Gentlemen

In the Month of September last the Brigantine Polly Giles Sage Master from Jamaica & Hispaniola (Laden with Rum Sugar and cotton) Whereof Matthew Tallcott Esqr of Middletown in Connecticut & my selfe were Owners ー was taken by the Nautilus Man of War brought into this Port & here condemned by a Court of Admiralty and sold. I now find that some Part of Her Cargo Viz Twenty One Bags of Cotton Containing Two thousand three Hundred & Eighty three Pounds ー are in the Store of George Ewing Esqr and am inform'd that You have taken the same under Your care in behalf of this Colony ー believing it to be the Estate of the said George Ewin Esqr ー or some other Persons inimical to this Country ー but I am able to make proof that the said Cotton was actually brat in Said Brign Polly and was the Property of us the said Tallcott & Wadsworth ー and we conceive it still [to] be our property not believing that the unjust Capture made of our Estates hath in any wise changed the Property ー we therefore lay before You our Claim and desire You will deliver the Cotton to some Person by us authorised to Receive it - I shou'd have applyed to You Gentlemen in Person but as You were not seting to day and I being Obliged [to go] out of Town desire You will transact the Whole Matter with Mr Benjamin Clarke whose Rect for the Cotton or any other Matters to us belonging shall be as effectual as if signed by [us] I am further to inform You that Richd Alsop Esqr Late of said Middletown was concerned in some Part of the Cargo of Said [Brigt] and that I am empowered by his Administrater Mrs Mary Alsop to transact for Her as well as for Mattw Talcott Esqr as by said Power deld Mr Clarke will Appear I am Gentlemen [&c.]