Blinkhorn’s Story mentioned in your Letter of the 18th.1 Instant, appears to me highly improbable—because

1st. we have never heard of more than two american vessels having been carried to algiers vizt. the Ship Dauphin of Philad[elphi]a., Capt. Richd. Obrian, taken the 30 July 1785— and the Schooner Marie of Boston, Capt. Isaac Stephens, captured the 25 July 1785.

Between that Period and this, many Letters have been recd. from those Captives, and from others respecting them. Capt. Lamb and Mr Paul Randall were there in the Year 1786 and had such opportunities of Information, as that if any other Vessels had prior to their arrival been carried there, they certainly would have heard of it—

2d. Mr. Meredith of Philad[elphi]a. has never heard of a Brig Betsey cap[ture]d. from that city, having been taken by the Algerines.

3 The Spaniards were at Peace with the Algerines, when he pretends to have been taken in an Algerine Galley, by Capt Leghorn a Spaniard.

4. If that Event happened as he says, a few Days after the Galleys being at Sea, she must have been taken probably within the Straights, or at least not far beyond them— and it is extraordinary that the Spaniard should leave the neighbouring [Coast] and Ports of Spain, and carry such a Prize across the Ocean to [New] orleans.

5— Mr Viar, the spanish chargé des affairs here, and who was one of Mr Gardoqui’s Secretaries, says that he has never heard that [such] a Prize was carried there; which he doubtless would have done, [had] that been the Case— I have heard Mr Gardoqui say that he corresponded with the Governor of Florida &c:

6. The last List of the Saratoga’s officers & men, was carefully examined by Mr Remsen this Morning. [It is] dated the 20 Dec[ember] 1780, and noted to have been recd. in the office, the 9 Feby 1781 [There] are no such names as Reynolds or Minors on it.

The Saratoga is with great Probability supposed to [have been] lost on the 18 March 1781 about 4 OC[loc]k. in the afternoon of [that] Day— one of her Lieutenants, who had been put into a Prize, [parted] from her a little before that Time ^in full chase of a Sail,^ the wind coming on so [exceedingly] violent, that the Prize before mentioned was obliged to take [in] her Sails. The Lieutenant I am told, is persuaded that the Saratoga, who^se^ Capt. was venturous & full of ardor, was then lost—2

Besides it would be very extraordinary indeed, that a young Gentleman of Talents should be for Years working at Algiers, and that openly on the Fortifications, and there meet with this Blinkhorn and Reynolds and Minors, and yet never be able to convey any Intelligence of himself to any of the Christian Consuls or Captives, or even to the Regency of the Country—3 He knew I was in Spain—that we had Ministers also at Courts at peace with algiers; and must soon have learned that among other [friendly] nations, the [French] had a Consul there.

[I will] nevertheless cause Copies of your Letter to be transmitted to [the] french & English Consuls at Algiers; for altho Blinkhorns Story appears to me to deserve no Credit, yet in Cases of this kind no pains should be spared to remove Doubts I am Dr Sir your aff[ectiona]te. & hble Servt.