Gentlemen

We did our Selves the honor to Adress you by ours of the 9th Instant, with Regard to Several Particulars Relating to the Continantal Navy in this Department, and to Some matters Relative to our Office, to which We beg leave to Refer you, Since which we have Transmitted to us by the President of the Honabl Congress Several Resolves made by them on the 21st august, directing us to go to Providence for Certain purposes therin mentioned, in Consequence of which we have Ordered the Commanders of the Continantal Ships there, Immediatly to Man and Prepare there Ships for the Sea, & propose to Repair there Ourselves in order to Execute the Orders of Congress, you will Pleas to Consider that this Business Independant of many Other Calls upon us Requires a large Supply of Money & as Soon as Possable, in our last we Informed you that we Supposed we Should be Able to procure here Every thing Necessary for the Navy Except Iron Flour & Lead & wished for your Orders Relative to the Importation of these Articels, Since which having Seen the Commanders of the Ships at Providence, & Others Concerned in the Navy, we find it will be very difficult if not Impossable to man the Fleet in future, unless the Sailors Can be Supplyed with Slops, & we Know of no Possable way of Obtaining them here, a Quantity of Shoes Stockings Shirts Hatts Blankets & Coarse Cloaths have lately been Recd Here from Bilboa on accot of the Continant, as Mr Gerry will be able to Inform you, but they have all been Delivered or Orders Recd for the Delivery of them to the Cloathier Generals Agent Except a few Blankets, yet Remaining in the hands of our Mr Warren to whome they Came Consigned. there are also in his hands a quantity of Salt, which if you think proper you will Pleas to Order into our hands, with a quantity of Duck Cordige & a few Medicines, before they are Otherways disposed of, & Give Directions for Supplying the Navy wjth Slops. (we have also to Inform you that Complaints against Captn M'Neil from his Officers are Repeated to us. he has him Self Asked a Court of Enquiry on his Conduct) you will Pleas to direct us what is the line of Conduct for us Relative to Courts of Enquiry & Courts Martial. we have the Honor to be with Great Respect [&c.]