Sir,

You being appointed Master of the Sloop Diamond, fitted out and laded on Account of the Colony of Rhode Island, are hereby orderd to embrace the first good Weather and Opportunity to sail from this Port to Martinique. Upon your Arrival there apply to His Excellency the Governor for Permission to sell your Cargo, and to purchase Gunpowder, small Arms, Lead, Duck, Saltpetre, Sulphur, Twine, and Flints. procure as much Powder as possible; and take Care that your Small Arms be serviceable and good. If you shall have an Opportunity of shipping your Powder from Martinique in a suitable Vessel, either for this Colony, Connecticut or the Massachusetts Bay, you are to do it; and in that Case to employ some Drogers to bring you from Dominica a sufficient Quantity of Sulphur to compleat your Loading. If you cannot procure Powder at Martinique, proceed to Guadaloupe, and there make Application and pursue the Directions above given ー Should you also fail there, proceed with said Sloop to St Eustatius, and there endeavour to procure the above-mentioned Articles, and to conduct yourself as above directed. If you should be unsuccessful at those Places, proceed to Curacoa, and there lay out the Amount of your Cargo in the abovementioned Articles, giving the Preference to Powder, and Small Arms, and not exceeding 100000 Flints. It is hardly possible to suppose you will fail at all those Places, but in such Case you are to proceed to any Place you shall think proper, and take in a Lading of Salt. When you shall have loaded your Vessel you are to return immediately to this Port, or such other in the two neighbouring Colonies as you shall think best. Be careful during your being at Sea, and speak with no Vessel whatever. In general, if any Accident or any unforeseen Contingency should arise, you are to do your best for answering the Expectations of the Colony. ー We wish you a good Voyage and are, Sir, [&c.]

[Endorsed] The above and foregoing is a true Copy of my Orders and which I promise to observe

Samuel Soule