In Secret Committee

Sir

Philada Novr 22d 1776

We hope you may in due time Receive this letter by Capt Stevens of the Continental Schooner Lewis — which goes from hence to Carolina where we have directed her to be loaden with Rice & Indico for Your address, We hope she may arrive safe & deliver You a Valuable Cargo, the Rice you will sell of course, but it is not likely the Indico will sell to advantage at Martinico & if that shou'd be the case You will please to reship it onbd the first good French Vessell in which you can obtain freight for old France & Consign it to the Order of Mr Thos Morris at whatever Port it goes to, write him to make the best Sale he can of it, to Credit us for the Nt pceeds and apply the Money to such uses as we have ordered, or may order. You must also Credit us for the Nt pceeds of what you Sell in Martinico & apply the Money to the uses we have directed-or such as we may hereafter direct. Shou'd the West Indias be so Crowded with British Cruizers that You think it dangerous for this little thing to. remain in those Seas, You may in that case Ship a quantity of Powder, Lead, or Bullets & Arms onboard her Consign them to the Continental Agents at Charles Town or if he cannot get in there, to the Continental Agent in Georgia, John Wereat Esqr is Agent in the latter State & Messrs Levinus Clarkson & John Dorsius in the other tell them to keep those Articles for Continental Service & they will receive orders respecting them from the Board of War or from us, to us you must Send duplicate Invoices &c & charge us for the Cost We are sir [&c.]

[P.S.] [If] you send the Schooner back with Arms and Ammunition write to the Agents to reload her to You with another Cargo of Rice & Indico and then in the Spring you may send her here with Arms &c.
Pr Capt John Stevens