Sir

We, have long been anxious to hear of the Raleigh frigate under your Command being com pleated for the sea but hitherto the dificulty of obtafoipg her Guns has been insuperable you may rest assured that the measures you have taken to obtain them from the Furnace in Massachusets Bay are qµite agreeable to us. We approve very much of the Iron Ballast being taken from the Alfred, and in case that should not be sufficient you are authorized to take a quantity out of the Columbus so much of her Iron Ballast as may be necessary and shall defray such reasonable Charges as attend the doing of it, and further we are well pleased that Mr Paine and Mr Bradford came into this measure and gave you their assistance. You are therefore to return to the furnace in Massachusets Bay and immediately try or prove the Guns already cast for the Raleigh agreeable to the standard or mode given you herewith If you find they stand this proof urge the utlllost expedition in compleating the set. We hope a sufficient quantity of the proper Metal will be got from the Ballast of the Two Ships mentioned, but if that falls short you may then make application in our name and produce these orders to the Council or Assembly of Massachusets Bay to spare you what may be wanting from the quantity lately sent them from Maryland and we will pay for or replace it. We expect and hope that you will get a compleat set of good Guns for the ship by these means, and if you do you must take the most effectual means to get them on board as expeditiously as possible. Apply to Mr Langdon the Agent to second and support your endeavours and compleat the Complement of Hands, take in the necessary Stores, Provisions, Arms & ammunition for a Six Months Cruize if they can conveniently be had ー if not you must be content with less ー make the ship [a ]s com pleat as you can but don't loose time or lavish away Money. Expedition and Vigilance are excellent qualities in a Sea Officer. Frugallity is an absolutely necessary One in all men that are connected with the American Revenue. These things duly attended to proceed as soon as you can on a Cruize. The first thing after you get out to sea is to try your Ships sailing. If she goes fast you may venture to take liberties with our enemies, if she does not you must keep clear of those of superior force and many of these we fancy will be found on the American Coasts. We hope you will be a Sea by the Month of June and if so your first Cruize had best be employed in seeking the Enemies Transports and Provision Vessels bound in for New York chusing the best station for falling in with them, and as you make Prizes send them into the first safe Port to the care of the Continental Agent. Thus you may employ the ship until the first of July when you are to open the sealed Instructions that we shall send you in a very short Time. Those Instructions will direct your attention to an object of importance and you must keep the Raleigh in good order, well manned, clean, and in every shape fit for Action or as much so as possible against that time. The said Instructions will point out your business after that date, therefore we now return to the supposition of your not geting the Guns wanted from the Furnace in Massachusetts Bay. If it so happens that you cannot get the whole there get as many as you can that will stand the proof, and apply to the State of Massachusets to furnish what may be wanting, if they cannot, then apply to Mr Paine or Mr Bradford to assist you in purchasing as many good 12, 9 or 6 pounders as will fill your Ports. You may do this either in Rhode Island Massachusets or New Hampshire wherever you can suit the ship best and cheapest, get the whole on board with expedition, take in suitable Stores and ammunition make up the Complement of about 150 Men including Marines and take the first favourable opportunity to go out to Sea and push off the Coast. Should any of the Continental frigates or Cruizers be in your Neighbourhood write to the Captains and if inferior in Rank to you, order him or them to come and Convoy you off; If superior inform him it is our Orders that he or they do it for which this shall be his or their justification and you may send him or them Coppies of this Paragraph which he or they are hereby required to obey. When you get fairly out to Sea and are but thus partially armed, you must make the best of your way for brest in France taking care on the Passage to avoid large Ships of war, but we hope you will take some Prizes from the Enemy and carry them in with you, these to be sold and the Continental share of such Prizes must be sold to pay for Guns, stores and charges. On your arrival at Brest write to William Lee & Thomas Morris Esqrs at Nantes and to the Honble Dr Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane and Arthur Lee Esqrs in Paris informing them of your arrival and that your errand to France is to compleat the ship with a proper set of Guns telling them how many and the different sorts, mention also what other Stores and supplys you will want and request them to inform you whom to value on, and to take effectual measures to prepare with expedition all the supplies you need, on this head you must never cease urging them until you get what you want. When you get the proper Guns, strike the others in your Hold and keep them there until your return to America. You may ask the Honble Dr Franklin, silas Deane & Arthur Lee Esqrs if they have any commands for you and if they desire you to go on any particular service, Cruize or expedition you must obey their Orders. If they have nothing particular you will take in water, Provisions &c for a long voyage and leaving Brest proceed on a Cruize ー taking of Prizes and distressing the enemy must be the object of your Cruize but particularly we recommend your looking out for some of their East India Ships. You will find the Ports of France and Spain open to your Prizes with liberty of selling them there. You must be careful to keep your Ship well manned, and whenever you take Prizes give great encouragement to Seamen and Petty officers to enter.

Any Prizes you take with Cloathing (particularly Blankets), arms, ammunition or any of those articles that you think will be particularly useful in America should be sent for the first safe Port in these states. We do not object to your Cruizing a reasonable time in the European seas provided our Commissioners at the Court of France are of opinion it will be more useful than returning, otherways you will return back for these Coasts Cruizing on the enemies Ships during the passage, and should you think it proper to call at any of the French Islands for information we have no objection. You must make it a point to encourage seamen to enter our service wherever you meet with them. Use your People well but preserve strict discipline, attend most carefully to keep a clean ship or the Men will grow sickly, treat Prisoners. with Humanity and upon all occasions support with spirit the Honor of the American flag. We are Sir [&c.]