Gentlemen

Your favour of blank Date came Safe to Hand ー We are much pleased that Capts [Nicholson] Broughton & Selliman are Sailed not only on Account of their probably meeting with greater Success in their Destination but on that of a piece of Intelligence we lately had from Boston, viz ー That a Transport with 1200 Bbls of Powder on board without Convoy or Force has been missing Some Time & they expect has fallen into our Hands ー Capt Coit with his Company marched to Plymouth yesterday we expect they will be out by Friday Some Time ー There will be a large Schooner Carrying 10 Carriage Guns fitted out there by Sunday ー I have given them the Signals. Capt Adams was with me to. Night, I hope to get him & his Men off by Friday Morning [October 27]

Enclosed you have the Instructions for the Agents Signed by the General which you will please to send to each of them nominated that Way ー they are exactly the same as those sent to Plymouth ー I have given Yesterday to Capt. [John] Glover [Jr.] Orders for the Things mentioned in your Letters which I hope he will procure as I have not Time to go after them myself ー

Transports arrive every Day ー We would wish you to apprize Capt Manly & Capt Adams of their preserving a good Understanding with each other & settling their Signals &c ー As Adams is well Acquainted with the Coast farther Eastward than Cape Ann it may perhaps not be amiss for him to go there ー I shall direct him to advise with you on this & other Subjects & am Gentlemen [&c.]

We think you had best fix the Commissaries [sic Commissions] with the Agents & so make the Instructions comformable where you are, & to those at a Distance make them refer to these others which will put all on a Footing. It will be best to put any Agreements in Writing ー