[Shipyard, Maryland] July the 9, 1776.
Gentellmen/
I have yours of yesterday with a list of Vessels. There is many People that have Vessels would be glad to get your Money for them, wether they ware sutebel for your use or not. Will have as fine a Vessel of our own, as almost any in this Bay, and gos pretty fast. I want to sell her very much but am afraid she would not answer the end you want her for. Mr Spriggs now gos fast and will carklated to be lenthen'd by putting 10 feet in her. She will draw but litell water, and I think will go very fast, but I may be mistaken in her Sailing tho she sertainly sails fast now. I will be off on Friday, and go to Baltimore for you or the Eastern Shore tho your business requires my being in the yard. I will do what you think most advantages for the Province. I think to get Capt. [John] Kilty to go to the Eastern Shore and will git him to come up with me for that purpos. I se the most of those Vessels you send a list off must be in Nanticoke and Wicomico as these two Rivers are block't up how are you to get them out if they shuld sute your purpose. John Ball has aplyed to me for to get the building one of the Row galleys which I have no objection to. If you think well off it. The more of them that are abuilding in one yard the more hands will be employed, tharefore wee shall bee beter ab[le] to protect them from the enemy tho I should be glad Mr Ball and Every honest man should have part of the Province business.2 I am Gentelmen [&c.]
Stephen Steward.
1. Correspondence of Council of Safety, Md. Arch.
2. The Council on July 12 requested Captain Kilty and John Bull to examine vessels for sale on the Eastern Shore. Ibid., Council of Safety Journal, 29 August 1775 to 20 March 1777.