Je ne vous ai point donné de mes nouveau mon cher Monsieur depuis mon retour dans ce païs ci faute d’occasion, cela que je prend aujourdhuy est affligeante pour moi, mais elle sera autant plus propre a fixer votre attention et celle de votre grand Papa.¹ Depuis un an ou 18 mois on a considerablement expedié des navires pour L’Amerique septentrional, la plus grande partie sont peris ou ont été pris par la faute de vos Pilotes, Ils vient de nous arriver un evenement affreux, un de nos navires avoit atterré a la Baye d’albemard un peu sous le vend de la passe ou il ne reste que 5 pieds d’eau, il etoit mouillé a 7 Brasses, Il envoya sa chaloupe aterre pour Se procurer un Pilote quelque prix qu’on lui a proffert il n’a jamais voulû se rendre abord. le lendemain Ils apperçurent une fregatte qui venoit droit a eux, Ils n’eurent d’autre party a prendre que de couper leur Cable & d’aller a la Côte, & ils se Sauverent comme ils purent la fregatte envoya ses chaloupes bien armées & enlèverent ce qu’ils purent & mirent le feu au Navire, si ce malheureux pilote avoit voulû se rendre abord, Il nous auroit evité cette perte qui est conciderable, cetoit un Battiment de 300 tonneaux trés richement chargé.

Nous en avons egalement perdu un autre bien malheureusement, Il etoit poursuivi depuis 24 par 3 fregattes qui ne purent pas atteindre, Il entra avant elles dans la Bay de Chasepeak, Il se crut sauvé aprés avoir gagné 4 a 5 lieux, mais Il trouva a son passage dans la Baye un vaisseaux de 64 Cannon et deux fregattes qui l’obligerent d’amener. Il a été conduit a Newyork² Il est enverité trés Interessant que vous ecrivies de faire punir les pilotes qui se refusent de pretter du secours a nos Battiments, Il y beaucoup de monde qui assurent qu’ils s’entendent avec les Royalistes, et enverité je serois trés porté a le croire.

Comment ménagé vous nos Jolies demoiseles vous envoyas quelque fois chez Mr. Grand de bien Interessantes. adieu mon cher monsieur [&c.]

[Translation]

I have not sent you any of my news, my dear Sir, since my return to this country lacking the occasion. The news I report today is distressing for me, but it should fix your attention and that of your Grandfather.¹ For a year or 18 months a considerable number of ships have been sent to North America, the majority of which have been lost or have been taken through the fault of your Pilots. A shocking instance has just happened to us. One of our ships had grounded in Albemarle Sound, a little to the windward of the pass where there was only five feet of water. It had anchored in seven fathoms. It sent its boat ashore to procure a Pilot, at whatever price offered to him he never agreed to come on board. The next day they saw a frigate that came right toward them. They could do nothing else but cut their Cable and run on shore, & they saved themselves as they could. The frigate sent its boats well armed & carried off what they could and set the ship on fire. If this unhappy pilot had agreed to come on board, it would have saved us from this loss, which is considerable. It was a Ship of 300 tons, very richly laden.

We have likewise lost another unfortunately. It was chased for 24 [hours] by 3 frigates, which were unable to seize it. It entered Chesapeake Bay before them. It believed itself saved after having gained 4 to 5 leagues, but it found in its passage in the Bay a 64-gun ship of the line and two frigates, which forced it to surrender. It was taken to New York.² It is very important that you write to have the pilots punished who refuse to assist our Ships. Many people are sure that they are in league with the Royalists, and in truth I would be very prone to believe it.

I am very interested in how you are faring with the Pretty damsels whom you met at Mr. Grand’s. Good bye, my dear Sir [&c.]

Theodore Jauge