No 153

Sir Your favor of the 8th Decemr came to our hands, and we are very sorry to be informed thereby of the extreem Indiscretion of Capt Pattison [William Patterson] who is now under an Arrest to be examined by the proper Powers of the State, the Result of which will be communicated to you hereafter. We have now several Vessels ready to send to you which upon their Arrival will we hope enable you to discharge the several Sums due from you on our Account, but when they will depart from hence is uncertain as there are a Number of Brittish Ships of War in our Bay, however we have given Orders to Mr [Robert] Morris of Phila to remit you the Sum of fifteen Hundred Pounds to enable you to pay the Debt you & Mr [William] Bingham have incurred on Account of Capt Pattison whose Imprudence we trust will not be productive of any Inconveniences or ill Consequences to any of the United States, at the Same Time we assure you we highly disapprove of this Conduct of Capt Pattison and rely on your making a proper Representation of our sentiments on this Subject to the General & Governor of Martinico. We are [&c.]

[Annapolis] Febry 8. 1777 —