[Extract]

. . . This is intended to give you an Account of the Situation of our distress'd Island. ー The Galatea & Nautilus are both here, they have fitted out a Schooner Tender which is Station'd in Elly's harbour, besides this they have impress'd Capt Thomas Tucker's Boat which they keep out continually cruizing and by that means decoying the Vessels that are bound here, in this Manner they have taken 5 Vessels with the boat, two of which only are Bermudns Hutchings of Somt & Jno Matholin ー the others American's one of wch was commanded by Livingston that was to have gone with Capt Tucker. besides these the Men of War have taken many prizes to the Amt of between 20 & 30,000 £ Value, so that they have drained the Country of money & are now depriving us of bread. ー They commit every Act of Hostility, keep all the Bermudians they take as prisoners on board, have broke open Mr Howey's Stores, enter'd sevl houses forcibly and committed Violence in them, stigmatise the people of the first Char[acter]s with being rebels and offer every insult in their power. ー The Chief justice Issued a Writ of Habeas Corpus for Capt [Thomas] Jordan to produce Capt Wainwright who he detained as prisoner on board his Ship, but he wou'd not obey it. these Extraordinary proceedings occasion'd the Council & Assembly to propose addressing Lord Howe, they appointed a Committee accordingly, but the Governor consistent with his usual behaviour prorogued the Assembly before they had finish'd their Address. upon this the sevl Parishes chose representatives to meet at the Lane to pursue the plan intended by the Council & Assembly which they have done, and Apptd Your Brother Harry &Natty Jones to accompany the Address to New York for Lord Howe & they will Sail tomorrow or next day in a large American prize Sloop we bot loaded with Molasses George Gibbs Commands her, thus much for Bermuda Politic's by which you will find there is no coming here, while these Harpies are with us. Nor are we much better off in other respects, there are some Tenders from Jama station'd at Turks Islands, they not only take every vessel they can have the least pretense to do it but prevent any whatever from carrying Salt from thence. ー We have had several lately return'd empty so that an end is put to that Trade. . . .

[Bermuda] April 2d 1777.