Sir

We have received your favours of the 19th, 22nd, 23rd & 24th¹ instant and returning thanks for the Contents we shall reply to them in course.

In answer to yours of the 19^th. we received the Letters Sent down to you for your opinion, and think with you that M^r. Steward² is a very honest Active man, we have wrote him to have the Brigantine chartered by M^r Lux³ Surveyed, and should she be deemed insufficient to perform the voyage, of course the Charter party will be void—we have taken Steps which we hope will prove effectual for procuring materials for the new Brigantine at Baltimore,⁴ and as Cap^t. Thomas Read has taken the command and undertaken the fitting of her out, we expect she will soon be got ready for the Sea. in due Time we shall order M^r Steward to Load her with Tobacco.

We Shall be glad to receive the Account of the Tobacco on hand in Maryland & Virginia 

As you concur in Opinion with us that the Building of Small fast Sailing Vessels for Commercial purposes would be an eligible plan, we wish to have your sentiments, as to the Burthen, Construction Rigging &c of those Vessels, keeping in mind that the principal design is to ship with some degree of safety Tobacco from Cheseapeak Bay. We think they might be built at the Continental Ship yards out of the small Timber that will be left from Ships of war.

Before receipt of yours of the 22nd, M^r Lux had advised the arrival of Cap^t Buffington and his having taken measures for bringing the Goods up to Baltimore—M^r Lewis⁵ being now there he will give directions to have them sent forward. We have given the Board of War an Account of Captain Lambs Cargo, and we think it would be proper in future to furnish that Board with Lists of all articles that may arrive, suitable for the army, and they to communicate the same to the Officers of the different Departments.

We approve of your Selling the Eight casks Indico taken out of the Brigantine Andrea Doria and brought up to Lancaster if you think it best so to do.

To yours of the 23^d. we shall only say that we shall do justice in everything respecting M^r Sargentons Brigantine.

We come to reply to yours of the 24^th. we agree that it is of much Importance to furnish M^r. John Ross with the means of repaying the Money the Commissioners at Paris have advanced, as well as for his own advances and for that purpose we fully approve of your altering the Bills of Loading of Some of the Cargoes of Tobacco now on board Vessels in Maryland and Virginia (formerly consigned to M^r Thomas Morris) and taking new Bills of Loading Consigned to M^r Ross or his order to be disposed of by him and the proceeds applied to the purposes afsd.this we authorize you to do, and as Mr Ross has transacted his business in A Satisfactory manner, you will please to write and Sign a Suitable Letter to him (which we will also Sign) directing him to dispose of those Cargoes &c and should any balance remain in his hands to invest the Same in Goods suitable for the army, and Ship them for the Continent, observing to him also that the Vessels which carry the Tobacco and are chartered to return to the States should bring back salt.

By Express yesterday we had Account of the arrival at Edenton in North Carolina of Two Vessels with 129 Bales of Cloth, Blankets Hose Shoes &c shipped by Mons^r. Currabasse⁶ at Cape Francois; and Captain Morrison from Martinico touched at Edenton and landed 9 Bales of goods Shipped by M^r. Bingham. The Brigantine Success which we ordered round from Boston is also arrived at that port. We can see no better way than to order the purchase of Cargoes of Tobacco for those Vessels even at the high price it now bears, as waiting on that to be transported from Virginia would occasion great delay. We are [&c.]

P.S. Inclosed are the Coppies of A Letter from General Hand⁷ of an Estimate of Provisions of Col^o. Morgan⁸ and of A Letter from M^r Willing.⁹ The originals have been laid before Congress who were Startled at the Expence, which is like to arise on this Voyage or expedition and have postponed the Consideration thereof. As we were not in Congress when the Adventure was undertaken and know nothing about it excepting what appears by the Letters to the Governor of New Orleans & Louisiana,¹⁰ to our Agent¹¹ there and the Instructions given to M^r Willing and are no Judges respecting Col^o Morgans estimate of the Provisions we should be glad to have your Sentiments on this matter as soon as possible.

We hope you will be able to compleat the Books of the Secret Committee in a Short Time so that they and the papers may be laid before Congress, and a Commercial Committee appointed upon the Plan proposed by you or one Similar to it, for we are fully convinced from the little we have seen that such A plan is necessary and that we are unequal to the Important business Committed to our charge.

William Ellery
James Forbes