[Extract]

I beg leave to acquaint you Sir that I am dispatching a pacquet for France by order of the Secret Committee -the Schooner Lynch not being discharg'd I sent for Capt Ayres who has had the Command of her to carry the dispatches, but he refused going unless I would give him twenty five men & four Guns —² As it was needless to be at such an expence {Sailors wages being at twenty dollars P Month) I refus'dand he gave up the Lynch, I have ship'd Capt [John] Adams who formerly for .a considerable time was in your Employ, I know him to be as smart and as capable a man as any in the state, if he performs the Voyage I hope it may introduce him to the notice of the Congress and I am well assur'd he would not dishonor a Commission —

You desire me Sir in your last to let you know the state of Navy I am sorry to inform you Sir things do not go on with that harmony I could wish —​ Mr Cushing being short of money he can't do things to the Satisfaction of the Captains & they are loud in their Complaints he wont Agree to Advance the men more than a months pay and its impossible ever to get the ships ³ away unless more money is advaric'd Capt McNeill has promised he will sail in ten days if he can get seven thousand dollars, as I had transmitted me Ten thousand in Loan certificates I will see Mr Cushing and venture tho' I have no orders from the Secret Committee for so doing to supply him with that sum in them Certificates, which I hope will be approv'd off — Capt [John] Skimmer in the Lee will Sail in a bout a week on a Cruise the other two Schooners have been discharg'd a month, the Cabbot is near Sailing the Alfred is forward in the Alteration they are making by order of Commodor Hopkins — I should be glad to receive orders, if to buy the Milish [Mellish] or not, I have kept back the sale for that purpose — I could wish the Peggy's fate was known, she is a dead Expence on us. . . .