Sir

Your favour of the 21st is before me note what you say respecting altering the Mellish, if it can be done with you, can it be with expedition, are there a sufficient number of Carpenters or will they want more help, will it be best to do it by the Jobb, or by the day, will it not be best to have the Captain present when the Alteration is making Mr [Robert] Morris some time since desired me to buy him a Brig, I wrote him of the purchase of the Active, he accepts her, therefore, please to put her to his Account, & I will pay the purchase & Outfit having money lodged with me for that purpose —

I should be glad you will get her away with all possible dispatch, and follow the directions for Addressing her, Agreeable to the inclosed directions, only with the alteration of Active for Lively, please to call her by the name of the Delaware, the inclosed Letter to John Wereat Esqr you will forward, As no oppertunity offers of sending provission for the Voyage, its luckey you can provide for her at Bedford, Beware of Counterfit hampshire Bills, abundance of them are passing ー I am with Respect [&c.]

[Enclosure of the directions in the form of a postscript]

P.S. You'l please to give the Master of the Brig Lively writen instructions directing him to apply to John Wereat Esqr in Georgia who will load the Vessell with a Cargo of Rice for which he is to sign bills of Loading on Accot & Risque of the own,ers of the Brigg Consign'd to Messrs Samuel & J—H— Delap Merchants in Bourdeaux, Mr Wereat will supply him with what is wanting for the Vessells charges & expences in Georgia from whence he must sail soon as possible for Bourdeaux & there apply to Messrs Delap who will receive the Rice, & put on board a Sufficiency of salt to deep ballast the Brig, they will pay charges & he must then proceed from Bourdea[ux] with the Brig & Salt for this coast getting in to the first safe Port Southward of New York & give us Notice of his arrival, I expect he will be carefull of our Interest, frugall in expences & dilligent in dispatch both at sea & in port & he may depend on a reward equal to his merit ー Yours &c R M

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