My dear and honored Sir,

Inclosed you have sundry letters &c which you are at liberty to use at discretion — for I can unbosom myself to you with the utmost Confidence, — you have laid me under the most singular Obligations, & you are indeed the Angel of my Happiness; since to your Friendship I owe my present enjoyments, as well as my future prospects. — I will not attempt to thank you by letter, but endeavour to prove by my conduct that your Friendship and good Opinion is not misplaced. —

I do not at present expect an Alteration to take place in the line of Rank, — but I will hope for a separate Command, whereby I may be enabled to distinguish myself in the Service: — for I should esteem it a greater disgrace, and a worse hardship, to be set under the command of any Man who was not in the Navy, as early as Myself, than to be fairly broke and expelled the Service — especially as the Men I speak of cannot plead superior knowledge, or superiour services; — and many of them with whom I have conversed McNeill among the rest, have had candour enough to Acknowledge; that they did not expect to come into the Service in any other Capacity than as Junior Officers. — I aver that many of them durst not step forth as the beginning in such Ships as the Alfred then was, and at a time when Independance had not even been mentioned out of doors. — I know what misfortune is, and I dare meet it again, in it's most frightful aspect rather than loose my rank, — there are characters, among the thirteen in the list, who are truely contemptible — with such, as a private Gentleman, I would disdain to sit down — I would disdain to be Acquainted. — I am no Prophet — but an Alteration in the Navy rank will take place at a period not far distant; Justice will point out the Necessity of that alteration. — should it not take place will it not leave room for reflection? — and how will any Gentle­man now in the Service be assured that he will not also be superseded by Men of presumptive Abilities? — l am very far from meaning to reflect on the Gentlemen who drew that line of Rank. — I am persuaded that it was done with intentional Impartiality; — but they have been misled by misrepresentation; and their not being long conversant in Navy matters laid them open to imposition. — I esteem several of the thirteen Captains by whom I am at present superseded — but, untill they give proof of their Superiour Abilities, I never shall Acknowledge them as my Senior Officers — I never will act under their command.

I inclose a Copy of my Jetter to the Marine Committee on the subject of Rank, when I supposed myself superseded by one Man; — and I am by no means inclined to retract my Sentiments now,· that I find myself superseded by a number, — if I have deserved this I am unworthy of bearing a Commission! I am unworthy of drawing my Sword in the Cause of Freedom! — I am uncertain whither Mr Morris did or did not think it expedient to lay that letter before the Committee — perhaps he did not. — I would not make a difficulty about triffles, but this is no triffle to me. — I have last Winter paid off the Sloop Providence, and Ship Alfred from the beginning, and from the date of my first Commission untill now, I have received no more public Money, as an individual, than the Fifty pounds which was Ordered by the Committee this time twelve month to provide Cabin Stores at Philadelphia, and I have now no prospect of a Settlement.

In the term of Twelve weeks, including the time of fitting out the Alfred at Rhode Island; I took twenty four Prizes — among which was only one Sloop — and I have received little more than three thousand dollars, as my share of Prize money; yet these and a thousand other disagreeable circumstances I consider as triffles, — but to be superseded after all is insupportable! —

The Ranger's top sails will be bent tomorrow, — and I hope to over­ come all the difficulty that subsisted, when I took this command and to have the Ranger at Sea much sooner than any other Ship in the Service hath yet been. — I may venture to affirm that there is not one of the thirteen persons in question who would in my situation proceed to Sea without a Settlement. — yet I will go.

I am deeply sensible of the many distinctions and preferences, which I have lately experienced from Congress, as well as from the Marine and Secret Committees. — I am incapable of Ingratitude, and ardently wish to be employed in such enterprizing services, as will convince them that I have not deserved their former Neglect.

I now understand that the Raleigh and Alfred are, by the Advice of Genl Whipple & Colo Langdon, destined for France in Order to provide the Raleigh with Stores, altho' she is now laden as deep as a Merchant Ship; — I mention this as their is a probability of our Junction there, and I am pre­determined not to serve under that dull inactive Genius, who would serve with more reputation in a dockyard than as a Commander in the Navy. — there are Frigates now building and lately built in France, that mount Thirty two Guns on one deck, — I wish for the Command of one of these Ships — and indeed, for the present, we ought to build Ships of no other Construction — they sail exceedingly fast, and are capable of carrying Eighteen Pounders.

Please to put the complaint against Captain Manley into the hands of General Warren. —

It will give me much pleasure to hear from you before you leave Boston — and I request your's and Mr Livingston's free Sentiments and advice on this letter. — I have the greatest respect for his Father and for Colo R H Lee, and should be happy in coresponding with them. — Please to inform me to whom you communicate the paper which I shewed you in Philadelphia, — and whither you think it prudent in me to shew it to any person this way. — You will soon hear of my distination, — I can write you to Philadelphia before I sail, I will hope to hear from you in France should I proceed there. —

I have many things to say on Navy matters, — but must at Present conclude with repeating what I have frequently advanced — I mean that short inlistments are incompatible with the Necessary Subordination of a Navy, — therefore I aver that the Seamen of these States ought to be registered and made Subject to Serve in their turns for three Years at one time. — I have the Honor to be with much respect and perfect Esteem [&c.]