[Extract]

. . . I was determined to have bot the Esther on our Joynt Accot but the order I receiv'd from the Secret Committee prevented, and I purchased her for Accot of the Continent for one third her value — I informd that Honble Committee in my last that I had bot the Brig Tryton with four hundred twenty Teirces Extreem fine Salmon on board, and tho this is a private letter I beseech you Sir I may have orders how to dispose of her & what to fill her up with, I suppose she will stow from 150 to 170 Casks flax seed —

I plainly perceive I shall soon be in want of money for being Centrically plac'd between New hampshire & Rhod Island States, I have great & frequent calls for what is not to be obtaind but with Cash, I have paid off the Cabot — am now paying off the Alfred, and have supply'd Mr [Thomas] Cushing with £1300 — All the alfreds [sic Mellish's] Cargo, with a very considerable part of the Livelys being sent forward, and the great purchase Messrs [Abraham] Livingston & [William] Turnbull have made, for which I shall take their drafts will scarcely leave me money sufficient to pay off the Captors, I take it nothing will affect the Credit of the Continent more than the want of money in public offices, it will rejoyce the hearts of our adversaries, when I first had the honour of coming into Office, after advancing all my own money I borrowed a considerable Sum of those who were warm in the great Cause, and the credit of the Continent was not Injured — I hope I shall not be obliged to do the like again — at present we have no prospect of any prizes — as I know not of a single Continental Cruiser out

Capt Hinman arriv'd a few days ago with a Commission for Alfred and orders from Comre Hopkins to alter her — he proposes to get it done rather different from what Capt Jones proposed, which will [be] less expensive, I am Sorry to find that Gentleman is not provided for as I think him to be a sensible discreet Capable Man — I would heartly wish him to have the Hancock Capt Jones is a very different sort of a man to him that Commands her — ²

I hope we shall soon get the new frigates to sea I am very happy it being in my power to supply them with Slops out of the Lively and Blankets from the Brig Elizabeth Capt [John] Palmer I hope to have the Raleigh Completley fitted with cannon in Six weeks, we are now Collecting iron Piggs from the Alfred and Cabbot and have obtain'd a vote of the assembly to lend us a furnace belonging to the State to Cast our Guns in, the Hancocks guns are now on the road and will be here in all next week