Since my last² Captain Booker's brig for Amsterdam, as mentioned in my last, has been libeled at St. Kitts, in consequence of an information on oath by a scoundrel, who says he assisted to load the said [vessel] here, with powder and other warlike stores for America, and that the brig had just returned from America, after carrying another cargo of the like kind, that he the said informer was a seaman on board all the while, and that Capt. Booker had changed his name from Martin to Booker. It is notorious to every person in this island that there is not a word of the whole information true, as Captain Booker has made two voyages already to Amsterdam from this Island, without being at any other place whatever within the time; one of which voyages in the above brig now under seizure, and carried goods on freight for most of the Merchants of this island. Capt. Booker has taken every step in his power to defend the vessel, but it is uncertain how it may terminate: thus you see the sad situation people are reduced to, even in a fair trade, with those sea robbers under his Britannic Majesty. There never was a vessel, left this place on a more clear and regular footing, and no other reason in the world to suspect her, than that of the Captain being an Englishman, two of the seamen were English and four Dutch men. It is very remarkable that the informer is entirely unknown to Capt. Booker, who says he never in his life saw the man before: so that he must have been procured on purpose to serve their wicked ends. Several small vessels belonging to this place under Dutch colours, have been seized, and sent into port lately, on frivolous pretences, and no one knows as yet how far his property can be safe in any case. A day or two ago, a vessel belonging to Bermuda, bound from this, home, was seized and carried into St. Kitts, for only having a few barrels of bread and beef (about ten in number) for the use of his vessel and family at home, to keep them from starving, he was so particular when here that he would not take a single article of foreign manufacture or produce on board, to prevent any risque, but all this could not protect him from the robbers.

Capt. Patterson in a ship from this for Amsterdam, late belonging to your place was carried into the Downs, about the 10th May by a cutter, and was lying there two weeks when the last accounts came from Holland, but it was unknown what would_ be done with her. There was no passing or repassing up or down the English Channel for cruizers, and every step taken to intercept the American vessels.