Copy
Sir,

We received in due time your esteemed Favour 2^d. Ult^o. to which deferred re plying expecting we should have had the Pleasure to advise you the safe Arrival of the William and Polly, Cap^t. Symonds, who to our great mortification arrived here three Days ago as a Passenger in a Jersey Vessell. He informs us that he was taken the 28^th Ult^o. 12 Leagues off Cape Pinas, by the american Privateer called the Success, Cap^t. John Fletcher who having shipped him and his Crew on said Jersey Vessell (which he took to be a Frenchman) sent them, as he thought, to France, and ordered the William & Polly here, where both entered on the same Tide. We exceedingly feel this Misfortune we assure you as much as if our own, and sincerely wish it was in our power to remedy it. We have got Cap^t. Symonds to enter his Protest in form, and on being extended shall get an authentick Copy thereof, and remit the same to you to enable you to recover your Loss of the Underwriters, by whom we hope you are covered.¹ We observe you ordered your Agent M^r. Nobely at S^t. Mary's to send us your Brig John Cap^t. Wood and the George Cap^t. Elsworthy, with your best large Fish. We sincerely wish them safe to us that we may have the pleasure of making you speedy Remittances and agreeable Sales, unless those Prizes which the Americans are sending in may be admitted to be sold. We are really surprized your Government does not send a few Sloops of War to cruize along the Coast, which is at present so infested with Priva teers that We really dread that one in ten of your Newfoundlanders will arrive safe or escape them. The best Stations for your Sloops of war would be Cape Ortegal, Cape Pinas, off Santander & Cape Machichaco; We refer you to Our next, and to what Cap^t. Symonds writes you, and remain [&c.]

D^r. Sir,

We cannot sufficiently express to you Our Grief for this Misfortune, for as we have such a real tender regard for you we feel it very deeply. We hope you are fully covered by Insurance however it is a Loss as the Situation of the Market promises an agreeable Sale. We wish your other Vessels may meet with better Success, and We remain as above.