[Extract]

Sir:  The Venus, Othello and Hampden are all safely arrived at Montego Bay, Jamaica. The opp[r]ession of the British Parliament, or rather of the Ministry is felt in every port of America, truely felt in North America, by some Individuals sensibly so, indeed Tools of Government, of the Navy, especially, I am sorry to say, many of them are most glaringly partial in doing what they are pleased to call Duty; by taking possession of those persons' Vessels with whom they are not intimately or somehow connected, other Persons' property they seize and send to Boston coming from any part of the World. Our Brig Royal Charlotte,² John Knowles, Master, from Jamaica, loaded with Rum and Sugar, Cap'n [James] Wallace, of his Majesty's Ship Rose, on the 19th June seized and sent to Boston, notwithstanding the condition of the Port Bill, and of any Ports being free and open, is that they continued their Trade to Great Britain and the British Islands in the West Indies, yet we say in direct violation of the Act, he sent our Vessel and Cargo to Boston where she now remains in possession of Admiral [Samuel] Greaves, Ill[e]gally held, to our prejudice, upwards of £2000 sterling. Whereas between the 19th of June and this Date, the said Wallace hath released and given up above Ten Sail of Vessels from Hispaniola and other Ports, loaded with Molasses, Sugar, Coffee, Wine, &c. &c. This partial conduct of Cap'n Wallace we can not account for, certainly we must recover adequate Damages of him, if all Law and Justice is not abrogated with you, for which purpose we have made a legal protest, and perhaps may be the subject of Litigation in your Courts of Law . . . The Depredations committed by this petty Tyrant upon our Trade and the defenceless Town of Newport is shocking to human Nature, he is a savage beyond belief and description; you know we have three other Vessels at Jamaica that it's probable will fall into his hands, as we daily expect them. We do not expect any favour, as we have no connection with Scotch Men, whose influence intirely governs him, and whose principals are notoriously abhorrent to the present Family, at least those who reside with us are peculiarly so . . . [&c.]