It b^ng a Crime of so high a nature in it self, and so much abhorred by your Excellencys Petitioners, and being as yet unable, by legal Proof, to fix tins Slander and Infamy on any particular Person, and so very uneasie under so general an Accusation, and having good reason to believe that it takes its original and rise from the said Morris JVeioinhuysen, They therefore make their humble Application to your Excellency^ humbly praying^ may it please your Excellency to cause the said Morris Newinhuysen, and all others v)ho may appear concerned^ to be strictly examined upon the same Report^ that if ^^^y ^^^^^ Offenders, in this respect, be found out, they may be punished according to the nature of their Crime, and the innocent be protected and secured from the great Damage and hurt of the Infamy of so vile and great a Crime, in such Methods as shall seem most agreeable to your Excellencys great Prudence and Justice. Jlnd your Petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, 8fc.

Stephen D'Lancey, Paul Droilet,

Elias Nezereau, Augustus Jay,

Feb. 10, 170f. Abraham Jouneau, Jean Cazale,

Thomas Bayeux, Benjamin Faneuil.

Elias Neau,

Morris Jfewinhuysen of the City of JVm- York, Marriner, being Sworn on the Holy Evangelists, saith, That being Master of the

PAPERS RELATIKG TO TliE CITY OF NEW YORK. 4r2D

Sloop Constant Abigail^ whereof John Van Brugk was Capt. lie was taken in the said Sloop the 9'^ of November, 1706, about fifty Leagues of Scilly^ by a Frcncli Privateer. That after he was taken, one John Thompson Eoatswain of tlie Sloop, & one of the French-men belonging to the Privateer, Avere together in the Cabbin of the Sloop, opening the Letters, in hopes to find a piece of Money, lor he could not read. That the said Thompso?i reading the Superscriptions of some of the said Letters, found some directed for France, whereupon, so soon as the said Frenchmen w^ent out of the Cabbin, the said Thompson called this Deponent to come into tlie Cabbin to liim, where there Avas a Candle burning.