Boston Dec 16 1776
Dear Sir.
I have received your favor of the 16 November, hope the express will arrive very soon with the Cash or I shall not know what to do. The ship Hancock is arrived from Newbury Port into this Harbour. It was thought she could not by any means lay with safety at Newbury, Capt Manly has therefore exerted himself to get her Round, and has been obliged to be at very considerable expense to execute this business at this season of the year, pray inform me whether I am to provide Sloops for the seamen, and whether it is not the Business of the captain. I think by the rules and regulations of the Navy, it be longs to the captain; however, if Congress orders that they should be purchased and laid in the charge of the Continent for the use of the sailors I shall obey. Capt Manly says that you told him you should give me directions to pay the officers of the ships their back wages or arrearages. I find their commissions are all dated the 10th of October last, but you must be sensible they were appointed and have been employed in the service of the ships long before that time, please to let me know your mind upon this subject. This State has not as yet been able to procure the Cannon for the Hancock, and I know not when they will, please to let me know if the Congress will allow the enormous price of one hundred pounds and ten for them to the owners of the furnace in Rhode Island provided I can prevail with them to cast them. I wrote to you sometime ago upon this head but have not as yet been favoured with an answer. The sooner I have the mind of the Congress upon this head the better. The ship might go to sea in Ten days if she had her guns and men and I could procure some Duck for her light sails. Capt Bradford the Continental Agent tells me there is a considerable quantity of light Duck under his care in one of the Continental prizes which he has wrote to Congress about, but as he does not know but they will order him to send it to the Southward he dares not part with it, pray send him orders to Deliver me as much of it as I may want for the ships, as also any other article he has that will be of use for the vessells. I remain with great Respect [&c.]
Thomas Cushing.
P.S. Pray send me answer by the return of this Express, who carries a letter from the Council which renders it needless for me to write you relative to the proceedings of our Assembly. The Hon John Hancock Esq.
1. The Historical Magazine (Morrisania, N.Y., 1868), 2d series, IV, No. 6, 282.