May it Please your Excy

Since the Arrival of the Enemy Fleet in this bay it Appairs to me that it Is all most Imposible for a Vessel of our Sise to Get out Clean I have made two attempts to Run by them In the night & Was Obligen both times to Return back the Last Attempt I maid I fell in with two Ships the phenix & The Soalbay [Solebay] they fird Eight or ten Shot at us without Doing any damage — Our Sloop Growing Very foul & In dainger of the Woorm giting in hur bottom I Concluded the moast prudint Skeem was to Run up to pourtsmouth & Cleen, & git Sum provisions as we Are Detaind So Long in the Cuntry; our Expences I have Incloasd you a Copy of the Acct for Which I have Drawn a bill on the State of maryland, & Directed it to the board of Admiralty for that State² — I am In hoaps as Dark night is Coming on & the Sloop Maley [Molly] on A Clean bottom that we Shall be Able to make our way Good by those Invaders Who here Interoups [interrupts] our Passage by the Caps —

Should I not Git out in twelve or fourteen days I will Wait on your Excellency by Land Should theire be Any Occation for further Orders — I hope Sir you Will Excuse my Not Righting you before this On my Arrival Down to hampton I have been Exceedingly unwell & in much trouble about our not Giting out. I am Sorry to Inform you that our Tobo Is of a Very mean Quality. I am Sir [&c.]

PS the Enemys fleet Saild Out of this bay the 22nd Inst. but have left four Ships Of War inside of the Caps to Cruse R C