I sail’d from Bristol the 8^th. of February with my Family and some of my Servants in the Admiral Keppel Abraham Brown commander bound to Jamaica and in company with the Cyrus¹ bound to Nevis and Jamaica; Both Letters of Mark: the 15^th. of April we were taken by the Oliver Cromwell Capt^n. Parker² and the Defence Captn. Smedley.³ The 21^st. Ins^t. we arrived at Boston.

Both Captⁿ Parker and Captⁿ Smedley behaved with great Humanity to the crew, and were remarkably Kind and Civil to my Family and myself. Both the Crews of the Oliver Cromwell and the Defence were a week repairing the Rigging of our Ship, and I must own to your Excellency that during that Time I saw so much Prudence, Good Humour in Captⁿ Parker that I have a very great Regard for him.

He put on board the Admiral Keppel the 3^d. Lieut^t of his own Ship as prize master, one Mate was from the Defence. The first is a M^r. Tillinghast,⁴ the other a M^r. Wasson;⁵ We have every Reason to be pleased with the Behaviour of both these Gentlemen during the whole of our Voyage. I am particularly obliged to them for their Attentions to M^rs. Shirley and my Daughter.

I am now with my Family in the house of M^r. Eliot—⁶ I have been so fortunate as to get a Lodging in his Neighbourhood—I need not assure your Excellency that this Gentleman is very civil to us, but I must acknowledge with Gratitude, that Both Himself and M^rs. Eliot are particularly Kind to my Family.

As soon as M^rs. Shirley is easy and recovered from so long a Passage I shall do myself the Honour to wait upon your Excellency. I am in hopes to set out in the beginning of next Week— I have the honor to be [&c.]

Boston.
May 23d. 1778.