Sir

We received yours of the 10^th. last Night. Nothing is left in our Power, with Respect to Cap^t. Fenwick, but to endeavour to get him and his People back again. We have got Prisoners enough taken in Merchant Vessels, to exchange for the Lydia's Crew, but they are at a Distance from hence and it will be several Days before they can be sent down. If the Men of War¹ are not already gone down, we request you to send a Flag on board and desire the Captain to send Fenwick and the Crew on Shore, for whom we will send a like Number of Prisoners of equal Rank, on board the Man of War and you are impowered to pledge our Faith for the Performance, or, if the Cap^t. will not send them on Shore, to desire his Promise that they shall not be sent away 'ti1 we have an Opportunity of sending a Flag, with Prisoners in Exchange. We do not know the Number or Rank of Fenwick's People on Board, if you can ascertain them, please to advise us. Cap^t. David's Galley² wants heaving down and several Things to be done to her: we wish her to come up as soon as she can with Safety. The Arms we sent, we designed should be and thought were, effective: many of the Public Arms, some of them since returned, were then out. It was out of our Power to then send you Arms of one sized Bore or fitted with Bayonets; we had a few with Bayonets but wanting Belts and Scabbards; those you have may be returned and we shall contrive you as many others, though it is next to impossible to get Scabbards and Belts at present. We have seen a Gen^t. lately from Wilmington but we have nothing new from thence, the Army or from Congress. We inclose Cap^t. David's Orders which we wish you to send him and by which you will see that he is to come up or stay, as you may judge best—We are &^ca.