The ship The Unity, captain Jan Menkenveld, berthed at Pleymouth the 8th of March, 1763

To the honorable gentlemen and directors of the Commercie Compagnie in the city of Middelburg, Zeeland

Dear Sirs,

With this letter I would like to communicate that I put out to sea on the 5th of March, as well as the ship The Spy, captained by J. Jonker, and a few English ships. We had an SE, also SW and ONO wind. Unfortunately, I was unable to continue my journey since I could not moor above the corner of Goudstart due to a calm and an adverse wind. Thus, all of us who sailed out in the morning returned again in the evening. My ship is currently situated in the Westcoffer.

You Honors may rest assured that as soon as the occasion presents itself I will do my utmost best to swiftly continue my journey and return as soon as possible. I wish the Almighty to be present before and behind us, and bring us to the harbor of our desire.

I hope that my letter from the 25th of February, in which I reported the well-being of my crew and ship, found your honors in good health. In such well-being I, with my officers and ship’s crew, still find myself by the undeserved grace and goodness of God.

I do not have anything other to say that deserves your attention than the fact that I paid a bill of exchange of ten golden guineas on your accounts to Sir Barents in London, with which I bought new bull ropes and some other necessary trifles for the ship. It had become impossible to move the topmasts either up or down with the old ropes.

With which I put myself in the protection of your honorable gentlemen as well as greeting your honorable family and recommending them to God’s holy care. Thus do I respectfully sign,

Honorable gentlemen,

Your humble and obedient servant,

Jan Menkenveld