Sir

On His Majestys Service

It's near a month since I committed to the care of Mr Lewis two Setts of Vouchers for Sundry Provisions delivered His Majestys Ship Rose under your command requesting him to wait upon you for signing them ー whether these vouchers have been Presented you Mr Lewis can say ー I am now near 2500 Dollars in Advance for the Contract, the Weekly Demand of Fresh Beef is Increased to near Seventy Dollars which money I am obliged to pay Weekly ー for the want of these Vouchers to close my Accounts ー consequently unable to Draw bills. I am therefore Destitute of the Means to Raise money to pay the Demands of the Contract having exhausted what coud otherways commd was reduced to the necessity of Borrg. this day to furnish the Butcher for Procureing Fresh Beef ー a Vessell for England in a few days affords me opertunity to Transmit my accts. 81 draw bills to raise Money which is out of my Power to do unless I have those Vouchers to Support my Accounts ー If this oppertunity is omitted ー it will render it Difficult for me to negotiate bills ー as it is already become so ー thus I have laid before you the Difficulty I labour under & must earnestly Intreat of you ー in Behalf of the Contractors as well as myself you'll please to Sign the Vouchers ー & cause Mr Lewis to convey them to me, that I may be enabled to pay of[f] the Demands of the Contract. I am with much respectー

Sr. [&c.]

Newport August 14th. 1775