I the subscriber do know that our Commander, Commodore Hopkins, allows himself to speak in the most disrespectful manner concerning the honorable Continental Congress, although I have lived in the cabin with him, I do not remember that he has ever once spoken well of those guardians of America, but seems to embrace every oppertunity in order to disparage & slander them. He does not hesitate to call them a pack of ignorant fellows — lawyers clerks — persons that don't know how to govern — men who are unacquainted with their business — who are unacquainted with the nature of mankind — that if their precepts & measures are complied with the country will be ruined. I have also heard him say that he would not obey the Congress. He not only talks about them most disrespectfully among our own folks but I have heard him exert himself earnestly in order to disparage them before strangers, before two prisoners who were masters of vessels in their passage to Newport in order to be exchanged. He also positively asserts that all mankind are exactly alike — that no man ever yet existed who could not be bought — That any person living could be lured with money to do any action whatsoever. This he also asserted in the hearing of the beforementioned prisoners, for what reason I can't determine unless he was desirous of making a bargain with Sir Peter Parker.

He allows himself in anger & in common conversation to take the name of God in vain; he is remarkably addicted to profane swearing. In this respect as well as in many other respects he sets his officers & men a most irreligious & impious example. He has treated prisoners in the most inhuman & barbarous manner — I very well know by hearsay, how he has conducted in regard to his men's being paid off & being discharged when the term of time for which they engaged was expired. In this part of America people are afraid of him. They are jealous of him & he is an effectual obstacle to the fleet's being properly manned. He is very much blamed by people here for not destroying a British frigate when aground a few days ago in this river. I am not prejudiced against the man. My own conscience, the regard I have for my country and the advice & earnest desire of many respectable gentlemen have induced me to write what I have written