Gentn

having lately written to Mr [Thomas] Ringgold and Mr [Robert] Hooe on the Subject of our engagement to Your State, we immagined you wou'd not have been uninformd of the many disapointments we have met with in the Several adventures undertaken for the purpose of procuring Arms & Ammunition. We had lately a Schooner taken & carried into the West Indias with a fine Cargo onboard & Yesterday we had the Mortification to hear that the Brigt Charming Peggy Capt Coningham [Gustavus Conyngham] which we sent to Dunkirk² was Chased by two Cutters coming out of that Port & she run into Ostend, where in Consequence of the Empress Queen's prohibitory [Dec]laration, Officers went onboard to Seize the Brigt but the Capt & Crew resisted and drove them off, weighd Anchor & got under Sail to push out again when unfortunately in Working out they ran aground, the Vessell bilged, a reinforcement of Ofhcers came down & Capt Coningham was obliged to fly ー onboard of this Vessell we had Lead, Flints Arms & Powder more than sufficient to pay our Contract with your State & were Concerned in a Cargo of dry Goods onbd her that wou'd now have sold for upwards of £30,000 Curry had they got here safe; this Vessel has been gone on the Voyage ever since Septr last & is a very hard & heavy loss, as indeed several of the others we engaged in have proved.

The difficultys of procuring Arms & [amm]unition in Europe were unforeseen when we made the engagement, & the low prices agreed at, prevented our looking to the West Indias for the Supplys or it shou'd have been finished long since. We have still several other adventures depending from which we expect to fullfill our engagement and shall be happy in doing so, you may depend that the first Arms & Ammunition we have the good Fortune to receive shall be applyed to that purpose & no other. We have the honor to be Gentn [&c.]

Willing Morris & Co