Sir —

We arrived in this port ten days ago, from a cruise with a schooner and a brig that we have taken; the schooner is from Halifax, bound for New-York. Enclosed you have a copy of the receipt the master gave for the cargo. She is a doubledecked schooner of about sixty tons burden. I expect that she has many things in that are not in this account, as the owner is on board with his wife, and these are goods that was on freight. The brig is claimed in Baltimore, and I expect will be cleared, from what I can learn. Enclosed you have a true copy of all her papers; and if such vessels are cleared, what encouragement has men to cruise. I have libelled them both in the Court of Admiralty. I hope you will send Tom Pierson, or let me know who to appoint here for an agent. If the brig is not condemned, I expect that I shall not be able to get to sea again, for all hands will leave me, and there is no such thing as getting men here; that I shall want to know what must be done with the Montgomerie. I hope to hear from you as soon as possible; and Am [&c.]