Diamond off New York Oct. 28th 1776
Sir/
You will be pleas'd to inform their Lordships of my arrival at this place with the Convoy under my orders on the 19th instt and that on the 23d of Sepr the Unicorn chaced & brought to the Fleet the Bostwick Brig, Alexr Anderson master, loaded with provisions! she had parted company from her Convoy the Perseus, had been taken by a Rebel Privateer, & releas'd they not having men sufficient to Navigate her, & another Vessel they had likewise taken. Also that the Unicorn chaced & took on the 30th of Septr the Wolfe Sloop Jams Freeman master, a Privateer belonging to Boston, with 10 Carriage, & 10 Swivel Guns, and ninety men; both of whom I also brought in. Further you will represent to their Lordships the very bad conduct of John Coghlan Master of the Ship Lovely Mary belonging to Bristol, loaded with ordnance stores; he attempted to leave the Convoy on the night of the 20th of Augst but was fortunately cross'd upon, & brought back by the Unicorn in the morning, who had chaced ahead the day before, & was rejoining the Fleet; he had also broke the seal of his rendezvous; I put a careful midshipman with five men directly onboard him, and took two of his men out.
I cannot well express the trouble I had from the dullness & obstinacy, of the Masters of the Dutch Transports, & the great delay from that, & the very heavy sailing of most of their ships; & I must conclude from the bad management of them in general, that the superintendants either had not power to exercise their Authority, or that they were extremely neglectful and inattentive; I must except Mr Blackstone in the Eiken Boom, who for the latter part of the Voyage particularly, kept his Ship in a very good station. I am Sir [&c.]