Sir
I am favour'd wth yours 21st July returning fourteen pounds Pennsylva bills found among the money paid you on Accot of the Sea Nymph, others to the Amount shall be put into the hands of Mr Brown
lnclosed is an Accot exhibited by Captain Trimingham for Articles taken by you or by your order out of the Sea Nymph, which I was obliged to pay as the Vessell was order'd to be restored with every Article belonging to Her when taken, those things I suppose were applied to the use of the Sloop Providence, if so fix it that I may receive from the Marine Committee the money for them, If you have kept the Spy Glass, Bookcase or any thing else for your own use order me Payment for them
I shal get an answer from Col: Ross to your Letter as Soon as in my power though I think it probable he may not like to give a decisive opinion in an Affair that is not to Come before him & that must probably be determin'd by another Judge, the only Case that Came before Mr Ross here in wch two Vessells were Concern'd was that of the Lexington Continental Vessell & Chance Privateer & he order'd each a Share in proportion to their force, & the Law & Usuage of Nations will I believe Justify this decision, its a reasonable one, by the Same rule that the Providence Claims to Share Equaly wth the Alfred, a Smack with a few Swivels & a dozen of Men with a Commission might Claim to share Equaly wth the Providence, but perhaps to share Equaly they dont mean more than that both Crews should Share as the Crew of one Vessell, not to have an Equal Share or half of the whole taken If so this will not make a great difference, though its Certainly right each Ship Should first draw their Share before any division is made among the Crew, for though Continental Ships Share alike, Private Ships Share Variously & as there Should be some General rule to Govern in Cases where Vessells Cruize together, no other Can hold but that of alloting each Vessel their share — I shall pay Mr Brown the Carpenters Prize money it is £67.10 — or One hundred & Eighty Dollars — I am Sir [&c.]
