Dear Sir

The Bearer Capt Daniel Waters this !llOment inform'd me he was to set out this afternoon for maryland to wait on the congress. I suppose in hopes of promotion, incouraged by the late favours granted Capt Roch [John Roche] who it seems was only a Lieutent in one of those Schooners. Waters is accompinied by Capt [Samuel] Tucker whose Vessell is deliv'd to the owners being unfit for service. ² I proposed to Capt Waters to go on a Cruse in the Lee but he declined it, because he was going to Congress. I shall not mention at present any thing relitive to this persons caracter. I beg leave to refer you to my former Letters. I make no doubt he is brave but his former conduct with Poor Capt [William] Burke was very reprehensable. ³ —

I must think myself criminal not to mention something relitive to Tucker who is by no means qualifyed to rise higher in Command being the most volatile empty body I ever meet with, little credit being to be given to any thing he says, And his principle of honesty being very suspicious I inclose a list of things reported to have been taken out of a prize by him on information of his Lieutent Mr Bartlett on taxing him with it he acknowledged it. I find he has been Selling part of the muskuets a[t] Marblehead, I assure you Sir it gives me pain to caracterise in so disagreeable a light. But I can with great truth say its from an ardent wish that such persons only may be employ'd that will do honour to our growing navy the distracted state I found that part in over which I have the honour to preside. I have in several Ltrs hinted to you great allowances are to be made while the Navy is as it were in Embraio. I flatter myself we are in a much better way then we were formerly

You may be Surprised Sir when I tell you the Schotch prizes are not yet settled but its intirely owing to a dispute between Deacon Gardner and myself he demanding a greater sum than I proposed to give him for getting the Brig Annabella from the Blk rocks where she lay a Month Sunk,⁴ we shall settle the dispute tomorrow when we shall pay of[f] the Captures for them Prizes & the Perkins ⁵ the Ship Peggy being clam'd a[t] philadelphia we cannot settle till we know her fate from congress ⁶ the Lord Lifford is paid off and Settled The two frigates here will soon get away and I hope in five weeks from this to get the Rawleighs Guns fifteen tuns pig Iron is alredy at the furnace

I have had no complaints from any of the Captures for when they ask me for money I have always given them that on a Settlement the[y] wont have any great sum to receive being pressed for time I must Conclude with the most profound respects Your [&c.]