Honored Sir

I should have sailed from hence this Morning had I not been prevented by a Gale of Wind at S. E. with thick Weather ー this is the first leasure time I have had Since my Arrival here in the Providence the 7th Current ー And I with pleasure embrace it to acknowledge the Singular Obligations which I lay under to Mr Hewes. ー Inclosed you have a short Account of my late Cruise. ー When I put"in here with the Providence as She had been four Months off the Ground my intention was to Scrub her bottom, repair her Sails and Rigging and proceed to Cruise off Sandy Hook and from thence return to Philada I was prevented from this by the Commodore's proposing to me to take Command of the present Expidition against the Coal Fleet of Cape Briton and Fishery of Newfoundland with the Alfred Hamden and Providence ー I was at first induced to belive that this Small Squadron would be got ready in a Week ー I got the Providence and Hamden ready within that time ー but as I found the Alfred with only thirty Men after Much Application and loss of time to Enlist her Compliment I was Obliged to take all the Men out of the Providence and her prizes which made up my number to about an hundred and Forty ー with this Small Force and the Hamden I was ready to proceed the 27th when the Hamden ran upon a Sunken Rock, and was so much damaged as to render her unfit for Immediate Service ー this Misfortune obliged me to Shift Captn Hacker and all his Men into the Providence ー and is, by a Second loss of time, a material drawback on my prospect of Success. ー our Infant Navy is by no means well established nor under proper regulations every thing is to look for and provide when it is Immediatly Wanted ー So that the most advantagious Expedition may be lost thro' detention ー besides while Self Intrest prevails unless the private Emolument of individuals in our Navy is made equal if not Superiour to that of our Enemies, in these Iron times, we cannot hope to repell their Forceー

I am informed, and have reason to beleive it to be too True, that even some of the Gentlemen Appointed to fit out the New Frigates are concerned in Privateers and not only Wink at, but encourage, and Employ deserters from the Navy ー What punishment is equal to such Baseness? ー and Yet these men pretend to love their Country! ー When I address my Sentiments to you with this Freedom I consider you not as a Member of the grand state Counsel of a rising Empire ー but as a private Gentleman of disintrested Candour and Penetration a Free Citizen of the World governed by the Noblest of principles the good of Mankind. ー and Since Liberty hath chosen America as her last assylum every Effort to protect and Cherish her is Noble and will be rewarded with the thanks of Future Ages ー I am encouraged therefore to proceed as I know'that you will not missconstrue my meaningー

I have long waited and that Impatiently for the production of Some abler pen ー but my expectation is as Wide of the Goal now as at the beginning. ー I return to my Subject, the Navy requires to be Newmodeled. ー but this cannot be properly done by Gentlemen who are Unconversant in Marine Affairs ー their is no Genius Universal ー And as the Congress hath such a complication of Business to attend, they will at a period not far distant find it necessary to Appoint Commissionars for each Department. ー the Soul of a Navy depends on Such an Appointment. ー an Impartial Board of Admiralty compitant to determin the Merits and Abilities of every Officer and to Superintend regulate and direct every outfit and Opera- tion of the Marine Force would Soon give firmness and Stability to our Fleet and make it orm mid able even to Great Britain. ー in the English Fleet tho' they Impress the Seamen ー the Crown gives up to the Captors all they take and even allows them a bounty for Several things with many other Advantages over and above, and can America expect to raise from nothing a Navy able to Repell this powerful Enemy while She holds out scarce a third of the Encouragement? ー the Supposition is Absurd.ー

The term of Enlistment is now almost expired ー and as a new one must folow ー the entry ought in my Opinion to be made "during Pleasure" ー Give them all they Take and they will agree to the Condition. ー thus the Navy will be brought under proper Subordination and will Always be well Manned with Volunteers Under good D[i]ciplin ー but this is not likely to be the Case if the Ensueing Enlistment is Made for a limited time. ー Both the Army and Fleet have experienced the Evil effects of Such enlistments Already ー and will experience worse Consequences if the Mode is not Altered. ー Inclosed I send you a Copy of a Comparative State of Wages in our Navy and in English Fifth Rates² ー It was made out in New Hamshire and sent here by Captn [Joseph] Olney ー it is a Matter However that doth not in any Wise concern me. ー as I have no Family or dependents and probably never will have any ー I am easily provided for and am not in the least uneasy on my own Account, tho' to be sure as a Captn in the Navy Ranks with a Colonel his Appointment ought to enable him to Support that Rank. ー As you will see my letters to Mr Morris I will add nothing more at present.

the Southern expidition Spoke of in my last to Mr Morris I mentioned to Govr [Stephen] Hopkins and he hath promised me his Intrest for that Command ー it was unsolicited and therefore the greater favor ー If I am thought worthy of that Honor I wish the A. Doria could be made one of the Squadron. ー I was so far to the Eastward dureing the whole of my late cruise that I hope an Apology is Unnessary for not Sending Prizes to Your State ー I will not neglect it If I am fortunate hereafter ー I hope to reach the Continent agen before the Middle of Decr ー I have the Honor to be with Perfect Esteem ー Sir [&c.]

[Endorsed] No 5. Alfred Rhode Island 31st Octr 1776. Copy of a Letter to the Honorable Jos: Hewes Esqr Philadaー