[Fishkill] Die Jovis, P.M. May 8, 1777.
A letter from Colonel John Broome, dated the 5th instant, relative to the vessel of war, the Montgomery, was received and read, as follows, to wit:
Hartford, May 5, 1777.
Sir ー Capt. William Rogers, in the privateer sloop Montgomery, belonging to our State, arrived at New-Haven last week, and as I esteem that harbour at present a very unsafe one, I have ordered her round into Connecticut river, as high as Middletown.
Capt. Rogers, on his passage from Baltimore, took a prize schooner laden with tobacco, bound to New-York, but was unluckily retaken by a man of war near Fisher's Island.
The officer and four men of wars men which navigated the schooner, are brought in prisoners. I think it will be best to fit out the Montgomery immediately, if provisions and other necessaries can be obtained; but the captain and men decline going until the former cruizes are settled. Capt. Rogers tells me he engaged in our service on the terms allowed by Congress, which at present I think is half the prizes, besides wages. Should be glad to know if the Convention understand the agreement in that light. I have not as yet had an opportunity of procuring Capt. Rogers' accounts, therefore don't know how much is due to him and the men. The privateer, I am informed, is considerably in debt for moneys advanced by order of her former agent, Mr. Hallet, towards fitting her out the last cruise at New-Haven. If Mr. Francis Lewis is returned to Convention, it will be necessary to send me a sufficiency of her prize money to settle the accounts and refit her; but in case he is not with you, I desire Convention will, withou,t loss of time, order him, to remit me a sufficiency for that purpose. l'am the more urgent because there will be no chance of getting her out before the accounts are closed. Capt. Rogers tells me his prize sold at Baltimore rising £11,000 that currency, which is at the rate of 7s. 6d. per dollar. I imagine £7,000 is not more than will be necessary for the purposes above mentioned, should you direct me to allow half the prize money exclusive of wages . . .
