Account of the capture of the two Vessels by Captain Manly

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Watertown, December 11, 1775.

We have just received certain intelligence, that on Saturday last, (December 9,) Captain Manly, of the Lee, privateer, took and carried into Beverly a large ship of three hundred tons burden, (mounted with two double-fortified six-pounders and six blunderbusses, with eighteen men before the mast,) bound from London for the Ministerial army at Boston, laden with coals and provisions, consisting chiefly of porter, cheese, and forty live hogs; thirty more had died on the passage. Although fuel and the above articles are no rarity to the army of the United Colonies, yet, so far as they are distressing to their enemies, so far, it must be acknowledged, they are an advantage to us. The above ship had seven weeks' passage, and brought papers to the 16th of October, which, together with the letters, we are informed, the Captain hove overboard after he was taken.

The same day Captain Manly also look and carried in there a brig of about one hundred and fifty tons burden, from Antigua, for Boston, (consigned to one Brimer, for the use of the Ministerial navy,) laden with about one hundred and thirty puncheons of rum, besides one hundred cases of gin, some cocoa, and a cask of oranges, to please the delicate appetite of my Lord Howe, which, however, may possibly be more acceptable to our army than any other provision, saving a further mess or two for the Congress, which has not a very craving appetite.