On Board the Boston. Lorient July 3d. 1778.
Gentlemen
These may Serve to acquaint your Honours of my arrival at this port, after a short Cruze of twenty four Days. while on the Cruze I took four Prizes one of which I sent for Boston in Charge of a Carefull Prize Master & seven Men she being a Brig from Venus her Cargo chiefly Medicine,1 the others I Ordered for this Port, two of their Cargos fish the other Coles & Bottles, all of little Value.2 I would inform your Honours the Reason I came in so soon was on Account of Capt. Alexander Murry in the Brig Saratoga from Baltimore that I spoke with June 25th in the Longd. 25..00. West, who told me he had on Board many dispatches for your Honours in General & for the Court of France & many other Letters of Importence to our States. I sent my Boat on Board he show’d them to my Officers & send me a Line or two, then I bore away to Conduct him Clear of the Cruzers in the Bay as far as I was able too, but unluckly on the 28th last att 10 AM. I saw a Sail to the Southward, I then haild Capt. Murry told him to stear his Course and I would overtake him in the Afternoon but could not come up with my Chase & loath to quit untill 5 PM then haul’d to the Northward for Capt. Murry, att 6 fell in with two Sail a Snow from Sweeden, and a Brig from Scotland, the former I past, the Latter I took, and by the Time I maned her it was very Dark. I went again in Persuit of Capt. Murry & carried all the Sail I possible could to overtake him, when, coming in by Ushant I saw a Cutter of fourteen Guns coming from the Northward, gave her chase but could not come up with her, at Dark gave over Chase & made for Capt. Murry but had not the Good Fortune to see him after except I saw him Yesterday when I was coming in to the Eastward of me, & as he told me he was bound to Nantz I suppos’d it to be him, but was not so near as to be certain.3
Gentn. Mr. Livingston my 2d Lieut.—who presents this will give your Honours a just account of the Situation of my Ship in every respect whatever. his waiting on your Honours, prevents my Writing of many Circumstances as the Gentn. will give you a just detail of the whole. Pray Gentlemen inform me if I must Carry the Prisoners to America.4 if I am to carry them I shall build a Prison in the forepart of my Ship, for them & some who I have Entered on Board, who has appeared very Disaffected on the Cruize & two I’ve on Board confined,5 When meeting Capt. Whipple or Jones will try them, or carry them to America in their present Situation.
I would inform your Honours that Mr. Livingston acted in the above state like a Good man & must confess I am very sorry to part with him, but his Health is so Imperfect I am sure he Cannot endure the Fatigues of a Cruize, and Especial in my Situation, he will be able to give you the best Acct. off.—6 I should be very glad to Accompany Capt. Whipple for my Future Cruze.—7 I am [&c.]
NB.—Three Days after sailing from this Port I fell in with 7 Large Ships two & 3 Deckers Supposing them to be the English Fleet made way from them.— the 16th. June I saw them.—