[Extract]

In consequence of your Letter of the 18th instant we have sent our small armed Vessel with Orders to Capt. [Abraham] Whipple to relinquish the Voyage to Bermuda, and to prolong his Cruise for the Packet to the Sixth Day of October.

Agreeable to your advise I have communicated the proposed Adventure to Bayonne to the [Continental] Congress, and most heartily wish it may be pursued, as the Ability and Integrity of Du Ville are perfectly relied upon here. ー The following Extract from Govr Trumbull's Letter to me of the 18th instant will inform you of his Sentiments respecting the Enterprise, and of his Reasons for declining to take a Part in it, ー "In mine of the 11th instt in Answer to your esteemed Favour of the 9th I acquainted you with my purpose to lay your Letter before my Council on Thursday the, 14. which I did. They approve your Proposition, the Way appears to them promising. At the same time we have advanced Money so largely for that Article, and have great Reason to expect a Supply in a similar Method, that they judge it not expedient for us to proceed farther at this Time. It is an Article that requires our Attention, and wish every Method that appears ー probable to obtain it may be pursued. I hope General Washington will hearken to your Application, and suitably encourage and promote your generous Design."

. . . Since the sailing of the small Vessel I observe in the New Yark Paper that a Packet is arrived there from Falmouth which I take it to be the same that Capt. Whipple was sent after. If so the Opportunity is lost; but by extending his cruise a little longer he may have a Chance for the August packet.