Hon^d. Sir 

I am to inform Your Excellency of the Ship Defences arrival into this Port, after a Cruise from Charlestown¹ of about four weeks not so successful as I could wish, but the Ship being so very foul (it being more than eight months since she was cleaned) obliged me to come into Port—The Authority of Charlestown would not permit me to lay my Ship on Shore, but obliged me to perform quarantine at the Harbours mouth, on account of my having had the Smallpox on board during the Cruize. They would not suffer the Ship to go up to Charlestown notwithstanding the repeated promises I had of being permitted every week—Could I have gone up to Charlestown, the Ship might have been compleatly fitted for the Sea, which was my entire view in going into that place: But after waiting week after week without any prospect of being in the end suffered to go on with cleaning my Ship, I was obliged to put the Ship into the best condition my bad situation would allow, and proceed to Sea—After this was done I received intelligence from the Governor of there being three Privateers cruising on the Coast, which greatly annoyed them- with his desire that I would proceed immediately after that; which I accordingly did, and had the fortune to fall in with them, two of which I soon captured—the other made off while they were securing the Prisoners on board—The next day I got safe with them into Charlestown with a large Bermudian Sloop of twelve Guns and 72 men, and a Sloop of eight Guns & 36 men—² The Prisoners I delivered to authority—The Vessels I delivered to M^r. Rose, who will transmit to your Excellency a particular account of the whole—My Clerk, M^r Wasson will be able to answer any particular enquiries Your Excellency pleases to make—My Peoples times are out. They will expect their wages and discharge. I wait Your Excellencys Orders about the Ship—³ which I am ever happy to obey—I am [&c.] 

M^r Wasson will deliver into your hands the

Commissions of the two Prize Sloops—