Sir 

I am much indebted to you for your very kind favour of y^e 4^th past¹ with it I rec^d. A letter from y^e Commercial Committee inclosing A Resolve of Congress which assigns y^e Reasons why I was not to pursue my Contract² with them, all I wish'd for was to have it known & believ'd that I did not accept of my present Command³ but with this Proviso that Congress acquiesed in it in conseq^e. of my App^t. here being prior to my contract with them as I allways held myself engag'd to them & shou'd most certainly have exerted my utmost to've executed y^e Contract had they not consented to y^e app^t. here As to y^e Gentleman who Observ'd that had he been in Congress y^e Bargain with me shou'd not have been concluded⁴ must have suppos'd himself to have had very much influence in Congress indeed I lament that those whom I think myself entitled too to look up too as my friends did not Remark to that Gentle^n. the Reason why I was debar'd of going to Europe to perform my other Contract, you know Sir that by y^e fatigues of going from one End of y^e State to y^e other to procure Vessels, Seaman &c^e caus'd A very Alarming Attack of A Complaint that had reduc'd me much several times before & tho I had my baggage &c every thing onb^d. so as to depart in 24 Hours it was pointed out to me as certain Death to go to Sea, but to immedly set of[f] for y^e Northw^d at my leisure by Land Query then which was most for y^e Interest of this Continent, my going to Sea to be thereby totally depriving Congress of getting what was so much wanted or else to send one of my partners who was healthy & equal to y^e business. Answer y^e Latter was, because he compleated what he went for & as to y^e acc^ts not being settled that Gentle^n. will send very weighty Reasons for, in my letter to y^e Commercial Board inclosing them & as your hurry of Affairs may not admit your perusing that letter (which I wish you cou'd) I quote you y^e Reasons I never rec^d. A/ Sales of one of y^e Cargoes as it wou'd not sell in Cadiz (say y^e Indigo) but was reshipd & my partner rec^d. a Credit equal to what was suppos'd it wou'd nett, besides I knew y^e ball^e. wou'd be trifling either way thus I wanted no after acct^s. & had I not been quitting y^e Continent for A while I wou'd wished to've postpond sending any acc^ts. till I had Rec^d. y^e above A/s but I have sent them now & I flatter myself on examining them it will appear that my Contract has been y^e best executed of any made of that kind & most sincerely do I wish that that Gentle^n. as a member of y^e Community in General may find Every contract he knows of or has y^e adjusting of as faithfully compleated as mine thus instead of being Reflected on I thought to have Rec^d. thanks for Risking £45,000 this being of my own property at A time so early that many had hardly determin'd what part to take in y^e American Opposition, but Sir I did it with pleasure & at y^e Repeated Request of 6 Gentlemen of Congress I had y^e pleasure of being acq^d. with & I Glory in saying, y^e Exports was made on y^e best terms practicable from here they all got safe to Europe[,] was Sold to A profit of 36 p C^t. or thereabouts, that one half of y^e Nett proceeds has there laid out on acc^t. of y^e Continent in Powder Arms &c^a. on as good terms & as good in quality as cou'd be procur'd in France & deliv'd to them at first Cost; that ab^t Lv^s 49000—of my Moneys was laid out in same Manner & deliv'd to their order at y^e very Moderate Advance of 131⅓ p C^t. that y^e remaining part of my funds in this Contract was expended to pay for Bills I had accepted to pay in Lisbon or Cadiz & Some foreign debts that my partners saying Americans cannot expect to pay our debts was of any force thus I was compelld to Use A little of my own Moneys, to my own disadvantage without injuring y^e Continent, & above all no part of these adventures either going or coming was taken, Pardon me for troubling you So much to explain this matter to you that you may be able to judge how far I merit Applause or Censure & to Vindicate y^e Character of one who as A Citizen of y^e State you Represent, takes y^e liberty of saying he Claims your protection. y^e Small bal^ce due I've Requird them to order how it is to be paid, I expect to Set of[f] for Europe in 10 days to procure y^e Frigates I am to Direct⁵ which I shall try to keep together to protect this Coast & Trade or Obey any other Orders I may Receive, if there is any thing I can do in France that will give you pleasure permit me to Receive your directions thereon under Cover to Mess^rs. H,L, Chaurand freres Merch^ts. Nantes⁶ will you present my best Respects to your promising & worthy Son⁷ & believe me that I am happy in having y^e Honour to Subscribe myself Your Excellencies Most Obed^t [&c.]