Middletown Feby 20th 1777 —
My Good Freind
I have been with the Governor of this State this Week, and as he has Derictions from the Congress To Build Two frigats One of Twenty Eight and the Other of thirty two Guns in this State and has been pleased to appoint Me as Superintendant for this Ship 2 as the Other is in Norwich, I there£ [oreJ Begg You as A freind is [sic if] You have any Iron that is Nott Wanted for the Use of the Ship Trumbull you will Lett Me have it att a p[r]ice as I want to begio[n] as fast as I Can possiable, and as You are Better A Quaintd with the Matter than I am I must as a Freind Begg your In Structions Relative to that Matter, as Intend to Wate on you To Morrow which if you agree Will Much Oblige [&c.]
Jno Cotton
1. Barnabas Deane Papers, ConnHS.
2. The Continental frigate, of which Cotton had been appointed superintendent, would subsequently be named the Bourbon.
