Gentlemen

Inclosed you have a Copy of the Account Captn Whipple gave me of his Cruise who arrived here Yesterday in the Columbus, and a Copy of a Letter I receivd this day from Mr Goddard ー the Columbus is very foul, shall order her to Newport the first fair Wind to clean ー The Hampden & Alfred ale ready all but Men, which I have not been able to get a sufficient number yet ー The new Ships are down the River with about One hundred Men each,² but as there are so many Privateers a fitting out which give more encouragement as to Shares; it makes it difficult to mann the Continental Vesselsー

There is some Small Arms arrived here belonging to the Continent, Imported by Messrs Nicholas Browne & Company, Should be glad of an Order for them for the New Ships, as I expect to get Orders from the Committee of this State to Enlist Men out of their Troops when they meet, which will be this week I am Gentlemn [&c.]

To the honble John Hancock Esqr
President of the Marine Committee
at Philadelphia