Providence 15 May 1778
Gentm
We will agree to make you Thirty Twelve pound Cannon at our Air Furnace in the best and Neatest manner at £300 each Gun, allowing them to weigh 24 Cwt. you finding patterns with all their Irons &c Compleat of wch. their must be Three setts, in Order to have one Cast every day, and whatever they weigh more then 24 Ct. being the wt of those made from our Pattern for the ships Warren and Providence,1 You are to Pay for in the same proportion by weight, or we will make you sixty by your Patterns at £300 each without any allowance for the Extra-weight, and will deliver the whole at Furnace Hope2 (where they must be Bored out) as soon as possible. By order and in behalf of the Owners, I am your Hble Servt.
John Brown
"Papers of William Vernon and the Navy Board,” 243–44. Addressed at foot: “Continental Navy Board."
1. Continental Navy frigates Warren and Providence.
2. Hope Furnace, Bristol, R.I.