Charlestown 4th. June 1778
May it please Your Excellency
This comes pr. Post. I have wrote this day by way of Boston, to inform Your Excellency of the arrival of the Oliver Cromwell and Defence1 in this Port, having had no success since the taking the Keppel & Cyrus2 from Bristol for Jamaica—which two valuable Ships have come safe to hand—The Defence will be obliged to perform a quarantine on account of her having had the Small pox on board—
Mr. Rose3 hath everything in readiness for taking on board, as soon as the Ship’s bottom is cleansed, which is, at present, very foul—Shall make all the dispatch possible in cleaning the Ship, & taking in the Goods, and proceeding according to Instructions received from Your Excellency.
Mr. Rose writes Colo. Joseph Trumbull by the Sloop that goes to Boston—4 I am, Sir [&c.]
Timy Parker
LB, Ct, Jonathan Trumbull Papers, vol. 27, Letter Book II (1778–1779), pp. 47–48. Notation on preceding letter from Capt. Samuel Smedley to Trumbull of 1 June: “recevd. 6th. Augst/two followg. Letters.—"
1. Connecticut Navy ships Oliver Cromwell, Capt. Timothy Parker, commander, and Defence, Capt. Samuel Smedley, commander.
2. British letter of marque snow Admiral Keppel and British letter of marque ship Cyrus.
3. Alexander Rose, merchant at Charleston, South Carolina, and member of the firm of Rose & Torrans.
4. See Alexander Rose and John Torrans to Col. Joseph Trumbull, 3 June, above.
