[Extract]
My Lord.

. . .with great concern I this moment learn of the January mail being lost by a severe engagement the Paket¹ had with an American privateer of force.² at the same time I beg leave to congratulate your Lordship on the Success of his Majesty's Ships Ariadne, Cerres. & Yarmouth against the several American privateers going to make a desent on Tobago.³ these are part of that force which was destined to have acted also ag^t: Dominica or Tortola as mentioned in my letter to the Lords of the Treasury of the 23^d: of February. the copy of which your Lordship received with mine of the 18^th of same month to your Lordship. and of which I informed Admiral Young and his Majestys Governors M^r. Shirley⁴ & M^r. Birt.⁵ Tobago was on consultation substituted for Dominica, deemed too well guarded, and from Tobago the force was to have gone to Tortola.

it was one of the vessells mentioned in that list commanded by Captain Tew⁶ which attacked his Majestys Packet. Captain Tew and thirty of his crew were killed and his vessel greatly damaged by the Packet.

I trust by dint of vigilince, and private intelligence to frustrate every attempt meditated against this Island; they however have been various, but chiefly hitherto with intent only to plunder, but as the privateers altho perpetually hovering on our coasts with that intention & their boats Crews even attempting to land, have even by night as well as day found preparations to receive them. they never could succeed but once by landing and carrying of two negroes of a french settler from that tract of wood land sold by the Charibs to Collonel Etherington, and by directions of the Lords of the Treasury to me since confirmed to him; I have reason to think this was effected by previous concert with these negroes all in one hut and who else might I think have escaped into the woods.

. . . the very unexpected arrival of a dutch squadron of men of War at Statia,⁷ the particulars of which the Admiral & Gov: Birt will doubtless inform your Lordship more particularly than I can altho matter of surprise is to me of equal Satisfaction as I cannot doubt but these come as auxiliaries to his Britanick Majestys Ships here.

I have the honor to remain with due respect and esteem [&c.]