Copy.
Sir,

According to your Desire I make free to acquaint You of the proceedings of the people in Bermuda. On the 10^th. day of January 1778 I received a Commission from Governor Bruere, empowering me to seize, Attack and surprize all Vessels trading to the Colonies now in Rebellion, contrary to the Act of Parliament. I sailed from Bermuda bound on a Cruize and in Latitude 32º..10' N^o. fell in with and took possession of a Sloop called the Ranger, Captain Dunscomb and Sloop Dorothy Captain Higs from Carolina loaded with Corn, pease, pork &c^a. both belonging to Bermuda. Knowing them to be lawful Prizes, put onboard Prize Masters, with Orders to proceed to Bermuda with an Intention of having them condemned according to Law; But on my Arrival the people of that Island came down to Town in a Body, about 400 Men headed by the Tuckers and one Hinson; demanded the Vessels of me and Robert Shedden, who is a part Owner in the Sloop Hammond, which we refused to deliver; They then threatened to take our Lives and destroy our property in the Island, if we did not immediately give up these Vessels. Robert Shedden and myself waited on the Governor, to consult his Excellency on this Matter. They then came up to the Governor's House, and demanded from the Governor myself and R. Shedden, and again declared that we were pirates and had no Authority to take their Vessels; threatening our Lives in very severe Manner. I then thought myself so much in Danger, it being then Night, that I was under the Necessity of sending for 6 Marine Soldiers that I had then onboard, and went down with them onboard my Vessel. The next Day they got a Number of Boats and Ammunition from the Country with an Intention of boarding and destroying my Vessel and people. They also manned the Forts with an Intention of stopping me in their Ports. My Situation then was such, that I was obliged to go onshore, where I was immediately surrounded by a numerous Mob, and in order to save my Life, was under the disagreeable Necessity of giving up the Prizes.¹ They then made me promise them not to take any of their Vessels. In short they used their utmost Endeavors to injure me all that lay in their power. They stoned my Centries and cut away my Fasts as I lay at the Wharf in hopes [of] destroying my Vessel: upon the whole their Behavior is such that I do not think any Subject's property safe in their Island, as many of them have openly confessed themselves Friends and strong Advocates [of] America, and do at present carry on a very brisk Trade to Carolina. And it is generally believed by the Friends to Government in the Island, that since Captain Collins² left the Island, that there has been sent to the Continent not less than thirty thousand Bushels of Salt, and is still daily going out of the Island.³ I am Sir [&c.]