Gentillman

We hope you will excuse the liberty we have taken in troubling you with this Letter the lntensun of which is to Acknowlidge Obligation we are under to Capt [Thomas] Thom[p]son for his Asistance in building the Raleigh Frigate By opportunety and observeations he has Acquired great Knowledge in Naval Architucture from which we have Derived Great Advantages and are under Dayly Obligations to him for further Instructions as we are young in boulding Ships of War his Readeness to Serve us in this Respect Deserves our Acknowledgments and we know of no other way But through you to make this Gentelmans merits Known to Congress Which is the Reason of troubling you with this Litter we think him a veary good Judge of Building and Contriveing Ships of war he has don much Sarv[i]ce to the Continante in this Branch in these States and when he Sales we Shall Lament his Loss while we are Boulding future Ships of war altho this is a private Leatture we meane it to ansure a Public Person and therefore must beg the favour of you Gentm to Make the Contents known to Congress as we understand Capt Thomson is gon to Philla and it is the only thanks we are able to Pay that Gentelman we are with Great Respect [&c.]

To William Whipple and
Edward [Matthew] thornton Esqrs
Deligats for N Hampshere