[Extract]
Sir I Received yours 14th Ulto and observe the Contents and relative to the Ship Mary Capt [Thomas] Kennedy, she is now laid up and her Cargo all Landed, I have by Govenour Trumbulls order delivered the Wheat to the Commissary General, all except a few bushels to the Neatly Inhabitants and sum I have ordered to be made into ship Bread, for the Supplying of any of our Continental Fleet that may want I shall get the Commissarys Bills for the Amo of what he has received, and as to Loading the Ship or sending her to the Southward its impracticable, for his Majestys Friggates have entirely shutt up this Harbour so that its impossible to get out, without falling into their hands, this day a prize Schooner was run on Shore by the Niger Friggate & her Station of our Light House, so that we must give over thinking of getting Kennedy out, untill we can oblige those Gentry to remove,. . . Agreeable to your orders I had all the Stores Commodore Hopkins brot from N ewprovidence apprized and sent you the Amo the people who were in that expedition want there prize Money should be glad you would let me know whether I am to pay them out of the Continent share of Prizes now in my hands -lnclosed is a List of Prizes that is been brot into this State since the Commencement of this Warr,2 and shall continue to advice you of all that comes in -I have and shall Continue to supply Capt [Dudley] Saltonstall with what money he may want to get his ship 3 out, at present she is in Connecticut River and am fearful we shall meet with Difficulty in getting her out as she draws so much water, it must be a very extraordinary tide to get her over the Barr, and in case she lies any time on the barr, as the British Ships are Continually passing they may take that opportunity to Destroy her, however you may depend that the greatest prudence will be observed — the Sale of the prize Ship Clarendon taken by the Cabot is not compleated soon as it can be effected shall send the Accot . . .
This moment a person come in and says that the prize Schooner I mentioned being drove on Shore by, the Niger, proves to be a Prize belonging to an Armed Vesell of mine, Laden with beef pork butter bread & flour she is 150 tons burthen we have got on those 800 Firkens of butter 100 Casks Bread last Night, the Friggate sent her Boats to burn her, they boarded her & sett her on fire in the Cabbin but our people fired on them so smartly they were obliged to quit her & tumbull into their Boats drove of with the wind not daring to stand up to row &c &c — the Niger still Continus to cruse of this Harbour . . .