At A Meeting of the Proprietors of Ship General Sullivan¹ July 15^th 1778—Present—Joshua Wentworth Chair^n. George Wentworth, Moses Woodward, Benⁿ Austin, for himself & Keith Spence, Eliph^t Ladd—Nath^l Folsom—

The under written Instructions Drawn up by the Agents for Cap^t. Dalling be Rec^d— 

Cap^t. Dalling 

You are hereby Appointed to the Command of the Private Ship of War, called the General Sullivan, And being every way and Manner Equipt for the sea; you are to Embrace the first favourable opertunity to sail; &c proceede on a Cruise against the Enemies of America, We wou'd Recommend that you proceed to the Banks of Newfoundland & Cruse from thence to the Western Islands,² for y^e Space of two Months, from the time you sail from here, your takeing this Rout, we apprehend, will throw you, in the way of the West india trade, and every part of America, where the English have any Footing—Also those from America, bound to Europe, If you should not be Able to make up your Cruse at y^e Expiration of that time And you think it Adviseable, And practicable, to make a Disent upon Any harbor of Newfoundland, we Advise you to do it As its Possible Many Vessells may be Loaded and Ready to sail for Europe, as it's the season of the Year, usually they Sail. Should Your Ship sail Equal to your Expectations you may procede (after the Above time) as Far to the Eastward, as to Open the Brittish Channell, or on the Coast of Ireland; Whatever Prizes you take we think it for the Interest of the Concern'd that they shou'd be Ordered to this Port, if Possible, with Safety, Otherwise, to the Nearest port on the Continent, giving directions to your Prize Master, on his Arrival, to Dispatch one of his People (if he can spare one) with Intelligence to the Agents, If you shoud fortunately capture any Vessell with Any Valuable goods onboard, we think it Adviseable to take onboard your own ship, shuch Articles, as you can Conveniently move with safety; The Cruise we have Recommended, And the Provision made for your ship will we Apprehend, Bring about the time of Four Months your Intended Cruise—Should You be under the Necessity to send a Prize to France, the Prize Master must Value himself, on some Gentleman of known Integrity, for supplys shou'd he want Any, in order to proceede to America, And to Obtain Leave, to pay for the same, out of the Cargo, And if its for the Interest of the Concerned, to dispose of Vessell and Cargo; in that case we would Recommend M^r Jonathan Williams, of Nants, M^r Sam^l. J. H. Delap of Bourdeaux & M^r. John Emery of Bilboa or Either of those Gentlemen that shou'd be Nearest to the Port, he m[ay] Arrive at, to take Vessell And Cargo, into their hands, And Dispose off for the Interest of the Concerned, Upon the whole, we Leave Notwithstanding, what is before said, the Management of the Cruise to your own prudence and Discretion, as its Impossible to Know, how Circumstances may turn up, not Doubting your Fidelity & honour in Consulting Every Measure, that may Contribute to the Interest of the Concern'd, We Earnestly Recommend and Enjoin you to pay due Respects to the Laws of Nations, not suffering any Insult, or plunder by your People, when Boarding Vessells at sea, that is in Amity with these States, which is a Practice greatly Complained off, In full Confidence of your Abilities And Integrity, we Rest Intyrely satisffyed that nothing but Fortune, will be wanting to make the Cruise an Object of Envy, by Order, And in behalf of the Owners, we are after wishing you Every thing—Your Sincere Friends &^c. 

George Wentworth		Agents
Nathl Folsom

Portsmouth [New Hampshire] July 15^th 1778—

P.S. In Order that we may Render Assistance to Any Vessells you shou'd take, when they Appear off this harbor, you'l give directions to the Prize Master to hoist to their Mizen topmast head, a French Jack, If a snow a French Jack to the Derick If a Boom sail Vessell, a French Jack to the End of the Main Gaff, If they shou'd not have any thing white for a Jack, An English Jack will Answer, as we shall be prepared for an Event of the kind, to Render Any Aid that may be Nessesary—

Thomas Dalling