Sir

I have in my hands a paragraph of a Letter from the hon William Ellery Esqr one of our Delegates in which he says Mr [Joseph] Vesey ² has given a Scandalous Account of my behaviour on the 2nd January, by a Letter which he wrote to the Marine Committee in Respect to the affair of the Diamond Frigate when She was ashore to the Southward of Warwick Neck ー Should be glad if you will assist Mr Lyon who I have Sent to him to get a true Account of what he wrote to the Marine Committee, and indeed all he knows of that affair & whether he is acquainted with the Channel so well as to know that the Ships could have gone down to the place where She was ashore with that Wind or not And as you know the time Should be glad of your Opinion in Writing whether the Frigates could have got down that day or not ー If Mr Vesey should Refuse to give Mr Lyon a true Account of that matter, I have Order'd him here to answer such Questions as is right, and you are to permit him to come accordingly I am Sir [&c.]