Honoured Sir

I am Extremely Sorry to take up one moment of your attention Engaged as it is in concerns of the highest Import to the United American States: But Seeing without your kind Interposition I may be Materially Injured, I hope you will Excuse Me.

your Excellency was pleased to appoint Me one of the agents for the Continental armed Vessels, which office I have Endeavourd to discharge with diligence and Fidility: and Conducted, I would fain Suppose, to your satisfaction. Among other things, when the Ship Hope, Laden with powder, was taken, I hasted to Pulling point Gut through which they attempted to Carry the Ship to Boston, But she got aground, So I procured Small craft and Before Night got out Twelve Hundred Barrils of powder. I procured a guard of one Hundred & fifty Men from General Ward, Lest the Enemy Should take the Ship By their Boats in the night. I Engaged the Best Pilot in Boston to Carry up the Ship, But he despaired of doing it in the Night, Because he Could Not See the Marks, as the Channel was Crooked, I told him I did Not chuse to trust her their that Night, and that She must be got up, he Said it was Impossible, I theri proposed placing at anchor a Number of the Small Vessels with Lanthorns on Board them at the Shallow places and Bends of the Channel: and after they were thus Stationed, the Ship flitting and the wind Being fair, we made sail and got up her to Boston Safe at anchor off the wharf Before day Light, and Iand fatigue the whole Cargo was secured. on account of this Business for ceased Not till with vast labour four days and three nights I did not pull off my Cloaths, and scarcely Slept at all, afterwards I Libelled the Ship & Cargo, and attended the trial and Condemnation, in one word, I have taken the whole care of them, and Nothing Now Remains, to be don, But Makeing sale of the Ship and a few articls that are not Military Stores, the work of a day. in this Stage of the Business Mr John Bradford of Boston Steps in and desires to Sell this Ship Hope and her Cargo, and Claims a Commission on Some others against which I have Either finished or Commenced Proscution, I will take the Liberty fairly to State his Pretensions, he Recd in a private Letter, about Six weeks Since from Mr [John] Hancock Informing him, that through his Friendship he was appointed agent for all prizes Brought into this Colony, and that his Commission Should be forwarded as Soon as Might be, and advising him when he Should Rec[eiv]e it to make known his appointment in the Public Newspapers, this Letter Mr Bradford communicated to Me, asI have Reced No Intimation of this from your Excellency, who appointed Me an Agent, Nor from any person under the Authority of Congress and as Mr Bradfords Commission has Not arrived, and perhaps Never May, Ithought it my Duty Not only to My Self But to your Excellency, and the Continent, to Continue acting in that Capacity as far as Respected those Vessels that comes in My hands, those that have Been since Brought in, to avoid any Colour of disputes I have Not Meddled with; under these Circumstances I flatter myself My Conduct will Receive the approbation of yourExcellency and the Congress and if your Excellency Shall judge it Expedient a Line from the Marine Committee of Congress May Settle this Matter as in Justice it ought to be, which is all I wish, Mr Bradford has Lately Recd a Letter from the Marine Committee which Considers him as agent Respecting Some Matters yet to be done, this with Mr Hancocks Letter is all that give him any authority. I hope I Shall be Excused for thus Troubling you. andwas afraid the publick Service would Suffer by an altercation Between us, the Captors, I I shall Esteem it a favour if your Excellency will give directions to have the Military Stores taken in the Ship hope appraised in order that the Captors may [get] their Shares as they are grately in want of many of them  I am with the utmost Respect [&c.]