Respected Sir

In obedience to yr request this will acquaint you of some West India news which I have picked up from a very honest captain belonging to this place, just arriv'd in a short passage from Statia, he passed the men of war & made a snug harbour of Morris river, he informs that two large frigates the Perseus & Pearl with the Roebuck lay off the mouth of Morriss river in Cape May channel, he heard that some others were higher up the Bay at a place called the Narrows probably so many men of war might have happen'd on this station by accident, as the Roebuck, Pearl, Perseus are just returned from Antigua where they have been to refit; Capt Bennet says they sailed about the same time he did, perhaps with an expectation that Philadelphia was in possession of the Howes, a prevailing opinion amongst the torified part of the creoles; their ships are said to be very thinly manned as many of them died in Antigua of a malignant fever, the Capt of the Pearl being one of the number.

Several privateers are fitted at Martinico cheifly manned with Frenchmen. Capt Munro late of Newcastle who commands one a sloop of ten guns & Sixty men, fifty of them monsieurs & counts & marquisses, had a very severe engagement with an armed Brigg from Whitehaven to Antigua, at length Capt Munro boarded her with great spirit, one of the Briggs crew at the time of boarding, aim'd a stroke intended to drop of[£] the head of the sloops mate, but luckily it only docked him of his club & made a slight wound in his neck, by the bye if Absolams fate is an instance of the disadvantage, t'his may prove the benefit of long hair,² the Brigg being compelled to strike was carried into Martinico. The Privateer Rattlesnake has taken several prizes, among others a Guinea ship with 500 slaves, this Rattlesnake is such a noted runner that she is said to be a terror to the English Islands.

The 5th Inst ten sail of transports containing report said 1000 troops which were blown off our coast last fall appear'd in sight of Statia on their way from Antigua to New York with a schooner loaded with rum convoy'd by the Mermaid frigate. In a few days I design to visit the ground between Christiana & the Head of Elke, in campy with my ingenious friend, I hope to give you some acc't of the probability of this usefull scheme next time I may have the pleasure to see you at Philada.

In the meantime believe me to be with the greatest respect Yr Fnd