Sir:
On a perusal of the address to me yesterday, don't find it requires any answer; not do I understand that any was expected. Anything I could say might be thought too little here, and would be thought too much elsewhere. I just trouble you with this to mention a circumstance or two that have occurred to me, to which some attention may prevent disagreeable occurrences.
I am going to send down the bay to inquire after a vessel for England, and my boat, with Mr. S. [Smith], will, in that account, sail with the first fair wind. I must request a pass, to protect her from the Provincial and Virginia cruisers.
Another of the circumstances above alluded to is, the present situation of those cruisers; any sinister accident from the King's ships arising at this time to them, or soon after my sending down, would, in the phrensy of men's minds, be imputed to intelligence from me, notwithstanding my assurances of my confining Mr. S. and the boatmen solely to the errand I send them on. This you might remedy, by ordering them up the bay till I am gone; and in that case will pledge myself that such man-of-war that may come to escort me through the Virginia part of the bay shall commit no hostilities in this Province. But if they must remain below, I cannot be answerable for what may happen to them.
The forces are at the Capes, and I propose writing to Captain George Montagu, and giving him the trouble of me, till I take my departure from the Capes. One of your lookout boats might sail with mine, and carry instructions to Captain [James] Nicholson, or my boat shall deliver your despatches, if she can see them in her way down the bay. I am the more solicitous to settle this point, as. I am desirous to leave the Province on the most friendly terms, and in as much peace as the times will admit.
Requesting your sentiments on these matters, and the pass above-mentioned for the Friendship schooner boat, George Wilkes, mulatto, skipper, I am.
