[Extract]
Dear Sir,

I am favoured with yours of the 2d Inst and had much joy indeed, when I found the Lexington was arrived, because she would be a mischievous Enemy, altho a very good Friend in proper hands.

I have directed the Captain & Officers to proceed down to Baltimore immediately judging they will be wanted in fitting her out again. Captain Hallock can also distinguish the Goods that are for Account of the Public from those of other Account, I thank you for the promised care of those that are for me which I suppose to be the property of Mr. [Stephen] Ceronio at the Cape, I would have them delivered to Mr. David Stewart to whom I give orders respecting them. Capt Hallock & his officers are under parole and I judge the Capt of the Pearle wou'd agree to release them from that Parole on giving him back his Midshipman and Seamen from the Lexington, if this is approved I will send on board the Roebuck & propose it [to] Capt Hamond from whom I rec'd a polite letter copy whereof I transmit to Congress. The Sloop Race Horse, (Prize to the Andrew Doria) is now come in. I mentioned in a letter to Congress some time since a desire to fit this vessell out in the Service & I wish you wou'd procure such an order & that Lieut [Benjamin] Dun[n], whose birthright it is, be appointed to command her. He is the oldest Lieut in the service of Capt Biddle & Capt Isaiah Robinson w[it]h whom he sailed gave him the Character of a good officer. This Prize being an armed & commissioned Vessell of War belonging to King George the Officers and Seamen of the Andw Doria are entitled to the whole as also to a bounty on the Guns & Men which I will see to have justly settled and if the Congress order the Sloop to be fitted I will order the purchase of her when condemned. No Tidings of the Sachem yet, I fear she will not escape the Enemy for they are very thick on our Coast and have already taken several good cargoes from us. They are so post[ed] that Capt Biddle cannot possibly get past them and as this place seems now pretty secure I am not so anxious for him to run the Risque, as formerly, but had they come here with the British army I was determined to have made a bold attempt to push out every Vessell we had here & so give them the chance that was left. However we shall not get time to finish the whole whenever our Tradesmen return but at present we cannot go on for want of them and I have sent [torn] Boats of our whole Fleet up the River to be ready to assist our Army in crossing thither should any misfortune happen them. I wish most sincerely that our Tradesmen was [torn] we might finish the two Galleys & send them to molest the Roebuck & her Companions in the Bay, however we cannot perform all we wish let us do what we can & when Genl Howe is got the better of, we will turn our thoughts again to Marine affairs at present the Land Service affords us ample employment & will do so untill something decisive happens . . . I am perfectly satisfied to have Alderman [William] Lee joined with my Brother in the Continental business being convinced it will promote the Public good but at the same time such Commission or Compensation should be allowed as will be sufficient for two instead of one, and I am confident they will both earn what they are to receive. The quantity of Tobo we should ship to France ought to have no limit & sorry I am, that the vigilance of our Enemies, the scarcity of ships & seamen with many other causes keeps us from making the necessary progress, but our difficulties in this respect are almost insurmountable. I think we shall be in debt in every quarter, we must owe money in Martinico, St Eustatia & Cape Francois and I wish to remit to these places instantly if possible we must be heavily in debt in old France, if Mr. Deane succeeds & whether he does or not we shall otherways be in debt if the Goods ordered are shipped. As things are now circumstanced the chance of getting out Merchant Ships is against us, but I wou'd propose sending the Lexington & all our small cruizers into the West Indies with orders to carry their Prizes into the French Island & send proper powers to Mr. Bingham & to sell there in all cases that are clearly within the Laws of Congress, and in all probability these vessells will pay of [f] your Debts & provide fresh Funds for further importations. If [tom] you approve of this idea get the Congress to grant Mr. Bingham a Commission or to empower the Marine Committee to give him instructions suited thereto, it may be very useful & cannot hurt us in any [way] I hope