[Extract]
Honble Sirs—

Captain Hinman of the Alfred informed me some time ago he had receiv'd orders from the Honble Board to go out on a Cruise & to return here or to some near port to receive your orders which shou'd be left me the Alfred has been ready to Sail about a week only the Captain being disapointed in manning his Ship — the time being so nearly elaps'd he thought best to remain in port till this time & by desire of Coll Whipple who arriv'd here two days ago, I mention this, Lest your orders may have mis­ carried on the Road & he be detain'd here waiting for them — I wrote the Honble Board under the 22d May & 19th June hinting that the marine Service must suffer if I had not a Supply of money . . .

We have no advice from the frigates² since my last, but the General Miffiin has sent a prize into an eastern port, with thirty five Teirces peruvian Bark, Salt, Raisins, Sherry, &c a valuable prize, the fifty Gun Ship&two frigates continue in our Bay and almost dayly appear in sight of our harbour, that the Risque is great, and the Chance much against the prizes getting in . . . I beg leave again to mention the difficulty I am under relative to the distribution of Shares Among the Schooners people who engaged in the service under his Excellency General Washington On different terms from the mode the Honble Congress has Apportionedtheir shares, it will be agreeable to the men to let the Captains have their two twentieths, but as there is but few Officers Among them, if those they have, shou'd share the whole of what is assign'd for the whole Class & only two Officers of that Class they will share four men's shares the men are very unwilling to give up that point — the Schooner Lee will Sail on a Cruise in a few days . . .