Sir,

I Embrace this Opportunity of transmitting to you, Copies of my last Orders from Vice Admiral Graves by Captain [Edward] Le Gras, And pursuant to those Orders the 16th Instant I boarded the Ship Nicholas of Boston burthen 120 Tons (by her Register) John White Master, (but pretends to be no other than Super Cargo:) from Petersburgh and Cowes, laden with Naval Stores, Iron, Hemp, Sail Duck, and light Canvas, all which was cleared out at Cowes for Halifax, as at Cowes I am informed, the Master could not clear out for Salem, or Boston, where the Ships and Owners belong to, the 19th I boarded the Ship Boston Packet of Boston, burthen 140 Tons, James Shepherd Master, from Petersburgh and Cowes, laden with the same kind of Cargo as the Ship Nicholas, but different Owners, as you will observe by the report herewith transmitted; I beg leave, Sir, to Observe to you, that there are no Rope Walks, nor any Consumption for those Two Cargoes in this place, nor in the Province, but a very easy, and even daily conveyance by small Coasting Vessels, from this place to New Liverpool and Cape Sable, from which places it is but a short way across the Bay of Fundy to the Continent of Massachusetts Bay &ca &ca, and those Two Cargoes are Consigned to the Masters: Those two Ships sailed from Salem in December 1774, for Charles Town South Carolina, there loaded Rice for Cowes, and from thence proceeded for the Baltic; the Crews of both Ships entered for my Ship, and I am informed by the Crew of the Boston Packet, that the Master declared repeatedly on the Passage, that, could he make Cape Codd, he would go in there and land his Cargo, or could he make Cape Ann, he did not fear meeting with some of his Friends, to carry him into Beverly or Salem, but the Wind hanging to the Southward, he with difficulty made this Harbour: I am firmly of Opinion, that if I have the delivering and Searching those Two Ships, I shall find more than is in their Clearance from Cowes; I shall be extremely happy to know your pleasure respecting those Vessels, likewise Vessels from the French West India Islands with Melasses, and with Salt from Spain and Portugal &ca, as this place is now made the Magazine and Repository which is easily transported to the Continent. I am, Sir, &ca