Dear Sir,

On the 11^th. instant I received yours of the 5^th. and M^r. Jn^o. Adams's of the 6^th. of February. Two paragraphs of the latter I will transcribe; because I know it must give you pleasure. "Dear Sir, I had yesterday the pleasure of recieving your letter of the 22d.of January, and beg leave to assure you I shall pay all proper attention to its contents, by rendering to the Gentleman you recommend every Service in my power.

"I had been before introduced to that young gentleman by his father;¹ for whom I have concieved a great deal of esteem, and from what I have seen and heard of the son I think him ingenious and promising; but as I shall have an ample opportunity to become more acquainted with him, I shall be better able hereafter to speak of him from my own knowledge, and you may depend upon it, that nothing shall be wanting on my part, towards recommending him in propor- tion to his merits." I most heartily congratulate with you on your Son's being under the patronage of so worthy a gentleman, and hope he will be a blessing and an honour to his father and his country. He early treads the great stage of the world, may his steps be directed by unerring wisdom, and boundless goodness!

I read that part of your letter, respecting the 74 at Portsmouth,² and a Paragraph of one I rec^d.,about the same time and upon the same Subject, from M^r. Whipple,³ to the marine committee, and it was agreed to stop the building of her for the present. These huge ships are too costly and unwieldy; and it will require as many men to man one of them, as to man three or four frigates; besides we cannot with all the naval force we can collect be able to cope with the british navy. Our great aim should be to destroy the trade of Britain; for which purpose Frigates are infinitely better calculated than such large Ships. M^r. Whipple proposes to the marine comm[itt]ee to put the timber prepared for the 74 into a frigate to mount 30 18-pounders on one deck, and this proposal I believe would be complied with if our finances were not at present very low and the demands of the great departments of war very high. I wish we may be able to finish, man, and get to sea, in the course of the next summer, the frigates that are now in hand; but I very much doubt it. It gave the marine comm[itt]ee great Satisfaction to find that the Warren had got out. We have since heard that She had arrived at Boston, which we hope will prove true. I hope you will get out the Providence and Columbus. The Virginia hath made two fruitless attempts to pass out Chesapeak. She is order'd to make another. There are four or five Men of war in that bay; but I cannot think it so difficult to pass by them, as it is to pass those in our Bay. Our last accounts from Charlestown S^o. Carolina were, that Cap^t. Biddle⁴ with three State armed Vessels were determined to go over the Bar, and attack several British Vessels of about an equal force with them. I cannot forbear being anxious for the Event.

The marine Committee lately ordered Cap^t. Barry of the Effingham to take the four Boats, belonging to the Frigates which are sunk in the Delaware,⁵ and proceed on a Cruise upon that River. On the 7^th. instant Two of them, the other two had not then got below the city, joined by five boats, half manned, attacked (near Bombay-hook) and took two of the Enemy's transport ships,⁶ one mounting six four pounders, the other two swivels; and also a Schooner⁷ with eight 4-pounders, twelve 4-pound howitzers and 32 men, properly equipped for an armed vessel. They first boarded the Ships, and, learning from them the Strength of the Schooner, Cap^t. Barry prudently sent a flag to the Schooner, ordering the Cap^t. of her to submit, and promising that he and his officers, on compliance, should be allowed their private baggage; whereupon they thought proper to strike. As the ships were loaded, the Schooner, being a suitable Vessel for a Cruiser, he is orderd to purchase and employ on the Delaware so long as he thinks it may be safe. She had in [her] a variety of useful and valuable Articles. This gallant Action reflects great Honour on Cap^t. Barry, his officers and the Crews of those Boats. The other two boats have since got down, and in their way took a small sloop, with fresh Provisions, bound to the City. I expect every day to hear of their further Success. These boats will annoy and injure the enemy more, in my opinion, than both the Seventy fours would, if they were built, equipped and manned,—at least upon the Delaware.

With regard to the Fish M^r. Whipple writes "I have never been able to procure any fish that I think worth sending to you or your friends, they ask 20 dollars pr Quintal for such as I would not by any means make use of. I do not suppose it possible to get any of the first Quality at present, when I can you may depend I shall not be unmindful of your order."

I thank you for the Stick of Sealing-wax. I had been obliged some times to secure my Letters with Wax taken from Letters I had received.

Please to write to me frequently, and send me all the news you can collect. The two armies are in status quo. Nothing material hath lately turned up. You will have heard, before this reaches you, that the intended Irruption into Canada is laid aside. We are obstructing and fortifying Hudson's River, collecting men and provisions &c &c for the next campaign. The last will be the most difficult to accomplish. To have subdued both the British Armies in one Campaign was not more than I expected the last; but it would have left us nothing to do the ensueing Campaign.

With the Aid of Heaven we will crush the Serpent's head next Summer, and force our Enemies to be at peace with Us! I have room only to add that I am Yrs