Sir,

I should not have deferred writing you so long, had the situation of my health admitted of my so doing; but I have had so severe an indisposition, that it has impaired much the faculties of my mind, so much so, though I have been able to walk abroad for eight or nine days past, yet my memory has been so very bad, that I have not, till within this day or two, been capable of recollecting any circumstance relative to my former transactions, or occurrences in life, except those which had struck my mind very forcibly. I should not now have undertaken to write to you, had I not thought it incumbent on me, to endeavor to rescue the character of a worthy innocent man (my friend, Capt. [William] Stone) from the calumny that has been cast upon it, by the malignant aspersions of a set of scoundrels, who would sacrifice every thing dear to a man, to satisfy the rancorous malice of their infernal dispositions. I can safely take my oath, that I never saw in him the least backwardness nor sign of fear, at any time, whatever, when we expected to engage; and I am confident, had we come to action, he would have shewn as much true fortitude and bravery, as any man in the service. At the time they pretended to say he shewed a backwardness, both he and myself were confined to our beds, and the 2d Lieut. and Master, could with difficulty stand the decks, nor do I think the former was then in his perfect senses, for he brought us down such various and imperfect accounts of the size and situation of the vessels then in sight, that we could gather nothing certain from his report. Besides, our crew were in so miserable a situation, though, as far as I can recollect, we might muster upon decks twenty, or near that number, yet there were not 6 of them capable of doing duty: And I don't at all exagerate, when I say, that it was then my firm opinion, that a dozen stout and resolute men, apprised of our situation, might have boarded, and would have carried the sloop in spite of all the opposition we could possibly have made. Was it consistent then with common prudence, or with the duty of an officer in command, to attempt, in such circumstances, to engage an enemy? I should ever have held up my hands against such a procedure. I was then as much, or more averse to it, than Capt. Stone, and of course deserve full as much the epithet of coward, an epithet, that I believe, it would not be very wholesome for any one to bestow on me.

I trust, I have said enough to convince you of the scandalous aspersions cast on Capt. Stone's character, and I am convinced from your known candor and integrity of heart, that you will endeavor to wipe off and erase any prejudices that may have taken place in the minds of such, as a man would think it worth his while to have the good opinion of. In every other respect, his character is to those, who have the pleasure of his acquaintance unexceptionable: He joins to the good, devout christian; the humane kind master, and the sincere, steady friend. I am sure, I should be a most ungrateful wretch, did I not acknowledge the many and great proofs I have experienced of his friendship, for to it, under God, I have been indebted for my recovery; he ever, during my long illness, attended me nay oftener than his own state of health would have prudently permitted, and placed me under the care of a family, treated me more like the nearest relation, than a common boarder, and to whose excellent care and good nursing I am obliged for my re establishment to him also, I am well convinced, many of the sloop's crew owe their lives, for our surgeon proved to be in some measure unexperienced in his profession, and rather too indolent to give due attendance to the sick. The Captain gave them due looking after and all in his power relieved their distresses, while his health would admit of it; nay, to his being so much among them. I dare say, he may charge his severe spell of sickness, during which, I for a long time, despaired of his living.

Assure yourself, Sir, that every report to his prejudice, during the cruize, is without the least foundation in truth. I am informed, that, among others, Stephen Simpson, the boatswain, has propagated many scandalous lies; a rascal, that deserved for his behaviour on board the sloop to have been hanged, and is, I believe, as great an enemy to America, as any in it.

In justice to Capt. Stone, I shall be much obliged to you to shew the foregoing part of this letter. I would, at all events, have his character cleared up, though at the expence of exposing my own inaccuracy, for I am really at present not at all in a trim for writing.

Published by Order of the [Baltimore] Committee