[Extract]

. . . Long before this reaches you, you will have heard of the recapture of the Fox, McNeal in at Falmouth. The accounts of Manly are various — one day he is taken by the Rainbow and carried to Halifax — the next he is arrived at some Eastern port in a shattered condition, but we have no accounts of him that can be depended on; it would grieve me much to have the account of his being taken confirmed though not on his account for I think he deserves to suffer for his imprudence in keeping his prize cruizing with him a month where he was sure to meet some of the enemy's ships of superior force when he might have carried her to port, fitted his ship, and before this time added another to the American fleet. The recapture of the Fox and the rumor of the capture of the Hancock has exceedingly retarded the manning of the Raleigh; she wants about 100 men which number I hope will soon be obtained notwithstanding these discouragements. I think with you that it would be well to send some of the frigates to the coast of Europe. . . .