Dear Sir

I embrace this opportunity, by Mr Cabot, to Congratulate you upon our Continental Vessells this day bringing into this Harbour a Ship of between Two and three hundred Tons loadened with fifteen hundred barrells of Powder, One Thousand Carbines and a number of intrenching & Carpenters Tools ー one of the Richest pri[z]es that has as yet been taken ー As Genl Washington has left so few Men for the defence of the Town of Boston it's harbor & the Lines around it, This Colony has been oblidged to raise at its own Expence Two Regiments one under the Command of Colo [Josiah] Whitney & the Other under Colo [Thomas] Marshall of Boston, & also a regiment of the Train under Colo [Thomas] Crafts [Jr.], for the defence of the Town & harbor of Boston and as the Carbines (provided they are not Wanted for the Ships) As well as the intrenching and Carpenters Tools will accomodate these Regiments as well as if they had been sent for on purpose, I heartily wish you could prevail with Congress to make this Colony a present of them or, if they will not do that, to direct that the Colony should be supplied with them, they paying their Value ー I hope the Congress will also order that this Colony should be refunded for the Powder (abt Ten Tons) they have advanced the Continent out of the powder taken in this Prize ー & permitt us also to purchase as much more of it as we want for the supply of our Town ー We shall want a great deal of Powder left here for the Defence of the Works at Boston,² we have got fine works on Charlestown Point, Noddles Island, Fort Hill Dorchester point, & at Castle Island ー The Court also have ordered two row Gallies to be built & some fire rafts. I beg leave to put you in mind that I want some more money for the Ships ー Mr Nathl Carter has furnished me with Thirty five hundred Dollars for which I have given him two Setts of Bills Dated May 12, 1776 on your Self, one sett for 17 hundred Dollars & the other for 18 hundred Dollars, which I doubt not will be punctually paid. If the Carbines will answer for the Marines for the Ships I hope some of them will be applied that way Excuse haste ー I remain [&c.]