Gentlemen

I receivd yours of October 23rd and have Order'd the Cabot round from Boston — the Hamden is nearly fitted-the new Ships and the Columbus are ready but not yet fully mann'd — if they are not mann'd when the Cabot arrives I believe I shall take the Officers and Men out of the Columbus, and attempt to put your Orders in Execution with all the dispatch in my power — Captn [Nathaniel] Falconer by whom this comes will be a:ble to inform you more fully in respect to our Circumstances —Inclosed you have a Copy of Captn [John Paul] Jones's Letter which I receiv'd last Evening by Mr Walter Spooner the Master of the Alfred who arrived yesterday at Bedford in the Active Prize, I hope the Ship with Cloathing may arrive Safe as that will be of great advantage to the States by Supplying the Army -Mr Spooner informs that the Ship had some Quantity of Arms, and says he heard the Captain Say her Cargo was worth £60,000 Sterling —²

I think it will be necessary for you to Send Orders for the Alfred Providence, and Columbus if She should be left behind directing them how to be Employ'd — it may be best to direct them to the Care of my brother to forward them to whatever Port they may come intoo — I hope you will give some directions in respect to Supplying the Sailors out of the Prize Goods as they will not be able to do Duty well in the Winter without and it is with difficulty we are able to Supply them with any —

I have not been able to find a Small Vessel fit for a Tender and think of making use of the Hamden for that purpose — I am with great Regard Gentlemen [&c.]

To the hon. John Hancock Esqr
President of the Marine Committee
at Philadelphia
p Capt Falconer —