Gentlemen

Your Several Letters lately received have not been considered because of the obstructions created by a removal of Congress from York Town to this place where as yet the committee have not been able to get themselves properly fixed for business.—The sense entertained of the increasing importance of your Department will secure a close attention to it from this Committee and every care shall be taken to furnish you with the money requisite for the proper Accomplishment of the ends proposed by your appointment. The immediate design of this Letter is to inform you of the arrival on the Coast near the Capes of Delaware of a french squadron consisting of 12 ships of the Line and four frigates under the command of the Count D Estaing Vice Admiral of France who is proceeding immediately to New York there to act in conjunction with the Army of the United States for destroying the fleet &c army of the common enemy in that Harbour. Congress being determine to give every possible aid to the execution of so Salutary a purpose has directed us to order all the Continental frigates and armed Vessels within your Department to be immediately made ready for Sea and dispatched one after An Other as soon as each can be prepared, to join the Squadron of france and to act in such manner as the Count DEstaing shall judge most proper for distressing and destroying the enemys force upon the coast of North America. Congress trust to the bravery and good disposition of the American Seamen that they will on the great occasion step forth with alacrity and exert themselves in Supporting our freinds who have come so far to assist us to vanquish an enemy too long triumphant upon the Sea. The expence attending this business no doubt will be considerable, altho we are well assured your Œconomical wisdom will lead you to abridge it as far as may be possible. We shall without delay forward you as large A Sum of Money as can now be spared, and in the mean time desire you will on the credit of the States push the business forward with all possible vigor. 

We are to observe to you that the french fleet is more than fully manned, so that some small aid in way of seamen may be expected, and we mention this that you may not wait for the most compleat manning of every Vessel altho we wish you to procure as many Seamen as you can consistant with the great object we have in view viz a speedy junction of our force with that of france. We are Gentlemen [&c.]