My Dear Sir,

I some time ago desired you to look for-two, fast sailing vessels of about 60 to 80 tons to send here for iron and flour for the use of the Navy since which I am instructed by the Marine Committee to desire that you will immediately send two vessels to this place for those articles, I hope there will be no difficulty in chartering them, this will be a considerable advantage to the State of New Hampshire as great. part of the flour may be disposed of if it should be wanted as undoubtedly will be the case—You'll address these vessels to Messrs Saml and Robert Purviance, merchants here who will give them all possible dispatch, you have liberty to ship in each of them from two to three thousand dollars value in such articles as will best suit this market of which you will be informed by the Price Current inclosed by [for] your govt.

By this conveyance, you'll receive directions from the Secret Committee, to load a ship with masts for France if you can purchase one suitable for masts — this is an article that will be very acceptable there at this time, as in all probability that nation is at the eve of a war — You will also be desired to send two small vessels to St Peters if you can procure suitable cargos for that market. I am apprehensive you'll want money by the time you get through this business, which will be sent you so soon as you let me know what sums you'll want. I wish to be constantly advised of your proceeding and of your wants that I may keep them supplied — the last letter I rec'd from you was of the 25th Novr

Since my last the Lexington arrived here from the Cape — she was bound to Philadelphia but was taken by the Pearl frigate of 32 guns off them Capes, who took out all the officers and put on board 7 or 8 men but the roughness of the weather prevented their taking out the people which were about 70 in number who under cover of the night brought her off and arrived safe here with a very valuable cargo of powder, arms, woolen goods &c — there is also another brig arrived here from the same place and same sort of cargo amounted to 200,000 livres: the last account from the army was 29th ulto — they were then following the enemy and hope they'll not stop till they have either destroyed them or drove them out of Jersey: — the whole number taken at Trenton was about 1100 — among which were 7 field officers — a few more such day's work as that of the 26th will cause our stocks to rise. It's now between 2 and 3 o'clock A M and I can hardly see — you'll therefore excuse this scratch. Your friend &c.