[Extract]

. . . I observe what you hint respecting fitting out the Millish [Mellish] as a Cruiser for Capt [John Paul] Jones, he tells me he has your perticular orders to take the lead in an expedition in which a Number of Frigates are to bear a part, however he will be with you as early as this reaches you, as he set out for Phila yesterday he will be able to give you a discription of the Vessell ー Jones was earnest to know if we could furnish Necessaries for such a number of ships. I answered in General that the difficulty of providing cordage was insuperable ー however I hope the fleet we are daily expecting will give us a supply of that article . . .

I shall write you by next post when I hope to give you an accot of the arrival of some of the french fleet ー We have twenty pilots cruising in the Bay to meet them and I have given orders to the Captains of the Cabot & the Lee ² which are both gone out if they meet with any in their cruise to put a pilot in each Vessell as we have no light at the entrance of the harbour ー

[P. S.] the hancock went down yesterday Manly has done himself honour in dispatchg