Sir

In answer to yours of the 5^th. We wish Some Suitable person might be directed to Examine and receive the Iron of Mess^rs. Potter¹ and Sands,² least they should mix some of Inferior quality, or make some Mistake in the weight. it is also necessary that the Anchors of the Syrene³ should be sent round to Norwich, and the board should know the Weight of them as soon as possible in order to Settle with Mr Babcock.⁴ The Blunderbusses you mention are very much wanted for the Navy. We shall be Glad to have them forwarded to this place. the other Articles we want much, however if they are delivered to General Sullivan,⁵ we will say no more about them. As to the Cannon, we had rather wait Untill we hear again from Maj^r Huntington⁶ than to Engage them immediatly of the Browns⁷ at their Extravagant price. 

Cap^t. Manley⁸ is now on Tryall at a Court Martial. Thursday⁹ is appointed for the determination of this Court. Capt^t. M^cNeills¹⁰ comes on Friday next.¹¹ he Conducts in the present Similar to what he did in the former Court of Enquiry,¹² which is to Create as much Charge and perplexity as possible. Cap^t. Thomson's¹³ Tryall comes on immediatly after M^cNeills and after him H Harkers¹⁴ Court of Enquiry concerning the loss of the Columbus.¹⁵ M^r Brown¹⁶ is appointed 1^t Lieu^t of the Warren. Cap^t Hopkins¹⁷ has about 140 men and will be ready to Sail in ten days, if Manned. The Raleigh is Cleaned, Waits the Appointment of a Commander from Congress or the Marine Com^tee. at Yorktown, this board not being Impowered to Appoint one. The Dean¹⁸ wants many repairs. The Carpenters are at work on her and the Resistance, who wants repairs also. the Queen of France¹⁹ lyes by the Walls waiting orders from Congress. on last Saturday received a Supply of Cash from the Marine board Yorktown²⁰ 50,000 dollars, which sum we stood in much need of. We send Col^o. Tillinghast²¹ by this Conveyance five thousand dollars for the purpose of paying the debts you mention in your former, and also to Enable him to pay of[f] the officers and Seamen belonging to the Providence²² their prize money, he having made use of their prize money in order to dispatch the Providence.²³ We wish we could send you news of the Safe arrival of the Boston in France, but it is not in our power. Your dispatches²⁴ shall be carefully forwarded by the first Opportunity which will be to morrow if the wind suits. 

We can assure you the Small pox is almost Clear of the Town, and you may now come to Boston with but very little risque of getting that distemper. we shall be exceeding glad to see you at the board, where your advice and assistance is very necessary at this Juncture. We are with much esteem [&c.]

P.S. please to give orders to Lieu^t Knese²⁵ to repair to Bedford²⁶ immediately and act as Second Lieu^t. on board Sloop Providence J P Rathburn Com^r. and if any Lieu^t. of Marine is with you please to give the like orders and let us know forthwith.