Capt Samuel Green,

You being Master of the Schooner Franklin, now loaded & ready to sail your orders are to proceed direct to Cape Francois where you are to dispose of your Cargo for the most you can obtain, & invest the Proceeds in Five Hundred good effective Fire Arms with Bayonets, & One Hundred pair Horsemans Pistols, if to be purchased, If not in the several Articles mentioned below, or a proportion of each, giving the preference to the first in the order they stand.

Upon your Arrival you will enquire for Capt Paul Reed in the service of this State, & if he should have sold his Vessel, you are to take on Board the Effects he may have to ship together with his Men & come home. ー If Capt Reed should not have sold his Vessel, or you cannot hear of him, you are to purchase at the Cape as much Salt, as together with the Articles before order'd will be sufficient to put your Vessel in a good set of Ballast & come home. Upon your Return you are to make the first Harbour in this State, to the Eastward of this State, or in New-Hampshire, from whence you are to give the earliest Notice to the Board by Express; ー By order of the Board,

10,000 Sail Needles ー Blanketting
Gun Powder ー Ravens Duck ー

[Endorsed] War-Office, Boston March 18th 1777 ー I acknowledge the above to be a true Copy of the orders I have received from the Honble Board of War, & promise to obey the same ー

Sam^l Green