Honble Sirs

I have the honour to receive a Letter from the Marine Board under the 21st march, in wch you are pleasd to mention that the officers and seamen, concernd in Captur[e]s, complain of there being kept out of there money, I wish they had not a just Reason for there complaint, however I beg leave to Exculpate my self, from that Charge, for the present, and E're long the honourable Board will be convinced by the Commisrs to whome my Books shall be laid open,² that I have paid the men £2000 prize money, besides having paid Colo [Jonathan] Glover £919. I have it as invariable practice, never tum a man away when he Ask'd money, if he had a demand for prize money, Its true I have been put to great inconveniences, long after I had the honour of entering into this department, and before any prize money came into my hands, to be obliged to Borrow large sums, wch I did do till I had advanced seven hundred pounds of my own money, on the whole, the Credit of the Continent never sufferd through me, the reason that the accounts have been so long unsettled was unavoidable, the Exigence of the Army being such, I was oblig'd to send forward large quantities of Goods uninvoiced & unappraised, the Expedient now taken will remidy that evil, I shall loose no time in Settling every account, and forwarding them to Congress, and pray give me leave to answer the honble Board.it was not owing to inattention, to their orders under the 18th Octor that I have not comply'd therewith, but to a pressure of Business I being placd between providence and portsmouth, I have had a great plenty of Business, from both quarters I have been endeavouring to add to my help but coul'd not, the young people all having Engag'd in the Army.

I informd you some time since that I had a prospect of furnishing the Raleigh, with a Sett of Cannon of our own manufacture, having for that purpose taken fifty tuns pig Iron out of the alfred, they meet with indifferent success, the three they first cast burst in prooving, But other two stands proof, I shall advise you of our future [Success]

I am Sorry to Acquaint you with the loss of the Brig Cabbot, Which saild from Salem last Sunday fortnight, in Company with two Arm'd Brigs belonging to this State, this same night they fell in with the Milford frigate, and she Chasd the Brig Cabbot a Shore, where she was lost, I cant lam the particulars, therefore shall suspend any further Acot till I see Captn [Joseph] Olney who is on his way from portsmouth here,

the Alfred is now taken in her Ballast, the Carpenters being done with her Alfred, the Boston this day got into King Road from Cape Ann ー And the Hancock fell down to Nantasket, they will both sail its probable in a few days, The Mellish I've purchas'd at a very moderate pri[ce] giving only £ 1020, she sails fast, and Capt [John Paul] Jones is of opinion she will make a good Cruiser, the Sc[hooner] Lee has been saild three weeks on a Cruise, having nothing meteri[a]I to add I Salute & have the honour to be Gentlemen [&c.]