Dear Sir,

I beg leave to acquaint you that Cap^t. Lewis a few Days since applied for one thousand pounds which compleats the Sum you mention I may advance, that poor Gentleman has been confin'd all Winter with a Dissentry, & I am fearful he is not out of Danger yet. I inclose you his first Bill for that Sum, which I've debited your Acc^t. with. We are in this Town in a most melancholly Situation, a number of large Ships, Briggs & other smaller Vessells fitting out as Cruizers & scarcely a man to be found to go on Board either. The town a second time made an innoculating Hospital, the illiberal Spirit of the Farmers is beyond Belief, loosing even first principles they extort from us from two to three Shillings P^r pound for mutton & Veal and other Articles in proportion, the Labourer we are obliged to compassionate & give him 20/ P^r Day, the Tradesmen Stock bears a Proportion, & they charge accordingly, in short such is the Situation of things here, that Procrastination, which I always thought would save us, I now begin to fear will loose our Cause—We are not without favourable Events—The Warren Frigate got safe out of Port & after a short Cruise return'd here, with the Plunder of one or two prizes she took, which afforded Supplies of a Number of Articles much Wanted, neither of her Prizes¹ are yet got in; that fine Frigate is now laying at the Wharf with not a Soul on Board, excepting a few Prisoners taken out off the Prizes, & a very few Officers—When the Frenchmen here are glutted with Ships we may expect to buy them at par; but they stick at no Price, and truly while they sell their Goods at such an exorbitant advance they may afford to give double the Value of a Vessell, one of that Class of Men the other Day gave £6100 for the Ship Lady Gage² formerly employ'd between London & [New] York, however such is the Parsimony of our Farmers that those french Adventurers now find it difficult to vend their Goods, & will soon be obliged to be more cautious of gaming too high, I am not unmindful of your orders to purchase a Vessell, & hope I shall accomplish it to your Satisfaction Cap^t. Hopkins³ tells me the Snow he took sails fast, and we are hourly expecting her. I've at last got away the Dispatch⁴ after being long detaind by contrary Winds I hope soon to write you again yours &c