Sir

Last Evening, The Massachusets, Capt [Daniel] Souther comandr of the Brigantine belonging to this State, Arrived here, and Informs me that a few days After he Sailed, he fell in with & Took a Brigantine of Abt 250 Tons, from Falmouth in England, mounting Six Three Pound Cannon, & having on board a Capt & about 20 Privates, of the 16th Regt of Dragoons, with their Horses & Acoutremts² The Chaplain of the Regiment is Also with themー

With Respect to News I can Only Inform you that this Vessel sailed from Falmouth on the 27th July Inst a Month after they Embarked, in Company with Tnielve others under the Convoy of the Daphne of Thirty two Guns, from whom they parted but a Day or two before they were taken, they all had the same kind of Cargo, makeing in the whole two Hundred & thirty Horses, a Fleet of about Seventy Sail Sailed About Three Days before them, Under a Strong Convoy, having on Board the Remainder of the 16th Regt of Dragoons, and the last Division of Hanoverians, as he says About 5,000 Men bound for New York, they were short of Horse Provisions & some of the Horses have died of the Staggers & he supposes that the late Gales have Destroy'd many more, He says the People in Brittain know Nothing what is passing in America, & Capt Souther Informs me the Chaplain has Told him the People in England begin to grow very Uneasy! ー not a single News Paper or Letter has as yet been found, if their should be any more News Transpire You shall soon be Informed of it, I think You may Depend on the Account he gives of the Sailing of the Fleet, & that they are now near if not Arrived at Yorkー

A Privateer Sloop Belonging to this place, is Just Arrived, Who fell in with the Fleet of Twelve Sail and was so Closely Pursued by the Daphne, that the Enemy fired Musket Ball into them, but by heaving Overboard all her Guns, Water & Provision & by Sawing Down her upper Works barely made her Escape³ ー I am with all Due Respect to The Honorable Board [&c.]