Gentn

We have your Letter of the 29th Ulto and consider the sending out the Continental Ships (as you do) of the greatest consequence to these united States, and should be glad to promote their being sent out immediately by every means in our power, for we trust they might be employ'd to very good purposes, especially as several of the Enemies Cruizers are now infesting this Coast.

We farther assure You that we shall readily embrace such occasions as may present to render a neighbouring State any reasonable Services, but considering how much this State is drained of its Men by the public Calls, and how much our Sea Coast is expos'd to the incursions of the Enemy, we have thought it needful sometime since to pass a Resolve prohibiting the inlisting our Sea Coast men into any other Service, even such as it may concern this State particularly to attend to; we cannot therefore consent to your request that Mr [John] Grannis may be permitted to enlist his Compliment of Marines out of the Troops in our pay.

If Mr Grannis chuses another Service in preference to ours, we shall endeavour to supply his place by as good a Man.²