Dear Sir
I have seen letters from Capt McNeil to the Marine Committee wherein he blames Manly for some part of his Conduct, it was a great pity they did not push into some port with their Prize where the whole might have been manned & gone out fresh again. They wou'd have formed a Stout little squadron. however as that will not be we must attend to what is in our power & if Thompson, Hinman Jones & McNeill are not gone they will now receive orders to cross the Ocean, this point I carried yesterday in Committee & the orders will be sent immediately —
I am much engaged in winding up the Accounts of the Secret Committee & it will be a Herculean labour & in order to do it compleatly I moved for a New Committee which was appointed & is Stiled the Commercial Committee who are to carry on the business in future they have chosen me Chair Man but I am very averse to engageing deeply in this New business untill the old is closed, & indeed I now wish to be relieved from public business totally, I have had a long spell, my own affairs suffering amazingly the whole time & having no Ambition to gratify I wish to Resign any honours & powers to somebody that may be better pleased with them but Wether I shall be permitted to retire or not I dont yet know, but the meeting of our Assembly is at hand & I hope they will leave me out of the new appointments. The Commercial Committee agreed at their last meeting that it was better to lay by awhile as the Enemies Cruizers are too numerous on our Coasts for any thing to escape in the Summer Months, but I suppose they will Commence some operations soon as hard Winds begin to blow. I shall want a Vessell or two to load in Carolina or Georgia & wish you had told me the prices or terms of Charter. if you meet with any very good bargains of a Vessell I wou'd either be Concerned with you or wou'd wish a purchase on any Account for which you may draw on me with assurance that your bills shall be punctually paid, & you may dispatch her for Charles Town South Carolina Consigned to Mr John Dorsius writing him to Load her with Rice for Havre de Grace Consd to Mr Andw Limozin, or if she cannot get into Charles Town she may go to Savannah in Georgia & apply to John Wereat Esqr You may direct your letter to both those Gentn & they will comply with your orders as they have Funds of mine in hand You may direct the Captain to go North about Scotland & keep well in with the Dutch & French Coast coming down to Havre, he must Return to America with Salt
Genl Howe is preparing to disturb us but we hope to disapoint him, the Militia turn out with Spirit, they want arms but still we shall be able to Cope with him, Genl Washington is taking possession of the Strong grounds whilst the Militia & a Body of light Troops harass the Enemy. I am Dr sir [&c.]
