Sir

Your Favour this Day came to Hand. Your Conduct in fitting out the Vessels is much approved by his Excelly who is particularly pleased with your Dispatch ー Colo [James] Warren has wrote to [Benjamin] Wormwell about his Demand of 8d more than others, which I hope he will retract, otherwise you must endeavour to procure another as we are resolved to submit to no Demands that Appear to be unreasonable. The difference to him is Small, but as we must pay the Same to others, & in that Case the Difference to the Publick will be considerable ー I think you had better take the Swivels, but we would not have the Vessel delayed for the Sake of making up her Compliment of Ten ー Advise with Capt Martingale about the Cohorns, if he thinks they will be Serviceable you can take one or both ー Inclosed is a Letter to the Committee about the Powder The Cartridge Paper will be sent immediately ー Capt Adams will have the same Terms as other Masters out of Salem & Marblehead ー

I shall dispatch Capt Coit assoon as possible, but the General would have you Stay 'till the Vessels are equipped & Sailed ー If it is not absolutely necessary for Capt Martingale to return to Camp before he sails he can stay to superintend the Workmen &c ー I cautioned him against an extravagant Outset but I fear his former Ideas upon the Subject are insuperable there certainly can be no occasion for such a Number of Guns, unless he means to go without Powder for them as we cannot Spare so much of that Article as such an outset would require ー We think 8 or at the most 10 Six pounders quite sufficient with 10 or 12 Swivels ー Inclosed is a Letter to the Committee at Bristol which may be of some Use in procuring the Guns  if you are obliged to go there for that Purpose ー By what I mentioned in my former Letter I only meant to give you a Caution as we have been very unfortunate in sending Persons to do Business where their Connections lay ー It will be best for you to pay all contingent Expences, if you have not current Cash Mr Watson the Agent will supply you, & his Draught here upon me for these Expences or any other attending the Vessels will be honor'd ー If the Committee of Plymouth claim a Property in the Vessel notwithstanding she is to be employed on the Publick Service you must agree with them as with private Persons on the best Terms you can ー

Pray forward both Vessels assoon as possible, & in your next let me know when Martingale's Vessel will be, ready ー if he wants Ammunition from hence let us know in Time that none be lost in fitting out these Articles ー I am Sir [&c.]

P.S. By all Means caution Capt Martingale against a large Outset ー The Design is to intercept the Enemy's Supplies, not to look out for the Enemy's Armed Vessels ー