Gentlemen

We have been favoured with yours of the 25^th. ultimo 2^d & 8th Current which we have considered &c as we wrote to you fully by Captain Barry and other late conveyances we shall now only reply to such parts of your Letters as have not been determined on.¹ So soon as will be convenient we wish to be furnished with the accounts of your transactions. We agree that you shall appoint a Naval Paymaster for your Department and hope you will be able to get some proper person for that purpose. It is an office of much importance and should be filled by a man of integrity and capacity who will keep Regular and fair Books of accounts with all persons belonging to the Vessels of war within your department and pay them their wages as it may become due taking care always to keep a months pay in hand from the seamen until their time of entering is expired. Congress has not yet fixed A Salary for the Paymaster—when they do we presume it will be adequate to the importance of the Office. Before this you will know that we have appointed Captain Barry to the Raleigh & as he is an active good Officer, we have strong hopes she will shortly be manned.²

Exclusive of the Vessels you have provided to carry dispatches to France, the sloop Providence will also be wanted for that purpose, and we request you will get her ready as soon as in your power.³ The Committee for foreign affairs will send off their dispatches to go by her in a day or two.—⁴

We have only to repeat our former request that you will use your utmost endeavours to get our Vessels fitted for Sea and sent out together as Speedily as possible. We hope the news of the Bostons Safe arrival in france may be true and congratulate you on the Enemys having been obliged to evacuate Philadelphia.⁵ We are Gentlemen [&c.]

P:S: we have Received a Petition Signed by Stephen Hill, Simon Gross, Joseph Adams, Adam Thaxter, Esek Hopkins & John Deamon—⁶ should they not be wanted in their Stations on board any of the Continental Vessels—we have agreed that they shall be at liberty to make a voyage in Private service their pay to cease during that time, which you will please to inform them.—