[Extract]

I beg leave to hint that I. am without any instructions what to do with the dismantled Lynch she remains in pay doing nothing all the schooners are now in port and the men seems loth to go out on a cru[i]se this Season by reason the vessells are so uncomfortable.

Capt [Samuel] Tucker repoarts his vessell the Hancock unfit to proceed again and on examing her find it will cost as much as she's worth to fit her for service, May I take the freedom to Ask if Tucker might be shifted on board one of the other Schooners The Lee is a good vessell but the Captain ² seems determind not to exert himself in the publick Cause the Lynch is also a Good vessell and the Worthy Capt [John] Skimmer has the worst vessell amoung the whole ³ his guns are easily shifted and if the name is transformd we've no Register to endors

Yesterday arrived a Brig Loaded with provisions sent in by one of our Colony cruisers ⁴ and last week was sent in to marblehead a provision vessell & one loaded with Coal taken by a privateer fitted out there.⁵ I beg leave to ask if I may send [ro]und the Coal I purchasd for the Congress without Convoy as I find we shall have Opportunityes Offer several vessells designing to go to Philidelphia that Artical is very scarce here and has been sold so high as eight pounds p Chaldron tho' there is no limmits to the price of things here Rum was yesterday sold at Beverly at Vendue at 7/8 p Gallon how these things may end I know not as disunion amoung us seems unavoidable the poor traedsmen and Labourers ar[e] Crushd to death between the merchants and the farmer I wish something could be done to prevent this Growing Evil . . .