On Thursday afternoon May the 9th Mr Jacob Rush³ waited on me, and desired I would have a Carriage ready by the next Morning, and wait on Mr Hancock with it by Eight oClock, which I accordingly did, when Mr Hancock was pleased to Honor me with a Commission to repair on Board the Liverpool Frigate Commanded by Bellew, in Order to Conduct Mrs Bellew to Philadelphia in her Way to Marblehead.

About Five oClock I arrived at New Castle, where I applied to the Commodore of the Row-Gallies for a Boat, with a Flag, to row me on Board the Ship, as She lay Twelve Miles below, which he immediately complied with; and I set out Accompanied by Mr [William] Erskin[e], & Mr [John H.] Carter who were desirous to see the Vessells. ー On my Arrival at the Ship, being Ask'd my business &ca, and finding it was with the Captain, I was Ushered into the State Room where he and Mrs. Bellew were, ー I informd him that I had the Honor of being deputed by Congress to deliver him an Answer to the Queries he had sent to Philadelphia by Capt Budden, ー He told me he was extremely Sorry he had Asked any Questions as he had been Used very Ill ー I replied, ー I imagined he would find his Request granted as much to his satisfaction as he could possibly wish, ー When I presented him with the Papers delivered me by Mr Hancock, he read them over, then delivered them to me again, and said, he had just look'd them over but they were not worthy his Reading. ー I then (as Mr Hancock desired), made his & Mrs. Hancocks Compliments to Mrs Bellew, and assured her all possible Civility would be shewn her by them during her stay at Philadelphia, ー and took upon me to assure Captain & Mrs Bellew, on my Honor, the People of that Place would be happy in rendering her every kind of Respect and Civility in their power, ー Capt Bellew made answer it was all Nonsense, and affirm'd the Inhabitants of America could never be Capable of shewing Civility to any Person after this, as they were nothing but deceit, rancour & Malice, ー and thought it was impossible a Fool (such was he pleased to term Mr Hancock) could shew Civility to any One, ー he then began to explain the matter to Mrs Bellew, ー and told her that those People we call'd the Congress & John Hancock had sent down word, if she went to Philadelphia, they would protect her untill such Time as her Friends Arrived to Conduct her to Marblehead, which was Nonsense in the highest degree, ー and wondered the Congress would take upon them to Consult on any Matter which concerned his Wife, ー and she well knew She had none but Female Friends who could never come for her, ー I assured him there should be no obstacle as I would Answer for it, the Congress who were pleased to send me for Mrs Bellew in Order to Conduct her to Philadelphia, would likewise take care to forward her to Marblehead. ー He again made Use of the above Expressions, both in Respect to the Inhabitants and Mr Hancock, ー but enquired whether old Mrs Hancock was in Town, ー being answer'd in the Negative, ー he said was she here, his Wife might be taken care of, as She was a Genteel Woman, ー but Intimated he did not choose to Risk her with any other Person. ー

Having Ask'd if I would choose any thing to Drink, ー he mentioned a Variety, ー among the rest English Porter, ー but made this observation, ー he supposed I was afraid it would poison me ー I assured him my Prejudice to the English did not extend so far as to deprive myself of making Use of any good Porter and Cheese he might have, which I would prove if he would be kind enough to let Us try them, ー at the same time I could assure him it was the Ardent desire of the Inhabitants of America to be on the same footing with England as in former Days would they but propose the matter in an honorable manner, ー he immediately told me it was not true ー he was Convinced a great Majority never desired to see that Day when the Quarrel would be made up, ー for his part, he was sorry to be so situated, but he was only in the Line of his Duty, ー but says he, ー 'tis a new Thing ー you are fond of your Shoulder Knots, Coats, &ca ー and you are all turn'd Soldiers, ー I expect however in a short time to see you return to your Duty again ー I told him, ー to be sure, at present, it is a new thing to Us, ー but asked him whether he was not Confident, if we pursued it much longer it would not become a second Nature to Us & we would not wish to live but in that State, ー he allowed it, but said it would be attended with the Ruin of the Countrey. ー I beg'd to know what would become of that Power who Waged War with Us ー he would not allow they could be hurt ー We alone must suffer; ー finding him get Warm I told him, that was not the Subject I came on Board to discourse on, & beged it might be at an end. ー

I then addressed myself to Mrs Bellew (who I really think had a desire to come) ー told her I had brought a light Phaeton & Servant to attend her and wish'd she would give me an Opportunity to prove myself worthy of the trust reposed in me by shewing her all the politeness in my Power between this and Philadelphia. ー The Captain was not pleased to thank me, but seemed, the greater Civility Used to him & Mrs Bellew on that Subject, to be the more displeased at it, ー and told her She must Content herself for a few Days, for then they would Arrive and settle the matter, when she might go safely without John Hancocks Permission.

Being desired by Mr Hancock to inform him The Subject of an Exchange of Prisoners was to take place that day, ー and that he imagined an Exchange would be offered ー he said it was impossible, ー as our Tyranical Committees & Conventions had passed a Resolve that no Exchange should take place. ー I told him the Congress were the Body who had the regulating of that matter & that it was morally Impossible any such Resolve should appear from any of the Committees, ー if there had, I had never seen it, ー but this he might depend on, Mr Hancock would not mention the matter unless it was to be so, ー he still doubted it, ー but enquired for his Lieutenant Bouger [Richard Boger], ー who I told him was well, and at his Liberty to go about, and was much Caressed by the People as he had proved himself both the Man of Spirit and the Gentleman, ー After a little indifferent Conversation We took our leave, when I beged to know if he had any Commands to Mr Hancock or any Person ashore ー he answered me very shortly, by saying No, two or three times, ー but recollecting himself desired I would carry a Letter to Mr Bouger, which if I pleased I might open as he imagined it was from his Mother, or if you please you may present it to your honorable Congress to open. ー

Thus Sir according to your desire I have laid down the Conversation which passed between Captain Bellew and myself as nearly as my Memory would serve; ー I am confident Mr Hancock will excuse any Improprieties throughout which he discovers, when he Considers I had to attend to nothing farther than Matters of Fact. ー I am, Sir [&c.]

[Endorsed] We do Certify, That the foregoing is the discourse, as nearly as our Memories can serve which passed between Captain Walter Stewart of the 3d Battalion of Pennsylvania, ー and Capt Bellew of the Liverpool Frigate on Friday May the 10th on Board the said Frigate We being present during the Conversation from beginning to end thereof.

Will^m Erskine
John H. Carter