[Extract]
N^o. 1.
My Lord,

The 20^th. ult^o. I had the honour of writing your Lordship, advising of Cap^t. Woodhouse Sailing,¹ since I have a Report of him being in an out harbour near to Arendahl on Coast of Norway, where he received the Powder from the Swedish Sloop.

I am honour'd with your Lordships favour N^o. 5—The two American schooners remain still in Marstrand, I am at a loss to guess what has detain'd them so long. I supose they were affraid to Venture to Sea on such a Voyage at so late a Season, now they are detaind by the Ice, and not likely to get away for a month or six Weeks at soonest—the largest one is about 60 Tons Burden Will^m. Ripley master, the other is only about 40 Tons T. Didget master—they appear both to be Vessells that has been employd in the Fishing, they have no particular marks or painting to distingguish them, only black, poorly fitted out & weakly mann'd—at first they got on board only a parcell of Teas to the Value of 900 to £1000—lately they got from hence circa 8,000 yards of an inferior Sort of Sail-Cloth, some Nankine Cloth, and a triffle of Steell—I supose them to be destined for one Quarter, some of the Southern provinces. . . .