War Office Boston July. 5th. 1778.
We have your Letter Pr: Mr. Horton1 & are much pleasd with your safe arrival2 Capt: Merritt who brings us the Letter from Marblehead Mr: Horton being unwell informd us your Topmasts are bad, should that be the case & you think it unsafe to come out with them you are to get new ones, and should you want men, you must procure them there upon the best terms you can & proceed with the first favourable oppertunity but at the same time with every possible precaution, to Boston, should you want Money you may apply to Mr: Frost3 or any other Gentleman in Falmouth, your Bills for which shall be punctually paid.—We are with regard [&c.]
John Browne Prest. P.T. Pr Order
LB, M-Ar, Mass. Archives Collection, vol. 151 (Letters from the Board of War, 1776–1780), p. 187. Addressed at top: “Capt. Harris.”
1. Mate of snow Penet.
2. Massachusetts State trading snow Penet. See Captain John Harris to Samuel Phillips Savage, President of Massachusetts Board of War, 2 July, above.
3. William Frost.