[Extract]
Honble sirs

In Obedience to your orders I now transmit the Roll of the Ship Hancock, with the Boston, they are true Copys, as from the Originals left with Mr Cushing — I also inclose the Account of Sales of Ship Esther, Alexander, & Active,I am not furnish'd with the Sales of the Mellish yet, when it comes to hand I shall immediately forward it, I have the pleasure to acquaint you that the Frigates have sent to this Port a Small Brig from London for York,² they took her in Lattde 39d .. 20m she has on board by information from one of her men, eight Tons Iron, twenty Chaldron Coal, ten tons of Cordage a Quantity of Duck, which is much damag'd, a parcell of Slops with some Linnens; not a paper is come to hand, for it seems whilst the Capts were perusing them, a Sixty four Gun Ship with four merchant Ships Appear'd, which prevented the return of the papers, however the Brig [was] long enough in sight, to see our Frigates Run Round her, and make their own sport, Capt Manley Bid her a Challenge, by hauling up his Courses and heaving his main Top sail to the Mast, in order to draw her from her Convoy, that the Boston might carry off some of the Ships, But the Brittain was aware of his design, and would not be taken in the trap, I think theirs a probability of sharing his fleet with him . . .