You are by us the Subscribers on Acct of John Langdon Esqr appointed to Command the Schooner Eagle, now Loaded, Victual'd and man'd fit for the Sea, you are to embrace the first good Opportunity and proceed to the Island of St Lucia, in Order that you may know the full intent and meaning of the Voyage, and the trust reposed in you. We Acquaint you that your Cargo on board is to be Appropriated solely to purchase Powder for the use of the United Colonies, and therefore we Command you Observance of what follows. ー When you arrive at St Lucia, you must enquire if Gun Powder is to be had in Exchange for your Cargo, at that place, if not, you must then procure the best Intelligence you can where it is likely for you to meet with the Article abovementioned, which you must always make the Object of your Attention. You'll observe Vessells loaded with Fish cannot at all times go to the French Islands, without being made French bottoms, which you may do at a small Expence if you find it Necessary ー and think by that means you can Obtain the Article wanted, it is probably some Merchants in St Lucia will take your Cargo & agre to furnish the Powder at some other Island of that you will Judge and act according to the Information you get ー If you find nothing can be done at St Lucia, you will proceed to Martinico, Guadaloup, to any or all the French Spanish or Dutch Islands, and leave no possible means untryed to fulfil the intent and meaning of the Voyage. We would advise you not to part with your Cargo without having Gun Powder in Return, the reason of this Injunction is. We think you present Cargo more likely to command the Article wanted then the same amount in Money, but yet if you are Offer'd a high price in ready money to be dispatch'd immediately we would have you accept the first good Offer and then proceed with the Money on board in search of the Article wanted ー ² We do not restrict you to any prices either for the disposal of your Cargo, or the purchase of Powder &c, but if to be had it must be bought, Let the price be what it may. ー

If after Cruizing over all the Foreign West Indies, and no Gunpowder to be had (which you must be well Assured of) you must then endeavour to purchase what Salt petre and Sulpher you possibly can, in the following proportion, for every Hundred pounds of Salt petre, twenty five pounds of refin'd Sulpher, or those two Articles in the rough but if neither powder, Salt petre, nor Sulpher, is to be had, you must then sell your Cargo, for the most you can for Gold and Silver Money ー and make the best of your Way back to us in New England ー We strictly forbid your takeing on board any Goods Or Merchandise of what kind soever, either on Freight or otherwise ー

If you procure Powder and should put into any safe Harbour in the United Colonies, on your way home you must immediately dispatch an Express to us and detain your Vessell untill you receive our or Mr Langdon's instructions how to proceed ー Excepting the Powder should be demanded of you by proper Authority for Continental use, in that case it must be landed and not risqued any further, this is to be Observ'd if you put into any Harbour to the Eastward of Boston, but if you put into aneySouthern Harbour your Powder &c ー must be landed at all Events, ー and not risqued any further, and you must proceed immediately with your Vessell to Newberyport acquainting us of your proceedings. If you should land your Powder it must be put into the Hands of the Commissary or agents &c for Continental use, you takeing their receipts and forward it to us ー We beg your most Streneous Exertions for Obtaining the needful and making the greatest Dispatch home again ー

You are to be allow'd for Wages during the Voyage, Three pounds L money p month, Five p Cent Commission on the Sale of your Cargo, and Two and a half p Cent on the returns and One shilling L money primage on every barrell of Powder, and so in proportion for Salt petre &c ー and nothing else. ー

We wish you a safe Voyage and Quick return and are your Friends. &c N.B. If you should put into any Harbour to the Eastward of Boston and receive Information of any Men of Warr, or Tenders being near, or any other Danger, you must then land your Powder and se[c]ure it ー without waiting our Answer. ー

[Endorsed]

The preceeding is Copy of my Instructions which I Engage to follow

Epes Greenough

Signal, White pendant at the foretopmast head,