Gentn

I have the pleasure to acquaint you, the Frigate Randolph, Nicholas Biddle Esqr Commander is returned from a short & Successful Cruize having taken on Wednesday the 4th Inst the following Prizes & brought them safe into Port the 7th — The Ship True Briton Capt Thos Venture mounted with 20 Six Pounders — 70 Men & the Brigt Charming Peggy — Lyon Mastr both bound from Jamaica for New York, loaded with Rum & Sugar for the British Troops, & the Ship Severn Jas Henderson Master bound from Jamaica for London mounted with 8 four Pounders — this Ship was taken by a Privateer & afterwards retaken by Capt Venture, a French Brigt loaded with Salt & bound for this place was made Prize of by Capt Venture, but is delivered up to them by Capt Biddle. the Cargoes on bd the three Prizes as far as has yet come to my knowledge Consists of 702 Hhds Rum, 215 Hhds & 74 Tierces Sugar, 7 hhds Coffee, 50 bags Ginger, l Tierce Old Mettle & 11 Tons Logwood. Vessells & Cargoes are libelled & as soon as Condemned I shall make a Sale of them at Publick Vendue to the best advantage. I can't tell with any degree of Certainty what the Sales may Amount to, but judge it will be upwards of Sixty thousand Pounds Stg The Captors think they are entitled to the whole Prize Money of the Ship True Briton & Cargo, Capt Venture having Acted as a Cruizer in her as well as a Merchant-Vessell, which please give me Instructions about, in the mean time I shall as soon as the Sales is finished Pay only half, as well as of the rest to the Officers & People of the Randolph. Several Vessell[s] have been taken by the True Briton, one of which was a Schooner called the Ranger, Israel Lewis Master, loaded with Horses & Lumber belonging to the State of Connecticut which was Condemned in the Court of Admiralty for the benefit of Capt Venture but it does not appear that he ever has had a Commission — I have not yet received Instructions respecting the Division of Prize Money to the Continental Ships of Warr

The Randolph got over the Barr the 1st Inst & returned the 7th Inst she is foul & must be hove down, which will detain her in Port about one Month the Express I send this by will return with all possible dispatch which may be in time to receive the Instructions by respecting the destination of the Randolph in her next Cruize Capt Biddle has no doubt but he shall be able to Man her readily & says the Officers & People behaved well, when he engaged the True Briton — I am Gentn [&c.]

[Endorsed] read 3 Octr