Sir,

The Ship¹ has been frose up for five or six days past it is now likely to Break away & leave us Clear for Sailing only the want of a Pilot I have Sent twice sent down to S^t marys for one but are not Come up. Judge they are Prevented by the Ice We have different Reports that the British Ships are in the Bay above the mouth Potomack Shold that be the Case Am Affraid the Galley² has not got down I am Disappointed in getting a hand from Alexandria that I had great dependance on & none of those that Cap^t Cooke³ Sent away Ever Came we Shall want two good Seaman more if they Can be got its likely Cap^t Ross or Cap^t Rogers⁴ may meet with Some Shold they be Disird to look out, Shold the polit Come up Shall push down Immediately unless orderd to the Contrary by next post I am [&c.]