Gentlemen

Our worthy Friend Colo Lee, by Desire of the Committee of Supplies for the Colony, wrote to You before his Decease for a Quantity of Ammunition & some Arms; & in Consequence of Your Letter to him,² We send You the Rockingham Capt Johnson wth £1000 Sterg in Cash, & six Hundred & fifty pounds Bills of Exche on your House to be invested in good pistol & Cannon powder ー half each.ー

The War between G Britain & the Colonies is begun, & when it will end no Man can tell; a large Army of Our Forces are now entrenched within one Mile of Boston, two Battles have been already fought in which the ministerial Troops were well repulsed & the other Time were much worsted, & all America is in Arms; so that there is Reason to think the Article will be much in Demandー

The Ministry in Britain have been endeavouring to keep a Supply of powder from the Colonies, well knowing that they cannot enslave them by any other Means; but they must necessarily fail in their project unless all the powers in Europe are engaged in the same infamous plot, which We know cannot be the Caseー

The Friendship of foreign Factors in this Matter cannot fail of making them respectable & securing to themselves the Interest of these Colonies; And We shall be glad of your utmost Exertions to dispatch this Vessel, & Information how fully You can supply Us with Military Stores of every kind in future

We suppose that no Ammunition can at present be procured in Spain, but doubtless It may be obtained from France Holland Denmark Sweden or some of the northern Kingdoms either by Land or Sea, in Spanish Bottoms, notwithstanding some Objections at present appear to have taken place, against a direct Importation of the same by our own Vessels from some of those Kingdomsー

We place great Confidence in your Endeavours to cause this Interest to be invested as before mentioned & shall not only apply for all the military Stores which You think can be transmitted thro your negotiation, but also chearfully allow such a Compensation for your Services as You shall think reasonable being Gentlemen very respectfully [&c.]