Letter to Peter Van Gaasbeek from Jacobus Bruyn written from a British prison ship

              Long Island July 1778
Dr Sir 
I was made happy a few days since by the receipt of your agreeable favour of the first of June in which was (illegible) a copy of a letter to a friend of yours in my behalf; and it is with pleasure I embrace this Conveyance by the Officers going out to transmitt you a few lines in answer there to. Your Idea with respect to my feelings from your Silence ever since my Captivity is just and permit me to add that I have often reflected on the cause and have accounted for it in as many different ways; but wearied at length with conjectures I endeavoured to check my wandering fancies and think of it no more till I could be enabled to assign the true reason which I am now assured was not owing to my want of regard but rather to your earnest endeavors to alleviate my distresses wth some specie without which nothing was deemed of any great Consequence to me but my dear Sir allow me to observe that whatever situation I may be in it will always give me the greatest Satisfaction to hear of the welfare of my friend whose sympathetick feelings for mine I am well assured off - Your interception with Mr O-t to assist me is truly generous and shall ever be deserving of my gratitude, but as I am at present in no want of support hope I shall have no need of an application to him unless I should be determined a prisoner longer than I expect or perhaps removed I had almost said an hostage to poor old England - It gives me great pleasure to hear of the good health my friends enjoy but am sorry to say I think hard of their total neglect of me. not