Sir

I am commanded by his Excellency to inform you that he received your favors of the 1 & 3 Instant, & that your activity & conduct merit his approbation He is much Obligd to the people who have afforded their assistance in securg this valuable Prize & for the alertness thev'e discov[ered] & zeal for the service of their Country ー You will be pleased to spare the Committee a few of the cannon shot taking a Receipt for the same & mentioning the fact that they may be repaid when they get theirs ー As to the Cannon his Excellency is exceedingly sorry, that the want of them here is so great, that he cannot spare them or he willingly would ー

His Excellency thinks that the Ship Concord & Cargo[e] should be a prize, as the Enemy every day are Seizing our Vessels; But conceiving himself not authorized to judg[e] a Vessel coming from Britain here with Goods for a Company or House in Boston, a lawful Capture, he thinks it expedient to send to Congress for their determination, for which purpose an Express will go tomorrow morning with such Letters & papers as may be necessary for 'em to determine upon. If this Vessel can be run up into some secure place where the Enemy cannot get her again, the Goods may & should be kept on board, under a proper Guard to prevent Embezzlemt &c ー But if this cannot be done & there will be danger of the Enemy's recovering the ship & Cargoe, the Goods must be landed, the Bill of Lading is sent for that purpose, which will do as well as the Invoice ー there are several small parcells on board for which there are no Invoices  I am &c

PS. the Committee may keep the 2.4 pound[ers] you spared them till called for, Take their Receipt