Honored Sir

Inclosed I send a copy of my last to you before I left Rhode Island with the Alfred and Providence ² Since, as I now understand, you were not at that time returned from Carolina to Congress so that the original hath not perhaps found it's way to your hands. — I would not wish the Sentiments in it to escape your perusal for tho' I have expressed myself with a freedom becoming an honest Man Yet every word is dictated from a Heart that Esteems you with Perfect Gratitude. — for the particulars of my late Cruise I beg leave to refer you to my letters to the Marine Board: I took a Prize which by the Within letters you will See I intended for No Carolina — but to My no small concern the prize-Master hath thought proper to break his Orders and to go into Dartmouth in this State Altha' he had on board a full Sufficiency of every thing to have enabled him to pursue his Voyage ³ — in like manner the Captain of the Providence thought proper to dispence with his Orders and give me the Slip in the Night which entirely Overset the Expidition — If such doings are permitted the Navy will never rise Above contempt! — the aforesaid Noble Captain doth not understand the first case of plain Trigonometry yet it is avered that he hath had the Honor and that his Abilities have enabled him to command a Passage Boat Between Rhode Island and Providence long before the War Begun — ⁴

There is a Fellow who calls himself a Commodore ⁵ and who keeps us at Awful distance by Wearing an English Broad Pendant — he had lately the Honor of being a Stick officer Vulgarly Called Boatswains Mate in an English Man of War and was duely Qualified for that heigh Station, if Fame Says true as appears by his not Deigning to Read English Besides among many evident proofs of his Abilities as port Captain that Might be enumerated — this notable one may perhaps be Sufficient — for it seems that in his Absence he directs the First Lieut to take Orders from the Boatswain — Nay 'tis that on certain occasions he takes the Speaking Trumpet out of the Lieutenants hand on the Quarter Deck and delivers it on the Fore Castle to the Boatswain. To be very serious, that such Despicable Characters should have Obtained Commissions as Commanders in a Navy is truely Astonishing and [might] Pass for Romance with me unless I had been convinced by my Senses of the Sad Reality. — I could easily enumerate many other characters as truely Original as Commission Officers but it gives me extreme pain to be Under the necessity of Attacking private Characters. — it is however some Consolation — indeed a great one that this depravity is not Universal — Among other deserving Characters that belong to the Fleet — I am happy from personal acquaintance to mention Captain [Hector] McNeill as a Gentleman who will do Honor to the Service — I have conceived a Very good Opinion Also of Captain [Thomas] Thompson from some accounts which I have heard — I need not therefore name this great Man this Commodore! tho' I will if call'd upon and in the Meantime I aver that he is Altogether Unfit to Command a Frigate of thirty two Guns. — As I will probably write you again Very soon I will add no more at this time I am with Gratitude and Esteem Hand Sir [&c.]

[Endorsed by Jones] Boston Jany 12th 1777 Copy of a letter to the Honble J. Hewes Esqr by Express from Council.