Providence June 19th 1776
Gentlemen
Herewith yon have the Muster Rolls as deliver'd to me of the Alfred, Columbus, Andrew Doria, Providence and Fly ー the Cabots Captn. [John Burroughs] Hopkins tells me he Sent to Mr James Reed Pay master a day or two before the Brig Sail'd and it will not be in his power to send any further Account till the Brig comes in ー
You also have a Copy of the Account Captn [Nicholas] Biddle give of his I believe unsuccessful Cruise ー You likewise have Copies of all the Orders I have given the several Commanders since I came in here ー also a list of the Warrants and Commissions given to Officers in the several Vessels ー Lieutt [Elisha] Hinman, Lieutt [William] Grinriel & Lieutt [David] Phipps's Commissions and Joseph Shields & Sam! Tiley's Warrants were given in Consequence of Captn [Dudley] Saltonstalls promise before he left Connecticut if they came and brought the Men which we receiv'd below Reedy Island ー As also the Account of Commissions deliver'd up to me and those that are discharged and diserted.
The Columbus is gone out a Cruise ー the Providence and Fly went out but were drove in by a Ship supposed to be the Cerberus ー whether they are gone out since I can't tell, but I believe not without they went this day ー The Andrew Doria will go out in a day or two ー I shall go down with the Alfred in two or three days to Newport and there Mann her if possible, though am in doubt whether I shall be able without help from the Commanding Officer there for some of his Men. The General Assembly gave me twenty Men for the Providence & twenty for the Columbus to enable me to Send them out who are to be return'd when the Cruise is over ー I think it will be impossible to Mann the New Ships without taking them out of the Army, or a General Embargo which will be in my Opinion much more for the publick Good ー the Enemy taking so many Merchant Vessels will in time get almost all the Seamen in their hands besides supplying them with Provisions when if encouraged small Privateers would bring in more Goods, and if taken would be of no advantage to them save the Men they took in them ー It is not possible to get Seamen while the Merchant Vessels give 12, 14 & some 16 dollars pr month ー
I think you will soon find it necessary to order to be Condemn'd all Vessels bound to Great Britain, Newfoundland and Halifax, where ever Own'd as they soon will have all the Vessels and Goods Covered as West India Property when we know that they never send none without Insurance in England ー
You likewise have a Copy of an Agreement Signed by the Ship Alfred's Officers & most of the Company, similar Articles were Sign'd by the Columbus, Andrew Doria, Cabot, Providence & Fly's Officers and Company some few People onboard each Vessel excepted ー I am in some doubt whether it may not cause some disputes without the Congress will interfere and Resolve that the Article shall be Strictly adhered to by the whole of the several Ships Crews.
Lieutt Hacker has Commanded the Fly ever since we took her into Service, and has behaved so well that I think he deserves a Captains Commissn from you. Lieutenant Hinman is now out in the Cabot as Commander of her and I believe is a good Officer, and I can't tell where you can mend it if you should give him a Captains Commission ー Mr [John Paul] Jones as the oldest Lieutenant now Commands the Providence who I hope will behave so well as to be continued ー
Inclosed you have a Copy of what Money I have Advanc'd to particular People which should be lodg'd with the Pay Master ー the Money Advanc'd by the several Commanders and some by Mr [Nathaniel] Shaw to the Seamen I have not been able to get from them Save the Cabots which Mr Reed has had some time.
You also have an Account of what Cannon & Stores were deliver'd at New London & Rhode Island together with a Copy of a Letter just Receiv'd from Captn [Abraham] Whipple of the Columbus.
I send these by Captn [Samuel] Nicholas who I have given leave to goto Philada partly on his own business and partly with design that he may give you any information which you may think necessary to be inform'd of which may have Slip'd my attention as I think him very Capable of giving you an impartial history of our whole proceedings ー I am with great Respect [&c.]