Philada October 21st 1776
Sir You have herewith a Copy of a letter we wrote you the 20th Ulto by the Sloop Independance Capt [John] Young which we hope may arrive safe as well as the Ship Betsey Capt Stevens and they will furnish you with some Funds in addition to what you received by the Brigt Cornelia & Molly Capt Lockard which is safely returned & by her we received your favour of the 24th Ulto the Contents whereof are very agreable, the Mollasses you remitted us sold high but we shou'd have preferred more Powder Muskets, &c We send this by the Continental Armed Sloop Sachem commanded by Capt James Robinson who we hope will have the pleasure to deliver it in due time
This Vessell we have dispatched for the sole purpose of bringing back such a supply of Blankets, Coarse Cloths, Coatings, Flannells & other Woolen Goods suitable for Winters Wear as you can procure in Martinico they are already much wanted & will be more so, therefore we earnestly entreat You to exert your utmost interest to procure on the best terms you possibly can a large supply of all the above Articles, You may apply what Funds You are already possessed of towards the payment for them & be assured that we shall Continue our remittances untill You discharge every debt you Contract on the Publick Account We must press you to dispatch Capt Robinson with as much of these Goods as he can take in immediately & if you can procure more than he can carry You will please to Charter or buy a Suitable Vessell to bring the surplus under his Convoy but both must be dispatched immediately. We have sent another Vessell to St Eustatia & one to the Cape2 on the like errands & our want of these Goods is so great that many Ship load cou'd be dispensed with therefore send all you possibly can. You will supply Capt Robinson what may be necessary for the Sloops Expences & send his draft for the Amount on the Marine Committee We must not be disappointed of these Goods therefore you must pledge the Credit of the United States pretty freely and we will leave nothing in our power undone to send you supplys but Vessells are Scarce at present, If you charter one or more [to] Send with Goods, Mollasses, Coffee, Sugar &c we will load them all back with flour & Tobacco &c You shall soon hear from us again being Sir [&c.]
1. Simon Gratz Autograph Collection, Case 1, Box 20, HSP.
2. The Continental brig Andrew Doria, Captain Isaiah Robinson, sailed for St. Eustatius, and the Continental brig Lexington, Captain William Hallock, for Cape François.