Capn. Holten Johnson,
Sir,

The Board of War having consign'd the Brigg Ann Amos Mansfield Master to your Address, desire you on her Arrival in Baltimore to dispose of her Cargo to the best Advantage & with the proceeds to load her with Flour for France, & consign her to Lewis Poncet & Son in Bourdeaux on Acct. of the Board of War for the State of Massachusetts-Bay. — If you find it impracticable (but we beg you wou'd not give over till you have try'd every means) to persuade the hands to go to France, as they are ship'd for Baltimore only, you will load her with Flour, & Iron, & dispatch her for this Place; — If you find the Cargo we have ship'd on Bd. insufficient to load her home, you will advance for this Purpose, & draw upon the Board fot it; — As an Inducement to the Crew to go the Voy[ag]e to France, you may engage them a passage back in one of the Vessels we shall have from there, & promise them they shall be in pay till their Return, unless captivated by the Enemy. — In Addition to yr Orders within; -Write to Lewis Poncet & Son to dispose of the Brig & Cargo to the Best Advantage, & pass the Proceeds to the Credit of the Board of War for the State of Massachusetts-Bay, By order of the Board,

[Endorsed] Boston Decr. 23d. 1776,

I acknowledge the above to be a true Copy of the orders I have rec'd from the Honble. Board of War, & promise to obey the same

Holton Johnson