Sir

We have Just now your Favour by Mr [Louis Daniel] Charrier your Memdn is now Compleating & will be finished with all posable Dispatch, so that you may have no Delay in going to Sea according to your Wishes. we have had so many affairs to attend to in our first Entering on Business & find many things in the Navy Department in Such A Confused State, that we have not been able to Come to any determination on the form & manner wherein accounts are to be Exhibited nor Can we Say whether there be a propriety in there being presented by your Attorney. but at Present we See no Objections to it, if the accounts are properly Attested and well Vouched, it Certainly Canot be Material who they are presented by when the[y] are Presented.

you may be assured of a proper attention to & Impartial Examination & Settlement of them.

we are not able to Say whether Commissions are to be Charged or whether there have been any Instances of that Kind, but from what we have yet heard, it has not been a Custom. the Complaint of Mr [Joseph] Dobel will be attended to in Proper Season so far as Comes within our Department. we wish you an Agreable Cruise & are your Humbl Servants

John Paul Jones Esq Commander of the Ship Ranger Portsmouth