Williamsburg Oct. 25th 1776ー
Sir,
Your Letter of the 23d Inst. we have receiv'd and in consequence of your information have wrote to Lieut. Henry Stratton and order'd him down to answer for his Conduct,2 we shall provide the Clothing for the Marines and Seamen as early as possible and shall be oblig'd to you to purchase such Liquor as you may want upon the best terms you can. I am by order of the Naval Board. Your hble Servant
Thomas Whiting 1st Comr
1. Navy Board Letter Book, VSL.
2. Ibid., Stratton, a member of Lieutenant Pollard's company, had not returned from an eight day leave, and did not "intend to return untill four or five Weeks time." He appeared before the Navy Board on October 31 and claimed that sickness had prevented him from reporting back for duty on board the Hero. However, he did return to the galley after conferring with the Board.
