[Extract]
My Dear Sir

Yours of the 21st ulto is come to hand. I hope you have had good luck in launching the ship.²

...the affair of the Agency lays dormant. Captain [Thomas] Thompson is nominated by the Marine Committee for the command of your ship, but not yet confirmed by Congress...

Yesterday one of the Continental vessels that were sent out for necessaries arrived here; she brought 7400 lbs of powder, 149 arms being all she could procure  the rest of her cargo, canvass &c. &c. She had like to have been taken by the Liverpool in this Bay, but two of the small Continental vessels took her and a French schooner under their protection and the Liverpool did not think proper to engage them. Several French vessels from the West-Indies have arrived here with molasses, coffee, linen, &c, one of them was taken by a man of war who examined all the cargo and finding no arms or military stores, and not being willing to affront the French, ordered her forthwith to proceed for France (where she pretended to be bound) having previously taken out the American Master and put him on board the man of war; at night she shifted her course, and came in here.