Portsmouth 5th Augt 1776
[Extract]
...I am at a loss for words to Express my feelings on the good News from the Southward [Charleston] they behave most manfully, the Regulars poor Devils How an Admiral or a General looks with his Breetches shot away it would been happy if they had lost what was in them....2 We have Just got glorious News from the Eastward, one of our Privateers has taken Six prizes West India Men, one of which is Capt Lear of this Place, who owns his Ship himself, tho' she is made over to Lane & Co for Security against British Ships only, pray you and Brother Whipple, ask about that matter, there can be no doubt but the Ship & his Adventure is Lears, and never in the Hands of our Enemies, they are all Loaden with Sugar & Rum &c taken by one Privateer from Salem to the Southwd of Bermudas, and Eastward the British Ships and Cargoes will be Condemned and the Cargo of Lear but it will be hard to have him loose his Ship as he is worked hard for it and is a staunch Friend to his Country ー3
1. John Langdon Letter Book, Captain J. G. M. Stone Private Collection, Annapolis.
2. Commodore Sir Peter Parker had his trousers shot away during the action at Charleston.
3. The prizes were taken by Captain Joseph White, in the Massachusetts privateer sloop Revenge. See The Freeman's Journal, August 3, 1776. Captain Lear was the father of Tobias Lear, who became Washington's secretary after the war.
