Gentlemen

I advised the 8th June that the Frigate Randolph was brought down from the Ship-yard after which she was twice Struck with Lightning & her Mainmast Shattered each time in such manner as to Require a New one, a Conductor is since fixed to the Mainmast, these Accidents together with the backwardness of Seamen entering onbd has caused the detention of this Ship in Port She is well fitted now & Several Privateers havg just arrived a Number of Men entered out of them so as to make up about Two hundred exclusive of Officers, the adva they engaged for is

Twenty Dollars p Man Bounty

Ten Dollars p do I agreed to Adva in part of Prize Money that may become due on the Cruize and

Twenty Dollars Bounty offered by this State

Capt Biddle has been onboard for ten days past & dropped down into Re­bellion Road in order to embrace the first fair Wind & proceed on a Cruize I have procured Shipping to make Remittances to Mr S. Ceronio at Cape Francois, therefore don't stand in need of the Randolph for that pur­pose, & Capt Biddle observing the frequent Visits the Enemy make on our Coast, & take prizes so as to injure trade much, intends to stay on this Coast between this & St Augustine which I hope will meet your approbation, as Trade is carried on to a great extent here, when no interruption from Cruizers & the other States benefit by it Capt Stevens in the Continental Schooner Lewis arrived here the 10th June from Martinique with 20 Chests of small Arms, he was Confined by Sickness for sometime after his arrival & his Vessell laid up, he is Recovered. I have bought the Brigt Chance a fine Bermudas built Vessell for £I5,000 & given the Command to him, she is to mount 8 three Pounders, Six of which I bought with the Vessell & two are taken out of the Schooner Lewis, she will carry about 350 barrells of Rice & is very suitable to Run between this & Cape Francois, as soon as she is hove down & Caulked I shall load her with Rice, Tobacco & Indico to address of Mr Ceronio for Accot of the United States, the Com[missio]n Capt Stevens had in the Schooner will answer I think if endorsed by our President on the back that the Command is given him in the Brigt but shall be glad if you'l please to send a New. One for to be delivered on his Re­turn The Schooner Lewis I have loaded with Salt by Permission from the President on Accot of the United States for No Carolina, she sailed this Morning, in order to get Tobacco in Return which will answer better than any other trade for so small a Vessell if she can be kept constantly in it, Tobacco is an Article much wanted for the Vessells I load on Contl Accot 'to make their Cargoes of greater Value than what can be done with Rice — I shall soon transmit the Randolphs Accots & am [&c.]