Gentlemen

I this morning rec^d. your fav^r. of the 26^th. I refer you to a letter which I wrote you a few hours ago urging the necessity of scutling the Frigates immediately. I then imag­ined that there were a considerable number of seamen on Board of them, but since I have seen the Returns, I think the necessity more pressing. The people on board could not defend them against a couple of armed Boats. An intelligent lad from Philad^a: says they have been bringing Seamen and flat Boats from the Fleet below, and it is more than probable that they may have their Eye upon the Frigates above, I therefore would advise you to sink not only them immediately upon the Rec^t. of this, but every other Vessel capable of being converted into an armed Vessel. The smaller craft and flat Boats that are not wanted to transport troops occasionally to be carried as high up the Creeks and River as possible. The soldiers that were on board the Frigates to be sent under the care of an officer to join their Regiments and the few seamen down to our Fleet. If those Watermen that you mention who are on board private Vessels could be pre­vailed upon by any means to serve in our fleet till the Frost, it would answer a very valu­able purpose, and rather than miss of them I would offer handsome terms. but not so much as to occasion jealousy & uneasiness in these already in Service