[Extract]
Dr Sir

As this Man has been so kind of his own accord to call upon me to know if I had any letter for York, being to set off early to morrow morning express from Mr Livingston—¹I take the liberty to Inclose you a printed Copy of our Constitution,² this instant come from the Press

The Melancholy news of the loss of the Randolph has reached us by the prize Master of a small Schooner from New York which was captured by poor Biddle³ he was witness to the dreadful scene when the Randolph Blew up in the Engagement, which a Letter from Capt Wm Hall in a Brig in the service of our State⁴ and under the Command of the Randolph thus describes "Lat 17º.. 54' N "Long 55º 18 W 8^th. March⁵ made a Sail to Windward bearing E.N.E. 9 Leagues, gave Chace at 5 she proved to be very large,⁶ she bore down to us and at 7 pm. fired a Gun to bring us to and then haled the Moultrie⁷ who answered them, I being under the Moultrie's lee quarter the Randolph upon the Moultries Weather Bow, the Polley⁸ to Windward of the two, and the Fair American⁹ to Leeward of me—the Enemy shot by the Moultrie and continued towards the Randolph, the Randolph hove out no Signal for hauling in a Line of Battle, but laid her Mizen Top Sail to the Mast and got in readiness for engagem^t.—the General Moultrie being to Windward of me I could not get to Windward to get up in the Randolphs wake, with that I laid my Main top sail to the mast for the General Moultrie to shoot ahead, we being then with our Starboard tack on board, by this time the Enemy got so near the Randolph as to hail her,¹⁰ and that the Randolph luffed up in the Wind and brought her Quarter & Quarter deck Guns to bear upon the Enemy and discharged them—with that I immediately gave the Enemy a broad side, the Enemy took the advantage of the Randolph & Shot up to windward of her and gave her a broadside and so continued for 12 minutes the General Moultrie & myself being within 100 Yards of the Enemy began to engage when I exchanged the broadsides at her; by this time the Randolph Blew up, and I thought it was best for me to make the best of my way clear of her, as soon as the Randolph blew up she immediately gave chace to the General Moultrie and myself so I stood away to the Westward, & the General Moultrie to the Southward to get clear of her—I found before she engaged that she had a flag hoisted at her fore topmast head & a high poop which I take to be a 40 or 50 Gun Ship—the Randolph disabled the Enemy much she shot away the Mizen top mast and Boltsprit"—I could not Sir help giving you the particulars of this really distressing and Affecting affair as the Letter lies on my desk before me from whence I have extracted the article—50 of the best Men in the first Regiment were on board of her¹¹ and Several very promising Youths of this Country who have thus immaturely fallen in their Countrys Service the four Vessels in Company with the Randolph above alluded to, were those fitted out by this Country and put under the sole direction of Biddle for the Express purpose of clearing our Coast, which has been for several Months annoyed by one, two and sometimes 3 Vessels—her taking so large a circuit was incompatible in my opinion with his destination, and the Views of Governm^t. and has left us now without any Recourse from the Evil, which we every day feel the effects of. . . .

About three days ago a Flag of Truce was despatched to St Augustine with 45 prisoners of War, to exchange as many of our unfortunate people as we can procure for them

I wish some means could be devised to obtain the enlargement of Pickering¹² and his Men who suffer rigorously at New York—I saw a Letter lately from one of his Officers complaining in very affecting terms of their treatment

You will Excuse this hasty indegested Epistle by Candle light which I meant only to cover you the Constitution

I am with Respect Sir [&c.]

30 March 1778
Chas Town