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. Benjamin Faneuil, which this Deponent has several times seen, before he saw the said Letter, but cannot say that he wrote it. That this Deponent likewise saw at 'the same time several other Letters directed to France, which seemed by the character to be writ by several '' persons, two of which said Letters were signed by Piere Bontecou but that he read neither of the said Letters signed by the said

430 PAPERS RELATING TO THE CITY OF KEW-YORK.

Bontecou. This Deponent further saith, That by the said Capt van Bruo-/is direction, he lookt over tlie Letters sent fi-om this place, on board the said Sloop, for England, and put them into a Bag, and the Bag into the said van Brugh'S Chest, but that he did not then perceive any Letters directed to France. -- That this Deponent, about a day or two after he saw the said van Brugken in France, he acquainted him with what he had discovered in the aforesaid letter. And further tliis Deponent saith not.