Dear Sir ー
I write you fully by this Post respecting my Seat at Congress, & takeing the Agencey and my reasons for so doing, but notwithstanding if it should so happen, that much difficulty should arise, and some other Person must be appointed, I think of no Man superiour to Capt Supply Clap, who you know to be an active Man and honest fellow, good Accountant and a staunch Friend to the Cause. Our Ship has her Bowsprit set and head, all compleatly Square to the Gunwail, her bends black, and her paint work primed, round & Galleries built and by everyp Judge looked upon to be the Compleatest piece of Work, ever done in this part of the World, and in my Opinion no better can be done elsewhere ー There has nothing turn'd up, since Colonel [Josiah] Bartlett set out, my kind respect to him, and the Mr Adams's, Colo. [Richard Henry] Lee E[dward] Rutledge, Mr [Roger] Sherman, Govener [Stephen] Hopkins, John Jay ー all Friends I am your assured Friend [&c.]
Communicate this to Brother Bartlett, shall write him next week ー
We can Launch any time ー O! the Guns the Guns
To the Honble William Whipple Esqr.
Member of Congress Philadelphia