[Extract]

You cannot conceive how I am vexed & mortifyed to find after the deal of pains & trouble I have taken that the Randolph Frigate is still at the Pier & Ice making in the River but the Officers of that Ship show great reluctance to go away without being compleatly manned & that is not possible, She might have been at Sea before now had they exerted themselves for that purpose but they have had constantly in View to wait for more Men, this has its foundation in a Noble principle which has hindered me from complaining to the Marine Committee, altho I have scolded the Officers like a Buster-Whore for their dilatoriness: they say they wish to Fight & not to run. I tell them they must run untill they can fight —

There are a Number of Soldiers in the two New England Regiments now with Genl Washington whose time expire with this year & will not reinlist. they are chiefly Fishermen or Sea faring People, and I have wrote the General to prevail on all that will not Continue with him to come down here to Man our Frigates & they shall carry them home. I think [this] a good plan as we shall by that me[ans get] some of the Frigates Manned for [Sea] & before they carry the others home they may pick up Seamen from Prizes &c.