Watertown, December 11th 177[5]
[Extract]
... Several Prizes have been taken in the week past, & among the rest a fine Ship from London, with coal, Porter Cheese Live Hoggs &c &c and a large Brigt from Antigua with Rum Sugar &c all the Country are now Engaged in prepareing to make salt Petre fixing Privateers, or Reinforceing the army. I suppose if the weather had been favourable 12 or 13 Privateers would have been at Sea this Day in quest of 7 sail of Ships which came out with this Prize & had similar Cargoes. Commissions are makeing out for 2 Privateers from Salem two from Newberry Port one of them to Mount 16 Guns. I hear one is fixing at Plymo & one at Barnstable. it will be in the power of the Congress another Year to Command the American Sea. we have here great Numbers of fine Vessels & Seamen in Abundance...
it is reported from Boston that they have taken one of our Privateers I fear it is true ー
it is [true they have] indeed got one of our [privateers, the] Brigt the Genl fixed from Plymo she [torn] double fortified six pounders, abt 20 swivels [torn] we dont know who took her, or any [more] abt it Tis supposed she made a stout [resistance as] much fireing was heard in the Bay.
