The Hon^l. the Commiss^r. of the Navy Board
Gentlemen

Your Favour of the 3^d Instant¹ was deliverd me by M^r. Trivett²—Cap^t. Rathburn³ has not yet got here—as soon as he arrives, I shall apply to him to know what may be wanted for the intended Cruize—& shall apply to your Hon^l. Board for those Articles, which cannot be procur'd here

It would have given me real pleasure to have found M^r. Agent Trivett—& the Officers of the Sloop willing to send the Goods out of the Mary⁴ to Boston—but they have so long look'd upon them as their own that they cannot bring themselves to think of the delivering any part to the Continental Agent.

I am sorry to say that there does not appear to me to be that Disposition to do Justice to the States that I could wish in Officers of the Navy—I was fully of Opinion with your Honourable Board before the Receipt of your Letter—that Congress never meant to give the Captors the whole of what Armed Merchantmen they might take but, as I should have been thought actuated only by selfish Motives, I thought it best not to urge the Matter greatly 'till I was favourd with your Instructions—since their Arrival, I have not been wanting in my Endeavours to get the Goods lodgd with me to be sent to Boston—but without Effect—all that I can obtain, is, leave to take an Account of them—

The Goods M^r Vesey⁵ tells me are all here—except a few Casks left at Marthas Vinyard to pay those who assisted in unlading &c—The Ship is strip'd & left at Woods Hole—If the Resolution of Congress should be constru'd in favour of the Captors, I shall be glad to hear that this Sloop is to be put out of Commission, being thoroughly persuaded that the Advantage arising to the States from her distressing the Enemy is by no means adequate to the Expence—I expect Cap^t. Rathburn will on his Arrival, deliver me his Muster Role for payment—such have been my Advances for Goverment that I have it not in my power to do it must therefore request the favour of you to enable me to execute your Orders. I have a Quantity of Sugars & some Cotton belonging to the Continent on hand—but such has been the Effect of the talk'd of Regulating Act—that I have not had a purchaser apply for either these two Months. I am [&c.]