Dear Sir

I received yours of the 16^th. and 18^th Yesterday morning¹ by which I learn the Columbus's² Guns are Improved by General Sullivan.³ these we depended on for the Alliances quarter deck and Forecastle. I am not Certain of being able to procure others but if they are wanted at Providence will Try. I perceive the Result of your Conference is to procure one Vessell. I hope you will be able to get a suitable one with regard to Officers. I think no new Officers should be appointed while we have so many out of Actual Service. Lieutenants Appear to me quite Sufficient. M^r Deville⁴ is somewhere near Providence if not there and I can send you one or two more if wanted. M Knees⁵ has been here but has exhibited no Accounts tho' I spoke to him on the Subject of those Stores. I will consider the Accounts you inclosed as soon as I have leisure. I am Extreemly Crouded and hurryed and want some help very much. I have just dispatched a Vessell to Newbury with all the Stores necessary to bring up the New Ship.⁶ she is to come out the first Wind after Monday. the Warren⁷ sails to day to carry her to the Entrance of this harbour and then to proceed to Join the French Squadron at New York as are the other Ships to do as soon as they can be got ready. I have purchased another Packett for France. she will sail in two or three days. You may easily conceive my hands are full. Cap^t. Deshon⁸ promised to return if you did not but I don't find he will soon. M^r Langdon⁹ is to be here tomorrow with all his accounts but I can do Nothing with them in this State of things. 

with regard to Provisions all the Ships here are furnished with Fresh Beef at 1/4 or 1/6 per lb which is the lowest rate it can be procured at and that dear as it is we Esteem Cheaper than Salt and necessary if it was not. 

We are at present wholly destitute of money, have Stop'd the payment of Bills for some time and have had no other resource for Sometime but to Cap^t Bradfords¹⁰ assistance to Enable us to pay the Bounty to Seamen. 

The patterns for the Guns and everything relating to them has been under the direction of M^r Brown¹¹ who has been here Sometime. if anything is deficient he must take it to himself. all possible Expedition must be used in Casting and forwarding them down. you will direct the proof of them which was to be Sufficiently done and I think with a double Charge of powder well ram’d and two Balls. please to Inform Cap^t Deshon of my Situation and urge his return. if you have any Letters for your son¹² that you would wish to go in the Packett you must forward them without delay. perhaps it will be best to say nothing of the Warrens Intention to join the French Squadron. I am S^r. in haste [&c.] 

[P. S.] One of the Scooners sent after flouer was drove on Shore near the delaware and lost.¹³ The Loyalty¹⁴ is drove on Shore on the Vineyard with a load of Flour. hope to save her and Cargoe. another Scooner to Sail in 3 days after her is not yet arrived. I therefore Suppose she is lost.¹⁵ The Ships Man Slowly. can no men be sent from Providence on this Occasion. I must dispatch 1 or 2 Vessells more after Flour immediatly. 

We are allowed to appoint a Paymaster in this department to pay off the Ships rolls. I have mentioned it to M' Henderson. if you and M^r Deshon Approve of it I believe he will take it. 

M^r Storys¹⁶ kind regards to M^r Vernon and wishes he would come to Town.