Honbl Gentlemen

I have the honour to acquaint you with the Arrival of y^e Brig Thomas¹ & Ship Jenny2 design’d for Quebec from Dominica the Contents of their Cargoes as Schedule annex’d sent in by the Gen^l. Gates³ Cap^t. Skimmer & the Hawk Privateer⁴ mounting 10 4^lb Cannon having 73 Men—I make no Doubt these Prizes will be soon follow’d by some others if not, I know it will not be owing to Defect of Vigilance in Skimmer.⁵ I beg leave to acquaint the honbl Board that the navy Board⁶ have furnish’d Me with a Paragraph of a Letter from you ordering Me to pay into your⁷ Hands the Monies I have or may receive on public Acc^t. as they have been much press’d for Monies, I have for some Months past supply’d them so far as I was able & with the Money that may arise on the Sale of those prizes I trust we shall be enabled to keep the Wheels moving. no Doubt ‘ere this Mr Trivett⁸ has been at York Town.⁹ I can’t help thinking his Conduct amounts even to Phrenzy, for his in addition to his former Behaviour, he, without consulting either his Constituents, M^r Jarvis¹⁰ or Myself, has advertiz’d the Sails, Guns, Riggings &c to be sold at public Auction.¹¹ Cap^t. Rathbourn¹² is much afraid of being blamed by Congress, but he assures Me on his honour, it was contrary to his Advice that Trivet went forward, & would not join him in appealing, it’s very unhappy when Men of such a Cast happen to be employ’d in Agency affairs, as they give more Trouble & Perplexity than can be imagined—I congratulate you most heartily on the Enemy’s Evacuation of philadelphia. I trust ‘ere long the worthy Citizens of New York will also be able to return to that City Yours &c

I have inclos’d a Draf^t. in fav^r. of y^e honbl marine Board¹⁴ for £8895..7..7 for Goods supplied the D Clothiers here out of Prize Goods for which you will please to give my Acc^t. Credit