By the Honorable Nicholas Cooke, Esq., Governor, Captain General and Commander-in-Chief of and over the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in. New England, in America, To Abraham Whipple, Commander of the sloop Katy, in the service of the Colony aforesaid,

Greeting:

At the request of the committee appointed to act during the recess of the General Assembly, you are hereby directed to take on board the said sloop Katy the seamen engaged by Brigadier General Hopkins, in the Continental service, and with them and the officers and men to the sloop belonging, you are to proceed immediately to Philadelphia. If the Honorable Continental Congress are equipping a naval force to act against the enemy upon the coast of New England, that will sail soon, you are to remain there in order to sail with and assist such fleet in their operations upon the said coast; and in that case you are to obey the orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the said fleet during his expedition upon the said coast. But if the fleet of the United Colonies is destined for any other part of America, you are to apply yourself to the Honorable Stephen Hopkins and Samuel Ward, Esqs., Nathaniel Mumford, Thomas Greene and Gideon Mumford, Esqs., all of this Colony, whom you will find at Philadelphia, who will furnish you with a cargo of flour upon account of the Colony, which you are to lade on board the said sloop, and return therewith immediately to this place; and for your so doing this shall be your sufficient warrant.

Given under my hand and seal at Providence, this twenty first day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five.

[Endorsed]

Providence, Nov. 21st, 1775.

I acknowledge the above and afore written to be a true copy of my orders from his Honor the Governor, which I promise to observe and follow.

Abraham Whipple.