Sr

I am Extreemly sorry to trouble you with an affair of this Nature but hope you will excuse it, your being the senior officer in the place being the reason Not doubting but you would Enquire impartialy into the matter, & I shall state the facts as near the truth as I possibly can recollect, Vizt I being appointed by the Honourable Continental Congress first lieutnt of the Frigate Hancock commanded by John Manley Esqr and have belonged to her upwards Twelve months during which time I have attended the ship steadily till the 22d of april which day Capt Manley told me he had no further service for me without giving me any reason or making any enquirey into my conduct all the reason I Can Assign is on that day he sent for to his house as soon as I enter'd the room he said to me God Damn you I order you on board the ship in half hour the ship laying in congress road I told him I could not possibly get on board in the time he re­ plied that was all the time I should have I told him I Could not go on board unless my Acct was settled as we was so near sailing and that I would be oblig'd to him to do it he then replied God Damn you I will not pay you one farthing he then repeated the above order for my going on board I then told him I did not understand the meaning of the words god damn you I order you on board this answer and asking for a Settlement is all the reason of his behaveour to me that ever I knew of or ever heard, I then ask'd him if he would please to tell me where the ships Tender lay he replied with an Oath that if I wanted her I Might go look for her, which I did and found her in order to go on board, Capt Manley was along side of her after walking on the Wharfe half anhourhe said Mr Dobel, I have no further Orders for you on board the ship I ask'd him if I was Clear of the ship he replied no without you'll give me your commission for which he said he would pay me my wages and if I would not he would Try me by a Court Martial and that he would either disgrace me or I should him and still further he says he has taken Several Methods to Affront me and make me leave the ship but that he could not do it till now, I shall be greatly Oblig'd to you if you please to make Enquirey into this Matter that I may once more have the honour of serving my country or of having my Commission Rovok'd by the Honourable Gentlemen that gave it tome I am with Great Esteem [&c.]

PS I Could Insert a great many more Abuses that I have met with but must Omitt them they being to Lengthy to be put in this Letter so I must Defer them till I am Call'd upon to prove them In Clos'd you have the Cappy of a Paper sent me by Capt Manley which is all that I have Ever seen or heard of since the Above Mentioned Affair hapned

JD