Sir

I have the pleasure to inform you of The Arrival of The Schooner Sally Thos. Sparks & The Schooner Whig Nathan Bacon, which makes up Eleven that have arrvd here out of Twelve that Saild from Virginia.

Your favour of the 3d Ulto came to hand by Captn Bacon. I am much Surpris'd at The Conduct of The Captns Sargent Seller & Story in Lying there. It Seems the worms is eating up their bottoms, there Cargoes perishing, The Charter of the Vessles going on & Mens wages & Victuals all which will amount to an enormous Sum. The Vessles might as well go to See & be taken as to Lye there, while the Vessles & Cargoes are perished, but if they lye ever so long there will be a risque at last — whether more or less than now is impossible to tell, it certainly appears by experience not to be great at present. I know not what Orders you have had concerning them but I should think it much better for them to take the first favorable opportunity to get out than to lye there. if they take a Dark night & a fresh Breeze of Wind I think they have ten chances to one of getting by the Ships in your Capes as all our Vessles have done that Attempted it the one taken which was Captn Lewis was taken off Nantucket. There is Several Vessles Cruizing in this Bay but those that are acquainted with the Harbours & Shore here Stand a good Chance to avoid them, as every day it proves by the arrival of a number of prizes. I believe the Captns are fond of having their wages run on, but however they must take this with them if they lye there Twelve months Longer and are taken at last they will have no wages to receive. upon the whole I think it much better for all concern'd the[y] Should embrace the first favourable opportunity to proceed. I am Sir [&c.]