May it please your Excellency

Should the Ship Admiral Kepple¹ come Safe to port, M^r John Tilinghast my third Lieu^t. whom I have put in command of her, will give a more particular Account of the Value of both Ships and their Cargoes than I at Present have time to do— On wednesday the 15th Instant about 10 in the Morning fell in [with] the Ships Adm^l Kepple and Cyrus² from Bristol for Jamaica—both Letters of Marque & Mounting 18 excellent 6 pounders Each—The Kepple made a verry warlike appearance and was the best mand Ship by Some considerable odds— I run close along Side of her in the Cromwell receving the first fire at Some Distance but did not return it till I came close on board— She gave me a warm reception for about three glasses, when she thought proper to Strike I unfortunately had one man killed outright M^r James Day my Captain of Marines mortally wounded—since dead I have two others with their thighs broke which I fear will not Recover—three more wounded, one thro the arm, one thro the leg, the other in the Shoulder, like to do well— The Courage and Bravery of my raw Undisiplin'd men Cannot fail of Doing honour to their Country— The merit of my Officers must be Conspicuous to Every Deserying man in keeping Such unExperienced young boys as many of them were, to their Quarters, without the Show of fear or noise of Confution, thro whole Short the warm Action— M^r Peas³ the Lieu^t of the Defence comes in the Cyrus— Captain Smedley has been unfortunate in a leaky Ship Likewise in having Smallpox on board by which means his Ship is much weakend I think have been always Ready to Render him any Services in my power— there is a great harmony Subsisting Between us and I think we have been mutually Serviceable to Each other— All the Invo[i]ces that could be procurd from on board the Adm^l Kepple have Inclosd to Cap^t Jabez Perkins—⁴ have Sent your Excelency a packett of late news papers with A printed Bill with its Amendments to Enable his Majesty to send Comissioners to America—⁵ all which I hope will come Safe to hand— Shall Cruize a little longer in these Latitudes and then proceed According to Orders &c— Should my Conduct hitherto and for the future meet with the approbation of your Excelencey and the Publick Tis the Only and highest Reward I am Seeking I am Sir [&c.]