Few occurences happened whilst we were cleaning our Ships at Antigua, but as most of our People by being long on board Ship, were affected by the Scurvy, their Constitutions were too much impaired to bear this sudden change of Climate, and a great number of them died, which deficiencey could no otherways be made up but by pressing. Captain [Thomas] Wilkinson of the Pearl and several other officers Died, and many others felt the effects of the climate as well as the Sailors, and upon the whole the Ships were so much weakened by sickness that notwithstanding all possible diligence was used, we were not able to sail from thence untill the Midle of March.

The Perseus & Camilla were extreamly successful off Charles Town, as besides driving several of the Enemys Vessels ashore on the Bar, where they were beat to pieces, They took four laden with supplys for the Rebels, and retook two English Merchant ー Ships of very considerable Value: ² all of which they brought wth them to Antigua where they arrived, the 20th February.

His Majestys Squadron under the Command of Admiral [James] Young, have taken about 120 Sail of American Vessels. Their Cargoes have cer tainly been of use to the Islands but have been of very little consequence in distressing the Enemy. The Prisoners are imediately set at liberty, and the Vessels are usually bought by American Agents; They are then sent to the Island St Eustatia, where the same people become again the possessors, take in a Cargoe, and return to the continent. I saw one Man who told me he had been taken three times in the same Vessel.

The Island of Antigua, and several other Islands fitted out a number of small Privatiers to cruize against the Americans; and could they have gone to Sea properly authorized to have made Captures, and given security for their good behavior, they would certainly, from their size & knowledge of the Navigation, have interrupted the Enemys Trade to & from the Neutral Islands, much more than the Men of War could do; but as no commissions had been granted for Privatiers in England Admiral Young thought it his duty to prevent these Vessels from going to Sea, fearing (as he said) they might act collusively with the Americans, and as they had given no security, might from their proceedings, involve the Nation in disputes with the Neutral Powers. The Admiral in the beginning of these Vessels fitting out forbid them to go to sea, and ordered the Attorney General to prosecute one of them, which he refused to do; therefore on recieving repeated complaints from the French Governors of the depredations that these Vessels made upon the Coasts of their Islands, he gave orders to his Ships, to take the Privatiers & send them into Port, which they accordingly did and the Owners of them Prosecuted the Admiral for their detention, which, of course, brought on a disagreable quarrel between him & the lnhabitts of the Island; which could no ways be settled but by appealing home. As soon as the Ships were refitted wch was not untill the 18th March, I sailed from Antigua with the Roebuck, Pearl, Perseus & Camilla