No 6

Dear Sir As I have not been able for some time to attend the Marine Committe I last Saturday took the liberty to show Mr Morrice [Morris] your letters Concerning the Conduct of the Providence Committe about Guns and soon found Mr Hancock thro the multiplicity of Business had not laid the affair before the Marine Committe Mr Morrice resented their Conduct extremely and Desired liberty to lay the letter before Congress but as I was uncertain but some bad Effect might arise from laying it before the whole Congress I Declined it He then Desired liberty to lay it before the Marine Committe to which I Consented He said he would do his utmost that your ship should have them Guns at Providence and without paying that Enormous price for them I am in hopes them guns will be ordered for your Ship & one of theirs ordered to wait till guns can be sent from here where they are Contracted for at 35 & 40 pound this money pr tun

I Believe (inter nos) your letters to the President Concerning marine affairs have not been laid before the Committe nor much attention been paid them the great & important Business in which he is Constantly Employed and the almost immense number of letters which he is Constantly receiving on the most interesting Subjects makes it impossible for him to at- tend to them all and lesser matters must be neglectd I sincerly wish he did not belong to the Marine Committe but would Confine himself to the affairs of Congress which is Business abundantly suficient to employ the time of any one human being

I was Disappointed of seting out last week as I Expected and as I am in hopes I am some better than I have been I Believe I shall try to tarry here till Col Whipples arrival which I think I may Expect in 12 or 14 Days from this time according to his letter of the 23d ulto

As for news we have none at this time how long we shall be without any I Cant say as by the last accounts from Ticonderoga they were Dayly looking for Burgoine up the lake and it seems Genl Houre is preparing to attack our Camp at Harleam God grant we may have better fortune than we had at the attack on Long Island the Enemy are now in Possession of Stratton Island, Long Island, Governors Island, the City of New York & Powles's hook I pray God they have now reached their Ultimatum and that from this time their power may Decline I am your very hearty friend