Providence November 25th 1776.
Sir
I am to acknowledge the Receipt of your Letter of the 22d of October last with the inclosed Resolve of Congress, 2 and to inform you that before it came to Hand myself with the other Owners of the Privateer who took the Ship bound to Quebec 3 being desirous that the Continent might have all the Goods in her which were necessary for the Army wrote to General Washington acquainting him with the Capture of the Ship and her Lading. In Consequence of which Brigadier General Mifflin appointed a Gentleman in this Town to purchase the abovementioned Goods who hath accordingly bought the Blankets being near Three Thousand, Three large Hogsheads of stout Shoes being the whole of that Article, and Three or Four Hogsheads of Camp-Kettle~, and is now in Treaty for a large Quantity of coarse Cloths — Linens and Stockings for the same Purpose I am Sir [&c.]
Nichs Cooke
1. Robert Treat Paine Papers, MassHS.
2. Resolve of October 23 reads:
Congress being informed, that a vessel from London to Quebec, [loaden] with dry goods, among which are many blankets and coarse cloths, fit for soldier's clothing, was lately brought into the state of Rhode Island:
Resolved, That Governor Cooke be requested immediately to purchase, at continental expence, for the use of the army under General Washington's command, all the said blankets and coarse cloths; that the blankets be sent to General Washington, and the cloths made up, agreeable to the directions of Brigadier General Mifflin, quarter master general.
Ordered, That the Committee for Cloathing forward the above resolution to Governor Cooke, and acquaint General Washington and Brigadier General Mifflin therewith.
Ford, ed., JCC, VI, 897.
3. The ship Thomas, captured by the Rhode Island privateer sloop Hawke, Captain Arthur Crawford, Providence Gazette, October 12, 1776.
