Sir

By the Bearer we received this evening a Letter from the President of Congress with Copy of the Resolve of Cong^s.1 which we presume is now sent to your Excellency. The purport of his Letter to us is to request our best Endeavours either to prevent the Sale or removal of the Cargo of Salt which is referred to by the Resolve, or otherwise to endeav^r: to secure it for the Public Use, lest it should be dispersed before You can have time to take proper Measures in the Matter—We therefore Judge it proper to advise you what We know of the Matter. Captⁿ Newton Master of the Salt Sloop² called upon us when he arrived, to ask our Advice, having had some Dealings with Us last Winter. We told him the Necessity of the Country for Salt & advised him ags^t selling it in bulk but to retail it out so as to serve as many as possible. This We understand he continues to do, & has as yet only sold About 200 Busl^s. besides 100 Busl^s. engaged to us in order to cure Provisn^s. for Two Cont^l Vessels which We are fitting out,³ & to replace some belonging to another Concern, which we were obliged to let Capt^n. Nicholson have Before he sailed—As this is the Case & that there is not a probability much more of it can be disposed of before You can take such Steps as you Judge best, We think it fit not to interfere in the Matter unless there is an apparent Necessity to prevent its being dispersed.—We know M^r. Beekman⁴ was concerned in the Sloop last Voyage She made here, & we believe still is so; and We are much inclined to think is no Enemy to the American Cause, having last Year abandond his Residence at New York & taken Refuge in Philad^a.—We have also pretty good Reason to believe that Isaac Governieur Esq^r. of Curasso [Curaçao] a most Zealous Friend to America, & a Gentleman who has taken great Pains to serve its Cause, is half owner of this Sloop & Cargo. We doubt not that Your Excellency for these Reasons woud Wish to have the Affair conducted with as much delicacy as possible, & so as not to give Just Cause of Umbrage to real Friends.

A Young man who has been in N^o Carolina on Business for us, is Just returned from thence & assures us there are larger Quantitys of Salt at Edenton South Key⁵ & Suffolk, so that large Supplies might be expected, did not the Cruisers prevent it. We likewise learn that considerable Quantities are on the Eastern Shore which is prevented coming up by the Enemies Cruisers in the Sound.

Yeiser is set out on the Purchase of Cattle for the Army & has taken a good deal of Cash with him⁶—We shall be ready to advance the Remd^r. of our Subscription for that purpose when ever it is called. We are [&c.]