My Dear Brother

I have the Pleasure to inform you that since I wrote to you we have Received a Reinfor[c]ement of 120 Men from Rhode Iland and have also [i]ncreased our fleet with a Sloop of ten Guns and 70 Men and small Schooner of 8 two pounders from Maryland. ² I now muster 109 Men in the Whole, and am in every Respect well equipt. have by great odds the fastest sailing Vessel in the fleet. except a Small Sloop calld the Fly and the Schooner from Maryland with wh[ic]h I have not had a fair tryal. Tis now twelve Oclock & we are now lying at Anchor in Old keel Road at C: Henlopen waiting for wind. tis quite calm and like a Summers day. Fare you well My Dear Brother May the Mercifull God who has upheld Me in all My Dangers and Difficulties Preserve you and Proteckt you from all Evils. May He who has Mercifully led me through the World keep My dear Brothers Cheek from ever being staind with a Blush for Me. I well know the Glorious Cause I am engaged in. And if ever I disgrace it May My Kind father who gave me being instantly Blast me in Mercy to me. I mean not to be deperate beyond measure. But to do my duty to the utmost of My Ability. If in spite of my best endeavoir I should be taken, If Fortune Should frown on me I hope I shall bear up against it with that Fortitude Patience and Resignation which I usually found Myself Posessd of, Which has hitherto been sufficient for my purpose And that they ever will be proportionable to my wants Whilst I am Conscious of having disc[h]arged my duty I cannot doubt. I am thank Heaven in Good health and Spirits. And Never in my Life was better pleased with a trip I was going to take than I am with this.

I beg you to give my Sincere Love to My dear Sister Fanny to My Mother and all the Family and believe me to be Most Affectionately Yours

Feb: the 16th I forgot to tell You that all the Officers and Men of the Fleet have Signd an agreement to Share all Prizes that may be taken in Case of seperation the same as if the Whole fleet were together and concernd in taking Such Prizes. ³ Tis a fine evening and at the turn of the tide I hope to sail To James Biddle Esqre
in Walnut street Philadelphia