[Extract]
My Lord

Sir Thomas Pye having examined the prize master of the Liverpool ship² brought in here by the Prince George's tender,³ I conclude the Admiralty acquainted with that conversation and therefore do not trouble them with the circumstances of the seizure. It may be useful, however, for your Lordship to know that on the 23rd of June, when this ship was taken, there were in the St George's Channel the Reprisal, a ship of sixteen guns 138 men, the Lexington brig of 16, and a cutter of ten: they are consorts, and sailed together from Lorient the 3rd instant [June]. When this ship was sent away, they had taken one vessel loaded with wheat, one with deals, and an empty ship, and three coal vessels. the three first went to France, the others were sunk. Their present cruise is between Milford and Dublin, and their motives to intercept the linen trade.

The enclosed copy of the prize master's orders will explain to your Lordship their mode of selling prizes in France; and from the best information I can get, the crew of the ship are chiefly English, Irish, and Scots, those of the brig and cutter French. The men who navigate the Liverpool ship are (except two) Europeans, and have been either detained from prizes or forced from indentures to serve the Congress. They seem heartily tired of their present way of life, and some who had attempted to desert from Lorient were dragged back by French soldiers and flogged on board the privateer. Their intention of bringing their prize into England instead of France seems to have been general; and from that consideration, I shall hope to continue them in the Prince George as part of her complement.

The Reprisal is the ship that engaged the Shark off Martinique and took the Lisbon packet: she sails well but not equal to the brig. The cutter is a heavy sailer, but the whole came out clean and must on that account have every advantage in summer cruising. . . .