Sir,

The Board of War having charter'd the Brig Freedom of which you are Master, your orders are to proceed direct for St Eustatia where you are to dispose of your Cargo to the best Advantage, and of your Vessel also provided you can obtain not less than Twelve Hundred Pounds W India Currency, and invest the proceeds in the several Articles in the Schedule annex'd, or a proportion of each, which you will ship in such Vessel as the Board may send after you for that Purpose, for which you will recieve proper direction. —

But should no such Vessel arrive within one Month after you, you will ende~vour to charter a small French or Dutch Vessel to bring home your effects, giving them Assurance of being allow'd to purchase any of our produce, and being intitled to every indulgence —

The Vessel must be clear'd for Miquelon or St Peters, and will make the first Harbour in the Eastern Ports of this State, from whence the earliest Notice must be given to the Board by Express.— If you cannot charter a French or Dutch Vessel, you may purchase a small Vessel to bring home your Effects, or freight them in some good American Vessel, bound to this State or New-Hampshire, or you will tarry there, until we send a Vessel to bring you home of which we shall give you due notice — If you cannot sell your Vessel you will take on board the Effects of any Vessel that may have been sold by order of the Board, — together with their Crews, purchase as much Salt as will Serve to Ballast your Brig and proceed home as before directed.

The Board consent to allow you Five pr Cent, on the Sales and two and half pr Cent on the returns of your Cargo, Five pr Cent on the Sales and Return of your Brig, Six Pounds Wages pr Month, Ten Hogsheads Privilcdge out and a customary Priviledge home, in Proportion to the Burthen of the Vessel you come in

Salt to Ballast if you cannot sell your Vessel

[Endorsed] Boston Jany 2d 1776 [1777]. I acknowledge the above to be a true Copy of the orders I have rec'd from the Honble Board of War, & promise to obey the same

Joseph Hudson