Sir/

The Board of War having purchas'd of you the Briggt Warren, now laying at Booth Bay & appointed you to the Command of her, do hereby direct you with all possible Dispatch to Load her with Lumber (Staves excepted) fit for the West India Market. — To engage a Sufficient number of Hands to navigate her & to proceed as soon as She is ready for Cape Francois & there dispose of your Cargo to the best advantage & if you have Opportunity of your Vessell also & lay out the proceeds in good effective Fire Arms if you can obtain to that Amount — if you cannot the Over-plus must be laid out in Powder if to be obtained, if it is not, in any of those Warlike Stores of which you have a Memorandum annex'd —

If you shou'd dispose of the Briggt we shall expect you to return & bring with you the Proceeds of her & her Cargo in some one of the Vessells we shall send to the Cape of which you will receive Notice when there —

You will purchase your Cargo of Lumber on the best Terms you can, send a Bill of Loading & Invoice of the Cargo to this Board &may draw upon them for the amount —

By Order of the Board —

PS. You are not to sell your Vessell under Twelve hundred pounds Currency — The Board consent to allow you five P Ct Commsn on the Sales of your Cargo & two & half PCT on the returns —

[Endorsed] Decr 7. 1776 I acknowledge the above to be a true Copy of the Orders I have received from the Honble Board of War & promise to obey the same —

Paul Reed