Honoured Sir

I wrote to you at Sea 4th Ulto by the Brigtine Sea Nymph my Second Prize. I have taken Sixteen Sail ー Manned and Sent in Eight Prizes and sunk, burnt, or destroyed the rest.ー

The list of Prizes is as follows.

1	The	Brigantine Britannia, A Whaler —		Manned & sent in
2	"	Brigtine Sea Nymph, West India-Man
3	"	Brigtine Favourite, — Do
4	"	Ship Alexander, Jersey Newfoundland-man
5	"	Brigtine Success, — Do
6	"	Brigtine Kingston Packet, — Jamaica do
7	"	Brigtine Defiance, Jersey do —
8	"	Sloop Portland, — Whaler.
1	"	Ship Adventure —​ of Jersey		Burnt or otherwise Destroyed.
2	"	Brigtine Freindship —​ Do
3	"	Schooner John — London
4	"	Schooner Betsey — Jersey
5	"	Schooner Betsey — Halifax
6	"	Schooner Sea Flower — Canso
7	"	Schooner Ebenezer — Do
8	"	Schooner Hope — Jersey

I have written from time to time to the Marine Board and furnished them with Particular Accounts of all my Poceeedings [sic] and I now send Copies of my former letters. ー I arrived here 7th Currt ー I would not have lost a day without writing to you and to the Board ー had not the Commodore Proposed to me to Take Command of an Expidition ー with the Alfred, Providence and Hamden to Destroy the Fishery of Newfoundland ー but Principally to relieve an Hundred of our fellow Citizens who are detained as Prisoners and Slaves in the Coal Pits of Cape Briton ー All my humanity was Awakened and called up to Action by this Laudable Proposal and I have been successfully Employed in refitting and getting the Providence in readiness ー but am Under the greatest Apprehension that the Expidition will fall to nothing as the Alfred is greatly Short of Men. ー I found her with only about thirty men and we have with much Adoe enlisted Thirty more ー but it seems Privateers entice them Away as fast as they receive their Months Pay.

ー It is to the last degree distressing to Contemplate the State and Establishment of our Navy. ー The common Class of mankind are Actuated by no nobler principle than that of Self Intrest ー this and this Only determins all Adventurers in Privateers; the Owners as well as those whom they Employ. And While this is the Case Unless the Private Emolument of individuals in our Navy is made Superiour to that in Privateers it never can become respectable ー it never will become formadable. ー And without a Respectable Navy ー Alas America! ー In the Present Critical situation of Affairs human Wisdom can Suggest no more than one infallable expedient. ー Enlist the Seamen during Pleasure and give them all the Prizes ー What is the Paltry emolument of two thirds of Prizes to the Finances of this Vast Continent! ー If so poor a Resourse is essential to its Independency, in sober sadness we are involved in a Woeful Predicament, and our ruin is fast Approchingー

- the Situation of America is new in the Annals of Mankind ー her Affairs Cry haste ー and Speed must Answer them ー Trifles therefore ought to be wholly disregarded as being in the Old Vulgar Proverb "Penny Wise and Pound Foolish" ー Your Enemies, with the best established and most formadable Navy in the Universe, have found it expedient to Assign all Prizes to the Captors ー how much more is such Policy essential to our infant Fleet, but I need Use no Arguments to convince you of the necessity of making the Emoluments of our Navy equal if not Superiour to theirs. ー we have had Proof that a Navy may be Officered almost on Any terms ー but we are not so sure that those Officers are equal to their Commissions ー nor will The Congress ever Obtain such certainty Untill they in their Wisdom See Proper to Appoint a Board of Admiralty compitent to determin impartially the respective Merits and Abilities of their Officers and to Superintend regulate & Pointout all the Motions & Operations of the Navy.ー

Govr [Stephen] Hopkins tells me that he Apprehends I am Appointed to the Andrew Doria ー She is a good Cruizer and would in my Judgement Answer much better were She mounted with 12 six-pounders than as she is at Present with 14 fours. ー An expidition of Importance may be effected this Winter ー on the Coast of Africa. ー with part of the Original Fleet ー either the Alfred or Columbus, with the A. Doria and Providence would I am persuaded carry all before them and give a Blow to the English African Trade which would not soon be recovered by not leaving them a Mast Standing on that Coast. ー this Expidition would be Attended with no great Expence besides the Ship and Vessels mentioned are Unfit for Service on a Winter Coast ー which is not the Case with the New Frigates ー the Small Squadron for this Service ought to Sail early that the Prizes may reach our Ports in march or April. ー If I do not succeed in manning the Alfred so as to proceed to the Eastward in course of this week the season will be lost ー the Coal Fleet will be gone to Hallifax and the Fishermen to Europe. ー I will not however remain inactive but Proceed to Cruise in the Sloop near Sandy-Hook. ー Three of my Prizes have Arrived here and one or two more to the Eastward. I am &c.