Gentlemen:

According to your Orders, on Wednesday the 1st Instant, I proceeded down the River in the small Boat, with four Boat men, and one Tidesman; coming up with Gloucester Point, I went on board the Schooner Isabella, where I found one John Ritchey, who called himself the Mate of the Vessel, with five more Persons. I desired to know where he came from. He told me he came from Portsmouth, New England, and that he had nothing in but Ballast. I desired that I might search his Vessel; his Answer was I should not, as the Captain was not on board. I then ordered the People to open the Hatches and search the Vessel; upon which he directly took out a Pistol and swore the first Man that offered to open the Hatches, he would blow him to Hell. About five o'clock the same day, one Matthew Strong, whom I found was a Pilot, desired that I would let our boat put him on Shore. My answer was, that I should not let the boat go from alongside. They then hoisted out their own Boat, and put him on Shore, which was about three miles from Town. I then went down into the Cabbin with said Richey. He told me that the Vessel and Cargo belonged to Captain David Campbell; that he was sole Owner, and what was on board was all he was worth in the world. I then desired him to tell me where they were from. He told me from Dunkirk in France, and was loaded with dry Goods  I then searched under the Cabbins, where I found a parcel of Keggs, which he told me was Geneva, which I found afterwards was true, and likewise about thirty Pounds of Tea, done up in Bundles. I then asked him if there was anything else in the cabbin; he then shewed me one Trunk of Goods, that belonged to the Captain, and another that belonged to a Passenger. I then sent Mr. Powell to you. About eight or nine o'Clock in the Evening, Captain Campbell, with the Pilot and two Gentlemen from Town, came on board, and ordered the Anchor up immediately, and said he was bound to St. Eustatia. Soon after the Gentlemen went away. About an hour after there came another Boat, with three more Gentlemen, unknown to me, desiring that I would not pursue the Vessel, for it would ruin the Captain. They then presented me 25 Guineas, and said they would give me more on Shore. I told them that I would not accept any Money, but that I would do my Duty as an Officer as long as it was in my power. They then went away, the Vessel being under Sail going down the River. About two o'clock in the Morning, on the second Instant, I seized the vessel in the King's name. I then told the Pilot to take charge of her in the King's Name, and if he carried her away he must stand by the Consequences, for she was the King's Vessel. I then ordered one of our People to take the Helm, and demanded of the Pilot to take her up to Town. Upon that Captain Campbell said the King never paid for her. He then put a Pistol to the Pilot's head, and swore by the eternal God if he did not carry her down, and not run her ashore, he would put him to Death. The next tide of ebb, we got down to Chester and came to Anchor. I then went ashore, and Captain . Campbell with me, to get somthing to eat, for he had nothing on board but Bread. I then enquired if there was any Justice in that Place. I was informed there was. I waited on Messrs. Francis Richardson and Henry Graham, the only two in the Plate, and demanded their Assistance in behalf of the King. Mr. Richardson was sick, and Mr. Graham said he had no Business to go on Board any Vessel. I then waited on Mr. Vernon, a Sheriff, who told me he would go and get more help, and assist me. He went away and I never saw him any more. I went on board again without any Assistance. They then weighed anchor, and went down 'till they came to New-Castle, and then came to anchor again, as the tide would not serve them any further, which was about seven o'clock in the Evening. I went on shore with two of my People, and left two on board, and waited on Mr. Montgomery, the Collector, and Mr. Maurice, Comptroller, and acquainted them that I was Tide Surveyor of the Port of Philadelphia, and that I had seized a Vessel from France, and they had taken her away from me, and was going to carry her off, and I desired them to give me some Assistance. They answered they could not, for the Commissioners would not allow them any Men. I told them I wanted only their presence, and I would save the Vessel. The Collector said he would go if the Comptroller would. The Comptroller asked whether I wanted him to go? I told him I did. He then said he would not go. I then demanded of him in the King's Name, and as an Officer of the Customs to assist me in holding this vessel. He went into his House and left me. Mr. Montgomery, the Collector, then said he could not go himself, but would get me a pair of Pistols, which he did. I went on board again. As soon as they found I could not get help, they said it was all their own. They then weighed Anchor, and carried us about five Miles from the Cape, when Captain Ritchey ordered us into the Boat, and that without Delay, or he would put us to Death; so we were obliged to get into the Boat, and they cast off, which was about one or two o'clock in the Morning, although I begged them for God's sake to let us stay 'till Daylight. After about three hours' rowing we got on Shore, and was taken up the next Day, about three o'clock in the Afternoon, by Captain Allen, and brought up to town.

I am &c.