Sir.

Just before your Letter of the 26^th. Jan^y. came to Hand,¹ we received the Resolutions of Congress of the 19^th. for establishing a Communication for transporting Provisions to the Army² and sent the Letters to you and the Governor of North Carolina,³ from Congress, on the same Subject, by Express. The Congress having adopted M^r. Buchanan's⁴ proposed Mode will we imagine, induce you to concur in it, rather than pursue that which you at first intended. The Board of War had mentioned to us a Scheme of transporting Provisions by Water, nearly similar to what had occurred to you and that our Gallies might be useful in the Execution of it. We had no Objection to risking the Gallies but it appeared to us, that it would have been very expensive and very uncertain, as our Gallies draw upwards of eight Feet, with their Provisions,Water and Ballast,and have but little Room for Stowagewhen but tolerably manned. The Number of Men of War in the Bay and their Activity, confirms us in Opinion, that the Communication by Water will be too uncertain to rely on and, in all Probability, when the Enemy discover that the Army draws its Supplies through this Bay, the Number of Men of War will be still increased. It appears to us, that the keeping this Bay clear or obliging the Ships of War to keep together, is an Object worthy the Attention, not only of these States, but of Congress, and that, if the Virginia Frigate was laid up and her Crew employed in Gallies for that Purpose, they would be much more usefully employed than they are at present. We have five Gallies now fitted,⁵ the Hull of a sixth & seventh almost finished,⁶ all very stout but we cannot compleatly mann two. The Assembly, seeing no Likelihood of manning the Whole, directed the two unfinished Gallies to be sold,⁷ and, if your State or the Congress incline to purchase, we had much rather dispose of them for the Public, than for private use. The Enemy took a fine Tobbacco Ship belonging to this State, in Patowmack the other Day:⁸ they grow more venturesome than heretofore, and we are apprehensive if not checked, will put an End to the little Trade we have.—We are Sir &^ca.