[Extract]
My Dear St George.

I reced Your Letter from Turks Islands & was glad to hear you was well & had got so far on your Voyage, it wou'd afford us inexpressible pleasure to be inform'd of your safe Arrival in Virginia, which I hope wont be long before we have that agreeable News. If you meet with no interuption in your Voyage we have reason to expect you will have a considerable Surplus besides loading the Sloop in which case, as from our last Accounts from America things were in a very critical Situation there, we think it wou'd be adviseable to secure what effects you may have there in the best manner . . . we think rather than leave the Money in the Government hands or take Continental money, you . had better purchase new tobacco & let it remain in the Ware houses, as it will be a more certain thing than the paper currency, shd things take a bad turn against America .... As in all probability (if there is not a' conquest before) the Coasts of America will be all crouded with Cruizing Vessels early in the Spring, wch will make the trade very dangerous & precarious, you must therefore consider if you arrive safe in the West Indies whether it wont be most Adviseable to secure as much of our Interest there as you can, only reserving a Sufft Sum to load the Vessel in America, for unless a method can be fallen upon to get the money from thence, the proffitts perhaps will be sunk, so that we had better be contented with the first proffitt than by attempting to carry into America large Cargoes With a View of their turning out to greater gain lose the whole, which will certainly be the case if the Provincials are obliged to Submit, for their currency will imediately be sunk & I Suppose the Public Credit intirely destroyed. I wish our fears may be in Vain; the reports are various, all we know for certain is that Genl Howe was wthin 20 Miles of Phila, Genl Washington & Genl Lee both in the Jersey's. what has since happen'd or what will be the event God knows. Perhaps you are uninform'd that Capt Jerh Morgan had the Misfortune bf being taken by a Man of War in his passage to Phila he is now confin'd onboard the Admirals Ship at New York. Lord Howe it is said is much exasperated at him & resolved to make an Example of him, as he is a Bermudian and of course a Subject of G Britain. I am really sorry for the poor Man's Situation, but I think his life is not Legally in danger, what power may do I wont pretend to say. The Nautilus, Galatea & Repulse Men of War are order'd to Cruize about this Island for some time, after which the two latter are to go to the West Inds the former to remain here. last Eveng one of them appear'd off on the South side & I believe is gone into St George's, so that our harvest in all probability is over, but we are happy in having a Sufft Supply for many Months. The Galatea Sent in here two prizes she took on the coast of America. — We dont hear of any of our Vessels being taken.

I am My Dr St Geo. Your truly Affectionate Father

Bermuda Jany 5th 1777.