Sr

Your favo'r on behalf of the Honbl Secret Committee of the 25th Ult. I Recd two days since by Colon! Bartlet [Bartlett], incloseg the Resolves of the Honbl Congress Respectg the [Marquis of] Kildare's Cargo ² on Rec[ei]pt of which, I immediately Set the Sailmakers at work on the Tents, and the Tailors on the few wollings which were suitable for Soldiers under waistcoats; and gave orders to the Waggon master to have Ten Teams in readiness to set out Next thursday at which time they will Certainly set off weather permittg — The season being so far Advanced, the roads begin[nin]g to be bad, it was with some deficulty that we procure'd Teams, this will be Attended with very great expence, near the value of the goods. each Team carries one Ton, paid by the day, and all expenc[es], I shall send very good pushing man, to Command them, who will make all Dispatch possible — The Flints orderd for general Washington, shall send to Boston to the Agent, who will forward them, by some Waggon which goes from that State, which will save some expence, as it would not be full Loadd for a Team from hence — I thank the Honb: Committee, for any "Attention" they are pleased to pay to any hints that I may give Relative to publick business shall be very happy to meet their Approbation —

The Ship Betsey Frigate which I bo't on my own Acct. is Almost loaded, with Masts, Spars, oak plank &c this ship is abt three hundred and twenty Tons, was sold Low as it was Supposed she was Rotten, which I found to be the Case in many parts, upon which I put the Carpenters upon her, and Repair'd her for a Voyage, on my own Acot as I had no Orders from the Honbl Committee to purchase vessells, I've been Offer'd by Several persons to take any part of this ship and Cargo, and be Concemd in the Voyage by which the ship would have Turned out to me, at least 14 or £ 1500 L my. It was very Uncertain whether the Honl Committee, would purchase or not. I therefore was Determined to take her on my own Acot and Make an Offer of the Ship and Cargo to the Honbl Committee, either on Purchase or on hire as they might think best. now had there been a Loss I must have Certainly have bore it, had the Honbl Committee Declined sendg Lumber which with great Submission I conceive to be a good reason, that I should have some Profit —  lv'e taken Several Things out of the Ship that she did not want, which will in part pay for Repairs, of these, and also the Repairs Iv' e not kept so Regular an Acot as I looked on it my own Stock, — I shall give every Dispatch to this ship Betsey Frigate on Acot and Risque of the Honbl Committee, and Shall humbly Submitt the Matter to them — whether she should not be Appri[z]ed as she now stands, with her Repairs or for her to proceed on Charter, or least the Honbl Committee should think me takeing the least Advantage, I am willg she should go at one Thousand pounds L my as she now stands with her Repairs, tho' her Suit of Sails two Cables and Anchors, her Standg and Run[nin]g Rigg[in]g with-small stores, would sell for more money. her Cargo at the Same I gave, tho' such a one cannot be had at the same price, at this Advanced season, -upon the whole I shall abide by the Determination of the Honbl Committee be it what it may, as Iv'e no Doubt they will think I have a right to Transact my private business when it does not interfere With the Publick —

Now I have Orders I shall do every thing in my Power to purchase on the lowest Terms for the Continent, and shall not think of being Concern'd in any Such Voyage untill my Orders are Compleated — I shall Consigne this Ship and any others I may Purchase agreable to order to Mr Thom[a]s Morris or his Order at the Several ports -I shall Recommend these old Ships t() be sold by all means, if the Matter can be made Agreeable to the Master and people, there, in getg Passage home, as it's impassable to get either Masters or people of this Country men (others ca'nt be Trusted) to go the voyage u[n]less it's-out and home, not to be Discharged there, this must be left at the Discretion of Mr Morris, there. if a good ship happens to be imployed it will be as well for her to Come out and bring the hands of the others —

There is Number of Suitable Ships to be had here, but it's impassable to get Cordage and Sails, therefore shall Depend on Purchaseg those which have these Materials belongg to them —​ Iv'e also Twenty thousand feet Mahogany on board the Betsey Frigate, which is all I shall send in her of that sort of Cargo —

As to Tortoise Shell, Sassaparilla, &c there's none bro't into this State as yet — It will be necessary that I should have a Sum of money sent immediately for this purpose, as I've no Prize money in my hands yet (tho' shall soon have some) but the whole will be wanted for the Honbl Marine Committee's Acct — I expected to have had money er'e this for my Draft on the Marine Committee, but the Gentlemen who have money here beloniiifo the Southward Choose Rather to Speculate I shall at All times exert myself in the business of the States, and do it with all the frugality and Dispatch in my Power. — I am with great Respect, your's and the Honbl Committee's [&c.]

The Honbl Robert Morris E[s]qr
President of the Secret Committee