Gentlemen,

This Day, about noon, Came down the Bay, and anchored in our Road, the Roebuck, Leverpool & two Tenders, and as I tho[u]ght it my Duty to let you Know it, I have sent of[f] this Express that you may Govern your selfs Accordingly. Excuse me for Dictating to you, but I think it would be Necessary for to have some of your Arm'd Vessels under Cape May for to Protect your Vessels from the insults of the Pirates' smaull Boats. I am inform'd that Lieutt Ball is to be sent on board his ship, if that be the case, it will be attended with bad Conciquences, for he has had such Liberty, that I Doubt he has got better information that I could wish, therefore I must beg that you would use your Interest with the Congress to have him Remain a Prisoner, if you have any Regard for us here. I should be glad to here something about the matter that I D[e]sir'd you to lay before the Congress in regard to us here, (some time ago,) and in the mean time beleave me, Gentlemen, that I shall doe Every thing in my Power to give you the Earliest acct of any New matter that may turn up. Puting full Confidence in you that you will doe Every thing in your Power for us here. I Re[m]ain [&c.]

Capt. Sheldon return'd yesterday from Sinnepuxent, says there was a Vessel there sent in by the Sloop Congress, taken in the Lattd 28, bound from Pensacola, one Hammond, the Prize Master; he said the Capt. when he saw the Sloop Congress burnt all his papers, but after being taken there confess'd she was charter'd as a transport; there was found on board 2 or three hundred half Johs, which I forget, her deck is fill'd with Lumber.

J. King.

N.B. ー The Sloop Congress was in Chase of two Ships, which the Prize Master thought struck to her.

[Endorsements]

My Express set ot[f] at 15m. after 5 o'clock in the Afternoon

Henry Fisher.

Came 20 minuets after 8 o'clock, went of[f] at 9 o'clock from

Thomas Evans.

Reced fiftey-five minits after Seven, Dispachd Ten after Eight.

Mat'w Delany.

Rece'd at Wilmington at Half after two, and Dispacht Forty Minuets af. Two.

Thos. Kean.

Directed, To the Committee of Safety in Philadelphia. Express.