Dear Sir

I did myself the favour to address you last Tuesday to which crave reference— This now serve merely to send the inclosed which I received by Last post from England.—¹ M^r. J. Williams account of Your Cruize to a friend here, correspond in part with this publication and am extreamily pleased; you have Succeeded so well disturbing the Peace and quiete of the Inhabitants of Whitehaven, & alarming the Western part of that Island.—²

I perceive you paid your respects to Lord Selkirks house, permitting your Men to carry off the Family plate, from necessity & expediencey of encouraging their Ardour.³ Your Expedition admited of no Alternative, as it might have had the worst effect, did you then attempt to restrain them. Nevertheless My Dear Friend: Knowing Sufficiently your disposition, to be above such Acts, as may expose you & your Command to the censure of even your Enemy’s, Permit my taking the liberty with You, to offer my opinion freely as a disinterested friend, in what I wish you in particulare to Adopt respecting the plate.—Accordingly without offering any farther appologie, give me Leave to recommend your purchaseing your peoples Share of this plate. And without consulting even the Commissioners, or any other person on the Subject Commit the whole intyre & safe to some friend as the property of Lord Selkirk.— Taking the Oppt^y. thereafter, to advise his Lordship by Letter from yourself, of the part you have acted, & the necessity at the time of induldgeing Your people to make free with the plate.—⁴

Youl be pleased my Friend to remember, that I take the liberty only to offer this as my own private Opinion, Subjecting the propriety of doing it to your own Superior Judgement You may however believe I have only but one motive in recommending this to your particulair consideration. which is to preserve a conduct & Character in Your Line, no less honorable & disinterested, then distinguishable in a Commander of a Continental Navy even at the earliest period of its commencement.—Excuse my freedom, and Accept it as my private Sentiments of him who is with Particulare Zeal [&c.]