Navy Board
The following Letter was wrote to Stephen Duvall —

Mr. Stephen Duvall

Navy Board 24th Febry. 1777—

The Commissioners of the Navy desire you to proceed with the Eagle Pilot Boat with all possible dispatch to George Town, On your Arrival there, you will take on board your Boat, From a Brig there Commanded by Capt. Blundell as much Gun powder belonging to the Public of this State a5 you can Conveniently stow in her & proceed with it immediately to Charles Town

When this Gunpowder is on board you will be particularly carefull to let no fire come near it.

The Commissary will furnish you with what provisions will be necessary — By Order of the Board

Edward Blake first Comm

A Letter was wrote to Capt. Ham —

Mr. Richard Ham Sir

Navy Board 27th Februy 1777 —

The Commissioners of the Navy direct that you do at all times, Take from on board any Vessel Piloted out of this Harbour, by any of the Pilots that Belong to the Eagle Pilot Boat, during the time Mr. Duval may be absent from Charles Town, & that you do give~Diligent Attendance to Pilot any Vessels that may be bound into this Harbour, and that you do Anchor Every night during the absence of Mr. Duval under Sullivants Island, as near as you can to it with Safety

Edward Blake first Commissr

[A] Letter was wrote to his Excellency the President —

Sir/

Navy Board Feby 20th. 1777.

In Answer to Our Letter of the 14th Inst. to your Excellency Respecting Hemp His Honour the Vice President has Informed us that it is the Opinion of the Privy Council Relative thereto that this Board be directed to Engage Hemp Immediately for the Public Service in such Quantitys as the Board shall think Necessary, and to use such means, and off er such Price as may Entitle the Commissioners to a Pref erance to Other Purchasers—The Commissioners are fearf ull that it will not be in their Power to Execute the Business in the manner above mentioned, as the Private Purchasers have so many Agents Employed to Engage that Article at any Price Mr. Willm Hest Informed the first Commissioner that he was Raised upon in the Purchase of a Parcell four different times Yesterday, And he is certain that if that Article is Suffered to be Exported, in the space of three Months he shall not be able to furnish a single Coil of Cordage Either for the use of the state or Trade — The Comissioners are Sorry to Trouble your Excellency again on this Matter, but they are fearfull unless there is a Stop put to the Exportation of Hemp this state will soon be Entirely without that usefull Article — The Commissioners beg leave to Inform your Excellency that the Number appointed to that Board are so few that they can seldom make a board, they therefore beg your Excellency will be pleased to appoint two more Commissioners, and they beg lieve to recommend Mr Willm Price & Mr Nathl Russell as fitt Persons

Edward Blake first Commissr —

Capt. Robert Cochran ²
Sir.

The Commissioners of the Navy desire that you will have the Briggt. Notre Dame got ready to proceed to sea with all possible Dispatch [and that] you will be ready by Tomorrow Evening, as they [burned] time may be attended with very great advantage to the State

Edward Blake first Commissioner

Sunday 23d Febry 1777.
Capt. John Mercier Sir/

The Commissioners of the Navy desire that you will with all possible Dispatch have the Sloop Beaufort got ready to proceed to Sea, they are hopefull you will have her Ballasted, and ready, by Tomorrow Night.

Edward Blake first Commissr

Sunday 23d Febry. 1777 —

Edward Blake presents his Compliments to his Excellency the President, and Acquaints him, that he has Directed Captns — Cochran & Mercier to get their Vessels ready with all posible Dispatch, that he has seen Capt. Cochran who promises to have the Brigg Notre Dame ready by Tuesday afternoon; provided he can get a Sufficient Quantity of Ballast by that time, E, B['s], Opinion if a Sufficient Quantity of Stone Ballast cannot be got in time, it will be best to take on board some Rice, Naval Stores, or any Other weighty goods raither then Loose any time for stone Ballast, if any of the above mentioned goods are to be taken An Order from Your Excellency will be Necessary

Sunday 23d Febry 1777 —

Edward Blake presents his Compliments to General How [Robert Howe] and Acquaints him that he has given the Necessary Orders to get the Vessels ready with all posible Dispatch, to Transport the Troops to Beaufort, that Capt. Cochran has Informed him that his Vessel will be ready by Tuesday afternoon
Sunday 23rd Februy 1777.

Capt. John Copithorn Sir/

Februy. 24th 1777 —

The Commissioners of the Navy desire that you will provide Six Schooners and have them Loaded with Ballast for General [Christopher] Gadsden with all posible Dispatch, the Schooners are not to draw more than five feet water Each

Edward Blake

Capt. Thomas Pickerin[g] Sir/

Februy. 24th 1777 —

The Commissioners of the Navy desire that you will Assist Capt. Mercier with three or four Men, to Bend his Sails & get his Vessell ready for the sea, by Tomorrow Evening, send such as will be fitt for the Duty &that you Can Depend on to return to the Defence

Edward Blake —

Mr. Stephen Duval Sir/

Navy Board February 24th 1777 —

The Commissioners of the Navy Direct that you do Every Other Night Lodge on board the Eagle Pilot Boat, and Anchor as near to Sullivants Island as you can with safety and that you do proceed to Sea very Early every Morning in Order to give the Necessary Assistance to such Vessells as may be Bound into the Harbour of Charles Town, and that you give the Earliest Information, to the Commissioners, of any Vessells being on the Coast that you suspect to belong to the Enemy — Capt. Ham will receive the like Orders and relieve you Every Other Night

Edward Blake first Commissr.

A Letter from the President to hire if not to be Hired to Impress Schooners to Carry Troops to Georgia —

Capt. John Copithorn Sir/

Navy Board February 25th 1777 —

The Commissioners of the Navy direct that you do as soon as possible provide as many proper Vessells, as will Transport 300 Men with their Baggage & stores within Land to Georgia, if you Cannot Posibly Hire a Sufficient Number You are hereby fully Authorised to Impress them and you are to make a return of the Particular Vessells and the Owners Names to the board this Evening

Edward Blake first Commissr

Capt. John Copithorn made a Return to the Board of Four Schooners he had Impressed into the Service, to Carry Troops to Georgia —

A Letter to his Excellency the President —

The Commissioners of the Navy present their Compliments to his Excellency the President and Acquaints him that the Following Vessells are ready to take on board the Troops Intended for Georgia Viz

the first of the Four Schooners has no Master nor Men the Commissioners will Endeavour to provide People for her

Tuesday Evening
25th Februy 1777

Edward Blake first Commissr

A Letter to Mr. McCulley Righten —

Mr. McCulley Righten Sir/

You are to provide a Sufficient Number of Boats to Transport all the North Carolina Troops now at Haddrels point to Charles Town with all possible Dispatch

Edward Blake first Commissr

Februy 26th 1777 —

A Letter to Capt. John Copithorn.

Capt. John Copithorn Sir/

You are to provide with all possible Dispatch a sufficient Number of Schooners or Boats to Transport all the North Carolina Troops, now at Haddrels point to Charles Town —

Edward Blake first Commissioner

Febry. 26th 1777 —

A Letter to Capt Robert Cochran —

Capt. Robert Cochran Sir/

The Commissioners of the Navy desire that you will deliver to Mr. John Calvert as many of the water Casks that belongs to the Brigt. Notre Dame as can be posibly spared —

Edward Blake first Commissr

Febry 26th 1777 —

A Letter to Capt. Edward Darrell —

Capt. Edward Darrell Sir/

The Commissioners of the Navy desire that you will provide a Sufficient Number of Potts for to Cook provisions in for the Troops now going to Georgia say about 300 Men

Edward Blake first Commissr

Febry. 26th 1777 —

A Letter to Capt John Copithorn

Capt. John Copithorn Sir

The Schooner Employd to bring the Detachments from Sullivans Island is not Sufficiently found with stores &c. to proceed to Georgia, you are therefore Directed to Take the Schooner that lays at Ropers wharf in the Room of her and Dis.charge from the Service

Edward Blake first Commissr

Febry. 27th 1777 —

Order of the Privy Council.

That Mercier's Vessel be fitted for War under the direction of the Commissioners of the Navy and that Mercier be appointed Captain, if he chuses to Accept the Commission —

The foregoing Letters of the under mentioned dates & directions was wrote by, and sent by the first Commissr and approved off by the Board this Evening