Sir
your Favours of the 16th & 17th Instant came to hand, That of the 16th directing me to deliver to Chas Coffin &[c] their Beding & Wearing apparel shall be punctually complyd with ー White2 only has as yet applyd ー I shall take every necessary precaution before I deliver any article to them ー I have Recd the Seven half Joes of Capt Coit & shall add them to the sales of the Cargo, & shall when compleated forward the Accounts to His Excellency General Washington You are pleasd to ask my opinion Relative to giveing prisoners the cash found in their pocketts ー It really appears to me that there can be no general Rule astablished for this matter ー Circumstances may make that mode of Conduct Proper, which, admitting other Circumstances, wod be very injurious to the public Interest, add to this the uncertainty, whether the cash found in the pocketts of prisoners belongs to themselves or to the Cargoes ー His Excellency can, if he thinks proper Refer matters of this nature to Committees of Inspection, who will be most likely to come at circumstances ー
Capt Coit has had much difficulty, & has been greatly perplexed with an uneasy sett of fellows, who have got sowerd by the severity of the season & arc longing to the Leeks & Onions of Connecticut. He has through his difficultys conducted well, I think no man co'd have managed better. He with Capt Martindal saild this Morning & are now out of sight ー3 It is fine weather & I hope soon to be able in some measure to alleviate His Excellencys anxiety respecting them, by giveing Him some good accounts of their success ー Capt Coit has got some Men from these parts who are pilots & can take charge of any prizes he may take ー The Severe cold weather has very much retarded our geting these Vessels to Sea, but it is a consolation to think that this same severe weather has put back supply from England & that we are as likely to meet with them now as if we had saild a fortnight sooner ー I am Sr [&c.]
