As the news-papers in general have given accounts very different from the truth, of a transaction in which I have had a principal; and I trust a laudable part; I beg you will, in order to prevent any future misrepresentations of this affair, assure the Public, that the Dickenson, of which I was mate, sailed from Philadelphia for Nantz, and that she arrived in a distant latitude before the Captain was at liberty to open his instructions.

After he had Tead them, he informed me, that he was directed by the Congress to proceed to Nantz, and there to ta1<,e in gunpowder and military stores for the use of their forces.' The-jpformation alarmed me; but as it would have been imprudent, if not dangerous: in an individual, to have declared his objections to the service without sufficient support, I concealed my sentiments till I made myself acquainted with those of my shipmates; and finding them as averse to the cause of the rebels as myself, I immediately went down to the cabin, and acquainted the Captain that we had determined to proceed to England; an.d as he was no longer command.er of the ship, he must deliver up his keys and papers. He :readiiy corilplied; and to do him strict justice, he considered himself merely as a passenger, and behaved ex~remely well. . Indeed, the unanimity which prevailec;l among us, prevented any opposition on his part; and this was so manifest, that 'it would have been madness or folly in.the extreme to have contended against us.

This, Sir, I assure you, is the exact truth of the. whole ;transaction, not withstanding that has been asserted to the contrary. , .

I was ignorant of the destination of our ship, till qur arrival in a particular latitude. The duty which I owe to iny King and to my country would not, and I hope ~ever will, suffer rpe to engage in ~o wicked a busineJs; and under the influence of the same principle, I also thought it i11cmnbent on me to prevent, as far as I was able, others (~om entering into it. At all e\:'.ents, I have .acted agreeably, to µiy conscience; and it affords me infinite satisfaction, that I h~ve had. it. in my power to shew my attachment to my native country, by setting an e~ampie .of loyalty, in company with my ship-mates, that may perhaps deter the Congress from pursuing this method of obtaining guns and ammunition for the future. I am, Sir, your humble servant, John Sands. Thursday morning, 18th April