[Montgomery, Delaware River] May 8, 1776.
Gentlemen:
According to your orders have Supplied Capt. Jehue Airs [Ayres] with Eighteen Small arms & Ammunition for them, and on Board the Shallop that has the Powder a parcel of Cartriges fill'd for the galleys, as the Powder Being Loose Can be of no use unless the[y] had Emty Cartriges to fill. I am much Surprized tha( Mr. Towers Shou'd Send Powder without being fill'd, as he must know the[y] have no spare Cartriges or Paper on Board, that if you order any more Powder it may fill'd, as no Vessell belonging to the fleet has any Spare Cartriges to fill. Capt.[Samuel] Davidson sent ten Boxes of fill'd allso, and beg you may not Send any more Boats or Men to be arm'd. from me, as I have now furnished Airs' Boat with all I have, we now want to be Supplied with what is Sent away. I am Gentlemen [&c.]
Thos. Read.
P.S. ー Just Reced your orders by the Pilot, Shall Lose no time to Proceed down as Soon as the Wind & Weather will Permit, which can't be before Day Light in the morning.
T. Read.
1. Hazard, et al., eds., Pennsylvania Archives, 1st, IV, 747-48.