Sir

By the foregoing Resolve of Congress you will See that a number of Vessels are wanting immediately to carry that resolution into execution.² For that purpose I hereby Request you to go to Dartmouth in Massachusetts bay State & from thence to the several Sea ports in that State, where Vessels are and probably may be had for the Voiage & Procure enough if to be had to transport 30,000 bbs flour & 11,000 Casks Rice from the Southern States to New England for the use of the Continental army. You'll either make agreements of Charter or aff reightments as you shall find best, or both as you can agree in both Cases taking the whole risque on the Continent, & I hereby authorise & lmpower you to Sign such agreements in my behalf, which shall & may Esteemed, I hereby making the Same to all intents & purposses in Law or equity as Valid as If I my self Sign'd the Same. You will lose no time in Executing this Order. I here with give you One thousand pounds Lawfull money to be improv'd in Defraying expenses thereon, to be Accounted for. I also give you herewith letters to the Honie James Bowdoin, on him you must Call and request a Liberty for these Vessles to Sail notwithstanding the Embargoe, when you shall have got any Vessles ready you will direct them, Eight or ten of the first that Sail to go into Potomack River as I have notified the Governor & Council of Virginia agreably to that. I shall hear from them and must hear from you by every opportunity, direct to me at Hartford. You'll purchase provissions for the Vessles at the places where you take them up or apply to Mr. Charles Miller in Boston for them as you may find best on examination The Vessles will go in Ballast, let as little be Said of the Matter as may be & execute it. Give only a short order to the Master to go to Potomack & there take further orders from the Governor & Council of Virginia or such persons as they shall appoint. You'll have all the Vessles duly apprais'd by good men to Assertain the Sum to be paid in Case of Loss and have the agreements made accordingly, in all things you will use your best skill and Judgement & greatest dispatch in executing the Orders. I am wishing you Success [&c.]