Continental Navy Board
Borden Town 6th: Novr. 1777—
Sir.
Your Letter of the 4th. came to hand last Night. We were in hopes the former Demand for Slops was sufficient for the Season, not that we are unwilling to supply you to the best of our Abilities, but as it would have saved us much Trouble had your Indents been compleat at that Time. We shall now be under a Necessity of sending into the Country & undoing our Packages again for the few Articles that are wanted. Had you considered our former Letter you would have found that we have neither Stockings nor Mitts amongst our stores having lately sent you our whole Stock & there fore would not have renewed the Requisition for those Articles. We shall however, endeavour to procure them if possible. The Several Articles you write for, as far as we can supply them shall be forwarded in a few Days.
Mr. Crispin under the State Navy Board has agreed to furnish our fleet with Rum & Bread, & has we expect supplied himself for the Purpose.
There has been some Knavery but no Mistake respecting the Hgsd of Spirit we sent down for the Officers; we can assure you that it was a Cask of excellent Spirit & for which we gave a great Price. But the waggoners or some other Persons must have played us false: for which we are sorry for your Sakes.—
We shall endeavour to procure Stores for the Vessels as soon as we can.—
As no Opportunity offer'd immediately to Red Bank, we have put into the Waggons a Cask directed for you with some Match Rope for present Use, & 3 Rheams of Cartridge Paper; we shall send you more when we forward the other Necessaries.
We have not heard the Event of Yesterday's Firing, but hope for the best.—We desire to be remembered to the Respective Officers of the Fleet. We lament the Loss of young Mr. Batton: Wishing you all Health & Success we are [&c.]
Fras. Hopkinson
John Wharton
