Sir As I chearfully own my self under your protection I presume again tobeg the Glorious Liberty of a free born British subject that of being firsttried before Condemn'd. ー

I am now barberously condemn'd to leave this Fleet by a Governor that was himself but alittle while ago protected and supported by my ever Dear deceas'd Husband! surely with my assent & concurrence, at least my then behaviour to both Fleet and Army that protected him Demonstrated. Which I flatter my self the Officers of both will do me the common Justice to attest. How the worthy Mr Sproule has been harrassed & at last fallen a sacrifice; you your self knows: may not that satisfy a jealous Governor without persecuting his poor Widow whose last advice was to fly, but not till she had settled his affairs so as not to be lost to her or his heirs &c. Not so much as allow'd her to take a family Inventory, or to pack up my own parafamalia! Allow me good sir again to insist upon the well known British Liberty, that of being tried & then if I am Condemn'd I shall have the Satisfaction to carry that trial and Condemnation with me to convince my Friends at home & those in the Fleet here, that I did not fly off as afugitive Culprit. If you deny me this justice (even to a Criminal) you must Dr Sir excuse me if I take the necessary steps for my own safety which as a poor weak defenceless Woman ought to claim pity from the Humane Capt Hammond

ー to Dear Sir

[Endorsed] A Day after the above letter was wrote Capt Hammond waited on Mrs Sproule on Board the Schooner Betsy & told her that he had spoke to the Governor on the Contents of her letter, but that he could not bring him to reason. ー

Therefore advised her to go directly home and apply for Juctice & that he would answer when called upon ー