H.M. Store Ship Dromedary, Bay of Islands,

I beg leave to state to you that the American ship General Gates, having been detained by His Majesty Store Ship under my command under extraordinary circumstances, and altogether novel to me, I was perfectly unacquainted with the mode of proceeding, but trust I have done my duty in sending her to Port Jackson to be delivered up to His Excellency the Governor, leaving all further proceedings to his discretion. I, however, transmitted a list of the persons actually serving on board to His Excellency the Governor, begging he would be pleased to grant the amount arising from such detention might be paid as prize money to the officers and crew of H.M. Store Ship Dromedary and colonial schooner Prince Regent, which I hope will meet the approbation of your hble. Board.