Gentln

Since I wrote the President this Morning, a Young Gentl came up from Chincoteague where he had landed out of the Sloop Independence (Capt Young) belonging to the Continent, this sloop was from Martinico bound hither but was chased into that place by a large Frigate. The Sloop has on board a quantity of Blankets, Coarse Cloths & near 1000 Muskets, which I will take care of. Capt Young staid behind sick & she is now Commanded by Lieut Robinson [James Robertson] who had no paper to write on but sent up word he would push round for this place soon as he .cou'd the Goods are what was ordered by the Secret Committee & the Andw Doria will bring a good Cargo from St Eustatia where she is arrived. the Sachem is also arrived at Martinico, but no News yet from Monsr Hortalez —You have enclosed the letters from Mr [William] Bingham and Mr [Silas] Deane, the latter complaining as I have long expected he wou'd for want of advices & Remittances, in short if the Congress mean to Succeed in this Contest they must pay good Executive Men to do their business as it ought to be & not lavish Milions away by their own mismanagement, I say mismanagement because no Man living can attend the daily deliberations of Congress & do executive parts of business at the same time. I do aver here will be more money lost, totally lost, in Horses, Waggons, Cattle &c &c for want of sufficient Numbers of proper persons to look after them, than wou'd have paid all the Salarys Payne [Robert Treat Paine] ever did or ever will grumble at Mr Deane has had a hard situation I foretold it long since & unless you employ some Man of Talents to Collect materials & keep the Commissioners abroad Constantly informed of what is passing here, You never will have that Consequence nor your Agents that Dignity they ought to have. I should be glad you woud return me these letters or Copies of them & I will reply from hence, they have been with me but a few minutes & I will not keep the express any longer as I expect you are hungry as Hawkes after News from France. I cannot keep a Copy of this, but in haste remain, very sincerely Gentl [&c.]