Honor'd Sir

By Captn. [John Paul] Jones in the Providence I have sent you as many of your Officers and Soldiers as I could Collect but some of them that I took onboard are Sick and some have left the Fleet, for what Reason I can't tell

Shall Collect as many of those that are left behind as soon as possible and send them by the first Opportunity and Advertize the Remainder as Deserters tho' the Officers tell me they believe some are set out by Land to join their Regiments ー I am with great Regard [&c.]