Sir

This being the first Opportunity I have had of Writing your honor since I saild from Townsend this may serve to Acquaint you of the small success of the Brig^a: Hazard & Tyrannicide during our Cruise we have taken three Prizes laded w^th. Fish & Lumber &c the Particulars of which you will see by the Inclosed Mem^o: w^ch. we sent for this Port but were so unlucky as to have the two first of them Retaken the last is Arrived here and is Disposed of by the Agent M^r. Hutchinson¹ who has treated me very kindly and in my Oppinion is much of a Gentleman and deserving of the Commission he has from the state—After we took the last Prize above Mentiond we steard for the Western Islands and then for the Coast of Portugal and Cruised there untill we found the weather so Bad and having nearly lost my Rudder w^ch. I with much difficulty saved as the head was split and it other ways much damaged that I was obliged to quit the Station and stear for Madaera where we Cruised some time & meeting with no success put away for the Windward Islands & Cruising there sevral Weeks with the like success and our Vessells being Verry Foul and our Water & some species of our Provisions nearly Expended I thought Proper to stear for this Port where we Arrived 22^d Feb^y last and have not seen but one British flagg flying during our Cruize w^ch. was a Frigate that we fell in with a few days before our Arrival here, w^ch. we bore away for and discoverd her to be a Six and thirty gun Frigate w^ch. we not thinking proper to Engage sheard from her w^ch. she perceiving gave us Chase but we run her out of sight in three or four hours I have since learn'd she was the Deal Castle.²—The Hazard prooves to be an Excelant Sailor and is a good Sea boat and Works kindly every way. During our Cruize we spoke with and Boarded a number of Vessells w^ch. all Prooved to be French Spanish Dutch Portagee and Deans &c all of which we examined strictly

We are now Prepareing to heave down to clean and Expect to be Ready to Sail next Week my Intention is to Recruit w^th. Provisions & Water for a three Months Cruise dureing w^ch. time I hope to make up for our Bad success hitherto—As I never have lost sight of my Consort the Tyrannicide dureing our Cruize we expect to keep Company untill our Return to Boston

I do not think it best to acquaint you where we Intend to Cruise for fear of my Letter being Intercepted—but Remain S^r. [&c.]

[Enclosure]
Mem^o. of the Prizes taken by the Brigantines Hazard & Tyrannicide belonging to the State of the Massachusetts Bay—Viz

13^th Dec^r. 1777 Took The Brig^a. Alaxander James Waddie Master from Halifax bound for Jamaica. . . ab^t 120 Tons
Cargo³ Viz^t—

140 Hh^ds. Fish
22 Tierces ditto
106 Shook Hh^ds.
3 Hh^ds. Herrings
2,600 Staves
2390 feet Boards
15 bb^r. Mackrell
3 Tierces & 2 bb^r. Salmon
6 bb^r. Herrings
50 bundles Hoops
4 Casks qt: 1 Ton of Oil

22^d Dec^r.1777 The Schooner Good intent Will^m: Dashpar Master from Harbour Grass Newfound Land bound to Dominica. . . ab^t. 45 Tons⁴—Cargo Viz^t.
75 Hh^ds. Cont^g. Six hundred Q^tls. Fish
169 Bundles Hoops—18 Shook Rum Puncheons

23 Decem^r. 1777 The Brig^a. Polly Walter Stevins
Master from S^t. Johns Newfoundland for Barbadoes ab^t: 180 tons . . . Cargo⁵ Viz^t—
284 Hh^ds. Cod Fish 50 bb^r. Herring 4,250 feet Boards
20 Casks Oil ... 24 Bundles Hoops—
6 Bags Cont^g. 360^lb. Feathers—