Autograph letter signed : "Robust at Antigua", to an unidentified recipient, 1782 Mar. 8.

Reporting on the damage to the Robust and the need "to proceed to this Island, where I got safe from all danger;" informing him that the "Dispatches and letters which Your Excellency trusted me with, was my greatest concern (saving the lives of the Crew), what to do with them, I could not tell, but was determined to act as I found Lord Cornwallis acted that was, if He had proceeded with me, I should have brought them hither, and kept them until I went home with the Convoy from hence, but as the Dangerous Leak my Ship had Sprung, soon determined which way the passengers would take, I requested Lord Cornwallis & some of his Suite to take Charge. They would willingly have done it, but considering themselves as prisoners on parole, they declined being charged with any kind of Dispatches on that head. I was at a loss what to do, particularly with your Family papers which from the Conversation that had passed between Your Excellency and myself, I thought might be as necessary to be in England as early as any of my passengers. I therefore on Shifting the passengers Into some of the best of the Merchant Ships requested General Arnold to take Charge of them as the Only Officer at Liberty. I was somewhat more induced to do so, from observing He had been already Charged with some letters of yours. I urged the necessity of His Care of them, saying He might one day or other reap the benefit of their safe deliverance. I hope He has seen them safe delivered as we hear He got safe to England;" reporting that "St. Kitts was not able to hold out a few days longer when Sir George Rodney appeared and our Fleet equal to the French. The French have garrison'd the Island, and the Fleet gone we hear to Martinico. I hope in God, as soon as our Fleet is Water'd which they were in great distress for some attack either will be made to recover St. Kitts or force the French to Combat, but if we are only to play the Cat while the Mole is in cover, We may as well send home our Fleet for all the Rest of the Islands are in the hands of our Enemies, for with St. Kitts fell Nevis & Montserat."