Honnored Sir

We had the honnour to Write to you per last mail, to the whole Contents whereof beg leave to refferr your Excellency. This Serves merely to Renew our Entreaties to you, Sir, for the Speedy Release of the Black Princess, which, except your Excellency woud be Kind Enough to take Captn. Macatter’s part towards the French Ministry, is like to be detained much longer. It is incredible what hurt this Troublesome delay causes to the owners of this privateer, for we heard from good authority that Adm. Walsingham got out of Torbay on Thursday last with four men of war and a few frigates convoying a fleet of upwards 300 Merchantmen, and there is no doubt, but, the Princess which is a Swift Sailing and Able Cutter, Woud pick up Some of ’em.

Indoubtedly Captn. Macatter is to be blamed for enlisteing people that were in the french service, but ignorant as he was and as any foreigner might be of the French Laws and Customs, if he acted wrong, he knew not better and methinks it ought to be taken into consideration, and, endeed, he is Very much concerned about it, least your Excellency would take his behaviour amiss.

Your Excellency has seen by the coppy of his declaration, which we had the honnour to forward you that he did not debauched them people, as it may have been maliciously Represented, but that they came on board the privateer when under sail; it is true he ought not to have taken him on board, but it is as true that the next Evening of his arrivall here, he told us of it, and We did the same to the Commissary next day, and deliver’d or caused them to be deliver’d, the Very Instant the Commissary Requested it. Besides, had Mr. Macatter thought any harm in takeing these french sailors on board, he woud not have put them down upon the List of his Crew, which we deliver’d to the Commissary the Very day he came in. However, We must leave the whole to Your Excelly Judgement, and Expect from your Sagacity, that you will cause Justice to be done.

We have no tidings about the Princess’s prize from whence we conclude She is retaken.

If your Excellency woud use her Interest to obtain leave from the French Ministry to enlist some of the English prisonners now in dinnant Gaol, a good many of Whom are American born, and willing to Serve on board our privateer, we might Compleate the Princess crew, and ’twoud be Serving greatly Capn. Macatter, who’s endeed a brave man, and whom i’ts a pitty to hurt.

Waiting for a favourable and Speedy answer from your Excellency We have the honnour to be with due Respect Honnoured Sir Your most obedient and Most Humble Servants.