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. That Thomp)son told tliis Deponent, there was some Letters dh-ected for France, which he desired the Deponent to read, because, perhaps, they might find some Bills of Exchange in them ; whereupon the Deponent looking on the Letters he found some of them were not signed, and said, he believed there was Roguery in them, because they were not signed. That amongst those Letters there was one pretty near tlu-ee sides, wherein was something mentioned, according to the best of this Deponents understanding, to this effect, That if the French Squadron that took JYevis, had come hither, they would liave met with less resistance. That the Letter being writ in French, and the Deponent understanding very little of that Language, he could not make out the wliole sence of the Letter. That this Deponent told Thompson what he understood of the Letter, and said he believed there was more to the like effect, but Thompson teUing Mm the Frenchmen were coming into the Cabbin, the said Thompson threw the Letters over board for fear there might be something in them that migiit be prejudicial to A''ew- York. That the said Letter was directed to Rochell, but does not remember to whom. That the writing of the said Letter was like the hand- writing of Capt.