[Extract]

... by the Order of Vice Admiral Robert Man, I have continued Cruizing from Cape Spartiel to Cadiz . . . On the 28. Ulto. I took the Ship Aurora of and from Philadelphia Own'd by Ben Gibbs of said place Freight'd with Eleven Thousand Seven hundred & Twenty Six Bushells of wheat & Six Hundred & Thirty Barrels of Flour, on account of Willing & Morris (the Delegates to the Congress for Philadelphia) & Consign'd to Gregory & Guille of Barcelona to be sold there both Ship & Cargo the ship & Freight to be remitted to Messrs. P: Thellusson & Co the Produce of the Cargo to Messrs. Wm Baynes & Co. both in London the Latter on a Seperate account. . . . off Cape Trafalgar examined ten or Eleven sail out of Seventeen but was unfortunate enough to Pitch upon the wrong and a large ship from America with wheat & Flour past by us, in sight and got into Cadiz ....

Herewith I transmit exact Copys of three Letters found on board the Aurora, being all I have got sight of excepting the Ship papers that are customary. The Master of whom since he has been tutored by the Friends of the Americans here Pretends to say the Cargo of said Vessel was Intend'd for the Payment of Debts in England as she sail'd the 17th March last or thereabouts. I have been thus Particular with a view of defeating such measures as may be made use of to destroy the real Intentions of Government, begging leave to Observe the snow Dickerson [sic Dickinson] which I've an account of being carried into Bristol by the Mate and dew give a Particular acct of the ship Aurora which I have taken (agreeable to my Orders received from Vice Adml. Man, in Obedience to their Lordships Orders to him the 2nd. September 1775.[)] being amongst the Ships and Vessels mention'd in the Publick Prints, to have saild with him or near about the time by Special Lisence of the Congress, for the Purpose of Lodging Sufficient Fund in the hands of Disaffected people in England for the Purchase & Payment of Gun powder & war like Stores, to be had and Transported to the rebellious Colonies in America I therefore pray their Lordships influence and Assistance in Proceeding against the said Ship Aurora her Cargo and all persons aiding and assisting therein, and am Sir [&c.]

Thomas Rich

[Endorsed] Recd. 12 July 1776