The Commissioners of the Navy Board
of the Middle District
Gentlemen

 Lieutenant Barney of the Frigate Virginia will hand you this—he came from Baltimore with a representation from Captain Nicholson that he was deficient in his Complement of men—we have therefore thought proper to despatch him down to your Board—in order that you may procure for him 50 or 60 of the seamen belonging to the service now unemployed at Bordentown¹ which we request you will do. The Virginia is under sailing orders² and waits for those men to proceed. As we are very anxious to get her to sea we hope you will give all possible dispatch to this business. There will be occasion for Two or three Waggons to carry down the baggage &c and perhaps you may think best to send provisions along. Those Waggons will be furnished by the Quarter Masters Deputy nearest to you and we will just suggest that the men can go from the head of Elk by Water—you will give Lieutenant Barney suitable instructions which he will obey.

There are now at Baltimore lying loaded with Tobacco on the public account a Ship and a Snow which the Commercial Committee intend sending to France, and would wish them to proceed down the Bay under Convoy of the Virginia.³ But as they are in want of Masters and Crews to navigate them (which it is impossible to procure where they are) we wish you we wish you to engage some proper persons for Masters and Mates and send down with Lieutenant Barney ten Seamen for each of the said Vessels. It is probable some of the Officers belonging to the Vessels that were destroyed will be willing to make this voyage. We shall write you again very soon and are [&c.]