vessell of about Foure hundred Tonns,
Thirty Guns mounted, and eighty men,[3] and in his way for these
partes his men mutinyed, and thirty of them lost theire Lives; That
his vessell is very Leaky; and that they are very much in want of
Provisions; And that severall of his men have deserted him soe that he
has not above five and twenty or thirty hands on board; about twenty
dayes since he touched at Anguilla, a small Island under this
Government, where he Tarryed about foure houres; but being refused
succour Sailed thence for the Island of St. Thomas (an Island
belonging to the Crowne of Denmarke)[4] and Anchored off that Harbour
three dayes, in which time he treated with them alsoe for releife; but
the Governor absolutely Denying him, he bore away farther to Leeward
(as it is beleived) for Porto Rico or Crabb Island;[5] upon which
advice wee forthwith ordered his Majesties Shipp _Queeneburrough_, now
attending this Government, Captain Rupert Billingsly Commander, to
make the best of his way after him; and in case he mett with him to
secure him with his men, vessell and effects, and bring them upp
hither, That no Imbezlement may be made, but that they may be secured
till wee have given you advice thereof, and his majesties pleasure
relateing thereto can be knowne. Wee shall by the first conveniencie
transmitt the like account of him to the Governor of Jamaica, soe that
if he goes farther to Leeward Due care may be taken to secure him
there; As for those men who have deserted him, wee have taken all
possible care to apprehend them, especially if they come within the
districts of this Government, and hope on returne of his majesties
Friggatt shall be able to give you a more ample account hereof.

Wee are with all due Respects

Right Honorable

Your most obedient humble servants

WM. BURT.
JNO. SMARGIN. MICH. SMITH.
RICHD. ABBOTT. DAN. SMITH.

NEVIS the 18th May 1699

[Footnote 2: Printed in the _Commons Journal_, XIII. 16. It was the
circular letter to colonial governors ordering them to apprehend
Kidd.]

[Footnote 3: The _Quedah Merchant_; see _post_. She is here spoken of
as Genoese, but other documents of the time speak of her as "Moorish
built."]

[Footnote 4: And now belonging to the United States. On Kidd at St.
Thomas, see document no. 83, _post._]

[Footnote 5: Now commonly called Vieques, a small island lying a few
miles east of Puerto Rico, and also now belonging to the United