My dear and Honored Sir

I herewith inclose copies of my letters &^ca. since you left Portsmouth.—You will no doubt be Surprised to find that the Ranger is still in port—but the Wonder must cease when you understand that with All my own and My Officers Application and Industry I have not been Able to complete a Single Suite of Sails till within these few days past­—and other Materials have been equally Backward.—had not my Officers exerted them­selves in procuring Materials the Ranger might have remained in port as long as the Raleigh. I never before had so disagreeable a service to perform as this which I have now Accomplished, and of which Another will claim the Credit as well as the Profit.

I have been full Manned for near two Months past—so that you may imagin what I must have felt on being thus detained in port—I have been for some time and am now detained by a heavy Gale from the N.E.—When it clears up I purpose to em­brace the first Wind that can carry me thro'  the Enemies lines and off the Coast.­—I have received Orders and dispatches for France and hope to be the welcom Mes­senger at Paris of Burguoynes Surrender &^ca. &^ca.

I have now to inform You that a few days ago I had the honor to receive by post your esteemed favor of 26^th. May 1776 [1777] from Philadelphia—directed to me as Commander of the Providence at New York.—My best thanks Sir are particularly due to you for the Sentiments of Regard therein expressed.—this letter had I been in doubt before would now confirm me in the belief that had you been present in Con­gress the 10^th. day of October 1776 I should have held my proper Rank in the Ser­vice which (If l was worthy of my first Commission) is N^o. 5—not N^o. 18.—

That I should be thus degraded and set under Thirteen Men, who durst not, or did not Embark in the dispute, and in Ships unfit for War like the Alfred, as Early as myself, distracts my very Soul!—a sea Officer Who can bear to be Superseded by any Man of Pre­sumptive Abilities and talk or think cooly of it is a Villain!—I know one person among the thirteen who, After I had embarked in the Service, made a private Agreement with the Captain of one of the Enemies Ships to carry himself, his Family and effects off the Continent—this can at any time be proved by the testimony of his Neighbours.—I can find many other exceptions among them—And not one of them can teach me My duty­—or will ever go further with a Small force in the Service than I have Already done and Mean to do again whenever an Opportunity offers. I should be to the last degree Un­happy were it not for the Hopes I have that Congress will yet do me right—I cannot think of quitting the Service—My whole Mind is rapt in the Dispute!—but how shall I have Spirit to perform my Duty while I think my self degraded and out of my proper Place?­—without boasting you know Sir that I have not deserved this.—As you have been pleased to Say in your letter that "I ought to have Commanded Some who were" (at the begin­ning) "placed in a heigher Rank than myself."—I shall only Add that I would Lay down my life for America—but can never triffle with My delicate notions of Honor.—

You will please to excuse the liberty which I have taken in Joining your Name with that of my Friend Abraham Livingston in a General letter of Attorney for the disposal of the Captors part of all prizes that may be taken by the Ranger and that may Arrive in any part of America excepting only the States of New-Hampshire—Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Connecticutt.—Should you decline to Act in behalf of the Captors you will singularly Oblige me by Appointing such person or persons Within any or every of the Nine States not excepted as you think will do Justice and render Satisfaction to the Con­cerned—As you know that the Credit of the Service depends not only on dealing fairly with the Men Employed in it but on their belief that they are and will be fairly dealt with.

You will also be pleased to excuse the liberty I have taken by inserting the Es­teemed Names of Robert Morris and Joseph Hewes in my own private Letter of At­torney and as Executors, in my Will—both of which will be herewith forwarded into the hands of M^r. Morris with Duplicates for you.—

Major Frazer¹ goes with me as a Volunteer—he wishes to have an Employment in the Marine Service—and desires to assist me on any private Enterprize—he hath given a description so truely Elysian to a Small Estate on the Mattopony,² Virginia that I wish to become the Purchaser—he writes his friend Col^o. Braxton thro' the Hands of M^r. Morris to whom I will transmitt the necessary Sum—I wish you could Satisfy yourself respecting the Situation and Properties of the Lands &^ca. before the Purchase.

I Most Ardently Wish for the Command of some Spirited private Enterprize Whereby I may be enabled to prove that I have not merited the disgrace of being Superseded­—

I will hope to hear frequently from you while in France to care of Tho^s. Morris Esq^r. Agent Nantes—in the Meantime I am with Grateful Sentiments of perfect Es­teem and regard Dear Sir Your very Obliged very Obedient most humble Serv^t.