Dear sir
Yesterday we made a Convention. I have the pleasure to inform you it will be a full one in a day or two. They have such a Spirit as will maintain the reputation of the Colony and the Common Union. When Mr [Silas] Deane was here in the Course of the winter, on the business of the Navey; I suggested to him the Propriety of geting a Copy of Lieut O Brien's Naval evolutions, to be reprinted. He approved of it, but I could not then obtain a Copy. I have Since procurd one and Sent it this morning by Col [Lewis] Morris to Congress which I beg them to accept. As this is the only tract on this Subject, in our language, and but one other Copy of it in this City, I think it Should be reprinted at Public expence. If this Should be the opinion of Congress, great care ought to be observed in the work. The Copy Should be corrected, by the Errata before its begun, for if the work is not clear, as those for whose use it is designed are not the most intelligent, the end of the republication will not be answered. From the diminssion transmitted to Newyork for the building the Ships in our Colony, I fear the Construction of them will be improper for the force designated for them. All the modern Frigates English as well as French, which carry Nine or Twelve Pounders, have their Ports Seven feet distant in the Clear from sill to sill of the Ports, and each Port from 2 feet to 2 feet three inches clear, and the Bow gun Stand in its proper Place not farther forward than the Scarf that is not over the Strait part of the Keel. And the aftermost Gun, is generally the distance of one port, from the Scag, that is from the aftermost part of Keel. From whence it will necessarily Follow, that the whole length of the Keel Should be equally to the dimensions of the Ports and their distance for the Number of the Guns a ship is intended to Carry on the Lower Deck. This will be Clearly understod by the ruff Diagram, on the other side. My Solicitude for the reputation of the united Colonies, is the motive that induced me to make this hasty address in Convention, which I hope will plead my excuse. I am with great truth and regard [&c.]