A: Doria My Dear Lydia

I think I may safely say that this is the first spare moment I could find since our first arrival at this port, to speak one word to you. I have been either Sailing or under sailing Order continually and could find no time to tell you what I know you long to hear. I mean account of our Proceedings. And now unfortunate fellow that I am, it is too late. A very circumstantial account having appeard in the papers ー Had the Plauguy papers but held their confounded tongues what a fine field Should I have had before me. With What Pleasure could I have said that in Lattitude North and Longitude West we did Wonders and that in Latt South and Long East we did a great deal more. But Alas I have now nothing to tell you worth your notice except that in the beginning of April one very fine morning we exercised Great Guns and small Arms and had two men hurt by it. And that I am most Affectionately yours. dont be Angry or frightend or Amazed I am not going to follow Charles example to write a note instead of a letter. 2 No no My Dear Lydia I am too much like Genny G:, and Nancy B,3 (thats a Rhime and believe me I did not intend it,) and your own dear self to be so soon tired of talking ー Do give My most sincere love to those two Dear Girls. ー But dont tell them that I am in love Because I am not quite certain of it Myself. to be sure I was a few days ago. But there never was a more free sociable set of dear Creatures got together in any one place as in this. And so I went into another Company .. And so I alter'd my Mind And so I am at a loss. Yes at a loss to know which I love most. I am sure I begin to grow Old for My Love fits dont hold half their Usual time. I have known the day when I have been held in Chains during a whole tide of Ebb. I wish you would write to me in Providence or Newport and tell me whether or not My old flame HG is Married 4 Yet I wont own I have a hankering that way

I think I was never more happy fi;om home than at present, owing as I take it to my being fully employd. I am now (I do not mean at this instant I am writing) Cleaning my Brig: for a Cruise. And hope in three or four days to sail. Should I feel in a writing humour before I go out you may probably hear from me again. If You should not swear that I had not time, or any thing else you Please except that I wanted inclination. Remember me most sincerly to Our dear Mother tell Her She may depend on hearing from me as soon as ever Madam Fortune is pleased to Smile upon me. Tell My dear Sisters and Brothers how Much I love them, but that You

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Cannot .. Tell Andrew Robeson I long to hear from him and from all the Rest of My most sincere friends. Tell Cato 6 and his Party that if I take a trip to Purgatory I will never Return to America if they Make peace with the English D ー gs. Tell Your Dear Polly 7 that I love her a thousand times

better than She thinks I do. Tell the Dear Girls in Your Neighbourhood long to be acquainted with them. Tell Yourself that Katy Hucheson alias Hudson [is] the-finest Woman in Providence except My Polly Gold. She was in St Vincents when the Caribbs were subdued and has since been in London Bermuda and Philadelphia. She enquird but could not find you out. Do not scold so abomanably. I will conclude as soon as ever I can tell You that I am your most Afft. Brother