Sight which I Dont Chuse to Resk this Brigg and Cargo out of this Place tell I Receive a letter from you Sir my Cargo a board of the Brigg is two hundred and thirty four Pigs of Lead one hundred and Eaight Cheast of arms one hundread Barrels of Powder two Cask of gons flints twelve Cask of tin one hundred & thirty Seven faggets of Steal four hoghd of files and four hoghd of Shoes to four Dubel forty fied foures to Eaight Swe[v]els Sir to aquante you of a misforting that hapined to my Brigg apon my Pasage homewarde·apon the Grand bank I Carred my mainmast away by the board the 29 Day of may which I Coud not Rigg im again in three or four Days if I ad not met with this misfortin I Shoud Got home one week Suner but Sense I have Got in this harber Saift I Shall Stay tell I have a Letter from you So I Contlude your[&c.]
Nicholas Bartlett Junr4
1. Mass. Arch., vol. 152, Board of War Letters, 1776-1777, 251.
2. Now Boothbay, Maine.
3. Captain John Skimmer, in Washington's schooner Lee, had just. carried two prizes into Falmouth, Independent Chronicle, Boston, June 19, 1777.
4. Bartlett commanded the Massachusetts brigantine Penet.