Sir

Since sending you our Order of the 9th instant we are well informed that the Frigates at Rhode Island are ready for sea and if that is really the rase it would be improper to strip them of the Cannon to send them to you. We have now wrote the Committee to keep their Cannon if their Ships are actually fit for service, for we did not mean by the former order to give a preference, it was our design only to prevent the Guns from lying useless there when you wanted them: but we desire them to tell us whether they will not cast another set and on what terms. We are Sir [&c.]