Sir

Your much Esteem'd favour of the 8th Inst I recd but four days Since it having pass'd me on the Road to Newbury when I was on my return from thence here, It gave me great pleasure to see the Signature of a Gentleman with whome I had the pleasure of a former Acquaintance, and one who is filling so important a Station in the Grand Council of the Grand Empire now in Embrio ー

The day I Recd yr Ltr. I set out for Beverly where I fix'd on Just such a Brig as you describ'd, sent in by Manly some time Since.² She's not a year off the Stocks and Said to be the fleetest Sailing vessell in America. twas with some little ー difficulty I perswaded Gen Ward to order the Agent to d[e]l[ive]r her to me, I am now providing every small Sail that is needfull, and shall see she wants nothing

I have Also Agreed with a Master who is so Recommended by the Salem Gentlemen that he Appears to have every Qualification you required a master of that vessel to have, if his face is an Index to his mind he must be a fine fellow, he is thoroughly acquainted with the bay of Biscay, he is so highly recommended that I've agreed to give him the like wages that the Capts of the Arm'd vessells have,³ I have purchased abot 24 Tuns Sperm Oil at £ 40 1235 lb Whale Bone at 4/. 400 lb Bees Wax at 2/ to 2/3½  that article is high but could not get it under, about 90 quintalls of fish for the Bilboa market, the Depy Commissary tells me, had he liberty he could furnish a Cargo or two of that Sort of fish out of 8 or 10,000 Quintalls now under his Care, I have sent to plimouth in quest of Fish, and to Attleborough after pot ash. that Article I believe may be come at, if a little time was given to get it. I saw a Ltr from Holland giving an Account of the great Rise of Log wood their, I shall put 10 or 12 tuns of that Article on board if I succeed in getting the pot Ash and Fish  I hope to get Ready in ten days for the Sea, if we shoud fail of either or both those Articles pray say in your next, if I might put on Board 100 bls Flour at 23/ p C

I shall by next post advise you of my Success in the pursuit of pot ash & Fish.

I shall esteem it a favr if you will make my Affectionate Regards to that Amiable Benificent Gentlemn Your worthy president who was kind enough to recommend me to your Notice. my good friends I fear over Rate my Abillities But what is wanting in Abillity I shall endeavour to make up by Application and to honour my Appointment  I could wish things were in a Clearer Channell for the facillitating important matters here I hope that will be the Case, when a General comes, Vested with greater powers than the present, I have Stop'd a vessell 24 hours in order to take down part of the provisions for the ships, the commissary wishing to dlr it, and the General undetermin'd, till finally I Recd an Answer in the Negative, we shall launch the 28 gun frigate Saturday next. A finer peice of Mechanism I never saw, she will I think do honor to the Colony, having nothing more Material to Add I Respectfully Salute you and have the honour to be Dear Sir [&c.]

pray give my very kind regards to the Mr Adams's [John and Samuel], pain [Robert Treat Paine] & [Elbridge] Gerry who I personally know, my Duty is due to the whole Congress, I am penetrated with a sense of the honour conferr'd on me by that August Body