Dear Sir

I should have wrote you more particular, but not knowing of Capn David's Sailing till this minute, obliges me to be as short as in my power.² — The Ship Defence is now ready to Sail for Annapolis by the first opportunity, we want a Pilot to Carry her down, and hope you'l direct Mr Middleton to come up for that purpose, I wrote him sometime past, but has not come.

One Capn Jones a Lieutt on board of the Frigate,³ thought Proper forcibly to take one of my Men when on duty, on Shore, on Board of that Ship, and now keep's him, for no other excuse than that one of the Men belonging to this State and in this Ships Tender, Entered with them when the Ship was at Sea, with them, And one of my Men on Leave, on Shore last Night was unmercifully Beat for belonging to the Defence, such Arbitrary and Unpressidented Measures taken to insult the Province as Well as those in the Service, is what I shall leave to your Better Judgment. I have the Honor to be Dr Sr [&c.]