2. In the Hopkins Papers, RIHS, are some fragments of the defense offered in justification of his actions. They read:

I am glad that I am to be tryed by a Court that I Can have no Dout But will Judge from Maters of fact and not from aney Rumer propagated out Dor[r]s With out the Least foundasion and that further I am Humbly of opinion that the Reputation of the Navey has Not Sufford by aney misconduct of myne by wante of Disipline or aney other way

in answer to the Report of the Comitte that I did During my Cruse S[ou]thwd Did not pay Due Regard to the tenor of my Instructions

A. that my ordors was maid the 5 day of Janarey and I did Not Saile till the 17th of febuarey which alterd the Stacion of the Enemy Priticler as to the Strength of the fleet at Virginia and all the ministeral Ships Living North and South Carlina as apears by Letters from the Navel Comitte as also it aperd to Me they Did not Expect I Should Strictly folow the ordors, But my one Judgment and Prud[enc]e acording to the Last Article In my odors. And was it Strictly understood I should, the next place by my Orders after South Carolina where it appears there was nothing to do, was to go to Rhode Islandー