Gentlemen

Applycation havg this Day bin Made to persons here to Risque Mr Hackers Boat, he being gone to the Camp, his Son was in Doubt wiether he Could Concent for her to go for fear his father mought Loose her as well as the one now in the hands of the men of warr, and as both the Boats now held by the men of warr are said to be Detained on Account of their haveing bin Imployd in the Colonys Service in bringing up the Guns Flour &c. it is Requested that You use your Interest in the Assembly that Sum Effectual Method be Immediately Tacon in Order that the Said Boats be forthwith Deliverd up or Tacon, Sum principle people proposes that if Capt [James] Wallace will not Deliver them up the Sherriff of the County of Newport be Orderd by the Assembly to take him and Committ him to Jail till said Packetts are Delivered, Others thinks that if the Sloop Catey [Katy] goes out as my Property that it will make me so much more Obnoctious then Any Other person to Capt Wallace &c that my Vessills and Cargoes will be all tacon as they Came in, and I now having 10 Sail out, that its unreasonable that the publick Should Desire me to Sacrifise all my privit Interest for the Bennifitt of the Common Cause, Its therefore proposd that the Colony purchass Sum proper Vessill to be used in Garding the Coast, procureing powder or aney Other use they please, I Expect the Catey under the Command of Capt [Abraham] Whipple will go Down with Hackers Boat tomorrow to meet Collo [William] Vernon with his men so as to be Reddy to go out tomorrow nite, I mention this that the General Assembly may if they think it worthy of Notice take the Same in to Consideration and Give Such Directions in this Matter as they in their Wisdom may think proper

I am Gentlemen [&c.]

PS. if the Colony will purchase the Catey I will agree to Leave it to aney three persons acquainted with navigation to Fix her Value

as I Faired so badly by Means of Undertaking to purchass the Flour for the Government, I Chuse you should keep my name Conceald from the House. Perhaps the Assembly may agree to hire and Resque both Vessills that goes to Retaik the packetts and to be at the Expense of fixing them weither they purchass or not which Countenence is Absolutely Necessary for the Incoragement of those who may go that doeth not allredy belong to the Armeyー