Sir/

The Brigt of War Comet of which you are Captain having received on board provisions and Other Stores for near three Months and having nearly a full Complement of Men, We desire that you will embrace the first favourable Opertunity to proceed to Sea. And after you are Clear of the Barr of Charles Town We recommend your stearing to the Southward Cruizing a Long the Coast as £arr as St. Augustine, After which you are at Liberty to Continue your Cruze not Exceeding Two Months from your departure from Charles Town Barr in such station as shall appear to you most promising of Success, during which time, You are to Take, Sink, Burn, or Destroy, any Ships, Vessells, or Goods belonging to the King of Great Britain, or to any of his Subjects, Excepting the Vessells and goods belonging to the Islands of Barmuda & new Providence, and should you be so fortunate as to take any Prize be carefull to put on board a proper officer as Prize Master, with Orders to proceed to Chas Town, or some Convenient Inlett within the State of So Carolina and give directions for Treating your Prisoners with the greatest Humanity, and Tenderness, you are to Advise the Commissioners by Letter (Directed to the first Commissioner) of Every Transaction worth Communicating during Your Cruze and to prevent any Inconveneance that may Arise for want of Credit in Case you are Obliged to put into any French, Dutch, or any other Port, There is put on board the Comet under your Care Three Casks Containing pounds weight of Neat Indigo which you are to place in such Hands as shall appear most Capable of Rendering You the Services that may be required or Dispose of it yourself, & the Neat proceeds invest in such Articles as Your Vessell may stand in [need] of or may be most usefull for the Navy of this state, Otherwise it is to be redelivered on Your Return [to Charles] Town, We recomend to you to use your best endeavours to Inlist as many Seamen for the Comet as will Compleat [her] number to Eighty, and that you do frequently Cause to be read to the Vessells Company the Rules of the Navy of this State, and the Third Article of the Rules of Discipline, and good Government, and that you Endeavour all in your power to Cultivate Harmony, and good Order among the Officers and Seamen, — We not only recommend that you Steer to the Southward of this Coast on your going Out, but also on your Return, if the Circumstances of the Cruze will permitt . . . . . . by Order of the Board [Charleston] 16th January