Gentlemen

In consequence of Letters to our Committee & myself recd by thursd[ay']s Post, Captn [James] Nicholson went off yesterday evening with about 30 or 40 of his best Hands & Some of his Officers with near 20 Sail of Small Craft for the Head of Elk to assist in bringing down the Public Stores & Sick that might be moved from Philada. — About an Hour after his departure I received the in closed Letter for him which I dispatchd after him by a Barge. He returnd it to me late last Night, And agreeable to his desire I now forward it to you by Express, for your consideration. —² Shoud you think fit to order the Defences Men to follow after Capt Nicholson, I wd beg leave to suggest whither it woud not be adviseable to take a few of the Nine Pounders from the Fort & send up along with the Defences Guns to put on board the Frigates shoud they attempt sending them round to this Bay. We have plenty of Craft here to carry up the Defences People &c to Elk. — Our Commee agreeable to Mr [Samuel] Chase's requisition wrote the Commee of your City to send up to Elk what Craft were at Annapolis. — I have since learned that there is no Committee. There will be no necessity of sending any more Craft as we can get plenty here. — Our Commee are preparing the Court House in the best manner the time will admit for the Reception of the Congress shoud they be obliged to leave Philada in which Case Mr Chase writes it is intended they shall come here I am Gentlemen [&c.]