Extract of a Letter from Mess^rs.
Lefras & Le Mesurier; dated at
Walbrook 5^th. Nov^r. 1777, to M^r.
Stephens

We take the Liberty to inclose you a Letter from our Correspondents Mess^rs. Ventura Gomez de la Torre & Barrena of Bilboa¹ (the first of whom is Vice English Consul at that port) by which you will find that a great number of American Privatiers infest that Coast, waiting for the Newfoundland Ships, and that there are three of them that Rendezvous in the said Port of Bilboa, and go out by turns to relieve one another, by which means very few English Vessels escape being taken; Cap^n: Gorrequer of the Schooner Adventure of Jersey (mentioned in the aforesaid Letter) was taken at an Anchor near the Bar of Bilboa as he was going in, and carry'd into the said Port by one of these Privatiers, but as he was taken when under the Protection of the Forts, he was by order of the Commissary of Marines released. 

By a Letter we have from the said Captain of the 18^th. Ult^o. he was ready to sail for Jersey and had fallen down that River, on which the Privatiers in that Port had armed one of their Boats, and sent it out [in] order to take Gorrequer when he came without the Barr of Bilboa, which had obliged him to come to and Anchor again, and there he was detained.