Declaration of James Young, First Mate, and John M'Kurdy, Second Mate of the Anne Transport, on board of which were 100 Men of the 72d Regiment

That on the 8th of June, they were taken near Cape Ann by four privateers, and carried into Marblehead; that they privately bought a boat and made their escape to Annapolis Royal about a fortnight ago.

That the rebels have four forts, at or near Marblehead, but keep a guard only in one of them, where there are thirty pieces of cannon, two of which are forty-two pounders, which they brought from Boston; the trunions being broke off, they have fixed them in wooden stocks, and mounted them on carriages.

That there are two large ships at Newburyport, rigged, but no guns or men:² A brig of fourteen guns at Salem, and one at Portsmouth, ready for sea.

That the Dispatch Schooner, of five guns, was carried into Salem the latter end of last month, by a sloop of 14 guns. The Captain, [John] Goodridge, and his brother, the mate, killed. The master lost his arm, and five out of eight seamen killed.³ That the surgeon, a Mr. Charley, is at Marblehead.

That eight ships from the West Indies have been taken. That they are fitting out one of them, which was a Spanish frigate, to carry 20 guns.

That a ship belonging to one Reid, [James] Kennedy, master, that sailed from Halifax with Gen. Howe, is taken. That Mr. Benjamin Davis, and several others were passengers, and that they treated Mr. Davis very ill.⁴ That they do not give the prisoners sufficient provisions, but offer them good wages to enter on board their privateers, and that many do enter.

That the rebels had, for some time, a flag flying in Nantasket-road, to decoy vessels in, and that as their men were coming out of Marblehead, they saw a large ship going in, which they took to be a transport.

That the congress have promised the masters of the prizes, that they shall have leave to go away the 11th of September.

That the people in the country were in great distress for want of provisions, much discontented, and say, they do not like this sort of liberty.

That there are very few in arms at Boston, and only a few artillery at Castle William.