Dear Sir

I had time only in my last to make a partial and very imperfect reply to your sundry favours Recd by Express. I intirely agree with you in Sentiment that the villian who sent in the Joseph to providence (which is the Indentical Eagle that took the fanny & Elizabeth) Ought to be hang'd as a pirate, a Brazillia Smith Commanded her the last Cr[u]ise, its evident that some of my Lts have miscarried for I gave you a detail of my proceedings with Respect to dispaching the Fanny I hope she is at port Ere this as she has sail'd about six weeks I hope to recover ample damages for the injury the public sustaind by her being sent in the fannys Cargo recd no other loss than Abot half a hhd tobacco embezd My Lawyer comes to town to day and you may rely on it Sir that every thing that can be done shall be, to get the worthy Gentleman Restitution for the Gross abuse, its luckey that smith pirate is one of this state, as our people are not so inclinable to favour such proceedings as in a Neighbou[ri]ng ²

I omit making any reply to the part of your Lts Respecting Capt [John Paul] Jones or the Ship Alfred, as the Ltrs you are possess'd of explains the whole of that matter to you

I wrote you in a former Ltr, that our plan of Speculating was frustrated by the orders sent by the Secret Committee and the fine Ship Easter [Esther] I hope is now ready for the Sea as by the late Acco from Mr Jarvis Ive reason to expect it. I have keep back the Sale of the Mellish a long [time] expecting to rece Answers from the Commte with about £ 1200 laid out on her she would make an Excellent twenty gun ship the Brig Lively I shall purch[ase] for your Acct being a fine strong fast sailing Vessell, White haven built, only four years old, well found burthen one hundred & sixty tons, I am impatiently waiting to rece Orders how to dispose of the Brig Tryton, for want of articles to make up a small cargo, just to put the paquet in a set of Ballast I shall send part of the Trytons Cargo of Sal[m]on in her, I shall send her away in three days from this if not prevented by the weather, wch has been rough for some time past, the Scho[oner] Lynch goes on this Errand, the Late commander Capt Ayres Refus'd to go with less than twenty men, and four guns to support the dignity of his comissn we are luckely rid of him I have got a man who will answer the purpose exacly, lie be bound for his abilities & Vigilance, Why should Ayres like a rotten limb be supported, by the usefull members After I had seen the counsel and concluded to send the Lynch a Committee was sent from the board to acquaint me they did not like my Capt but before the Conference I had chang'd him grately to there Satisfaction. I leave you to judge Sir if that man is diserving a Commissn who the councel did not choose to trust, a paquet by, he is beyound dispute the most Bashfull man on earth

The Lynch & Lee are the only small Vessells imployd, the other two have been discharg'd some time since, Capn [John] Skimmer is nere Redy to sale on a Cruise in the Lee the late master having left her to go to Congress I have given a full Acct to the worthy president some time since of his Indolence in the Service ³ The board of War here have pick'd up every thing they Could buy for remittances to £ranee I have borrowed of them a Trifle of potash & have bought [torn] Oil. I am Inform'd a remonstrance is to the Congress against Capt Roach [John Roche] who was late[ly] appointed to a ship a portsmo if that shod Operate to his dismission I hope Capt [John Paul] Jones will not be £[illegible] by the Honbl Maritane Commd Your kind Approbation of my conduct gives me the high[est] pleasure I shall always make it my study to merit it, the small Cargo I send in the pacquet shall be address'd agreable to order & the letter to Messrs Pliame Penet & Co forwarded, I am f earfull I shall meet with difficulty in Circulating the Loan Certificate — As the treasurer gives his Notes the whole State his Security at 6 pCent however l'le do the best I can with them, — Messrs [Alexander] Rose & [Nicholas] Eveleigh are not yet return'd from the eastward, I hear they have made several purchases their, the Brig I sold them Saild this day for South Carolina, —

The information I gave on the former part of my letter of the Joseph being carried into providence proceeded from false information; on further enquirey I have seen the prize Master of the Joseph who was taken by a british Cruizer, and carried in to york, which I think will be better for the owners than if she had arriv'd at providence,⁴ I make not the least doubt I shall be able to recover the full amount, but am I duly qualified with powers, I believe not, they should be sent forward without loss of time. —

I am distress'd at the detention of our two frigates — I have no prospect of their Sailing — [Hector] McNeill this day told me Six thousand dollars would put him to sea in a fortnight, & this Evening I'le see Mr [Thomas] Cushing & will venture to furnish him with that sum, if he can raise it with the certificates, I know you lead at the Marine Board Sir for Gods sake & for the sake of the great cause let experienced men, men of intrepid resolution take the lead in the grand undertaking of Building the 74 Gun ship — I have sent a Schooner of 90 Tons to Baltimore, and a Brig of the like Burthen will follow her for Iron &c — I am with all due respects [&c.]