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This will be handed you by Capt [Samuel] Tucker or Capt [Daniel] Waters, both of whom, Set off immediately for Baltimore, these gentlemen have Commanded two of the Continental Schooners and tho' lv'e but little Acquaintance, with them, yet their known good Charectar, and the Services they have done the States in takeg so many valuable prizes, no doubt will meet the approbation of the Honbl Marine Committee —

The letter from the Honbl Committee of the 10th Deem. (by which I see Capt Thomson [Thomas Thompson] is order'd to Sea) Convinces me that Several of my former letters have Miscarried, upon which I tho't it Necessary to Send off Some Person on purpose, that I might be Certain that the Honbl Committee k[n]ew the Situation of my business, but, as that would be expensive and those gentlemen going up, who have kindly offer'd to Bring any money &c that I might want or Transact any other Matters made me Conclude to Send by them

I now must beg the Patience of the Honbl Committee while I Remind them, of what I wrote in a number of letters (to them) and to Colon Whipple, (who no doubt Communicated the Matters) from April Last — The Ship Raleigh was Raised in March, Launched Compleated to the gunwale; graved fit for Sea, abt the 21st May last, before which time every Mast and yard were Compleat to go on and, all Her Riggg Compleatly fixed even her gun takes [tackles] were Rove; as to her Sails they were not made untill some time after, for the want of Canvas, but could the guns have been procured for her at that time, I could have had the Sales of almost all the vessells in the River, to fit her out, but, this Step was unnecessary while there was no prospect of guns, — the whole of her Carriages were ready the day she Launched, all to puting them together, which cannot be done without the guns -her full Complemt of hands at least three quarters Seamen Stood ready to go on board, in forty eight hours — Such was the Situation of this Ship and as I wrote the Honbl Committee at that time, she might, (could we have had the guns) have gone to Sea Compleatly built in the best manner. Vittualed and well maned by the first day of July followg, which would have been in less than four months from the day she raised — I do not mean to take the Whole Credit to myself by any means, but by the kind Assistance of every workman, and indeed of every person, who could give any Assistance, I was able to give the greatest dispatch tho' I hope I may say with out boastg that I'm tolerably well Aquainted with ship matters — these are facts which cannot be Contradicted not even by my worthy Friend at Providence

the Honbl Committee have been fully inform of what has happend since Respectg the guns at Providence, therefore shall not Repeat. — When Capt [Nathaniel] Falconer, was here he inform me that the guns at Connecticut was ready for the ship Trumble [Trumbull], but as he tho't she would not get out, I [illegible] Recommended my haveg the guns for Capt Thompson; I immediately wrote to Colon! Whipple to inform the Honbl Committee, and desired to have them order'd for this ship Capt Falconer also told me he would write the Honbl Committee, and when he got back would mention the Necessity of haveing them guns, here, — I soon after sent to govenor Trumbul, abt the guns Desireg he would furnish them if Passable. I Recd a Polite letter from that gentleman, informg me that the guns which were for their ship, was Deld the Agent, Mr Dean [Barnabas Deane], and from the Sutuation of the furnice he could not promise the guns, — abt this time I Recd a letter from Colona! Whipple in which he mentiond, that the guns at Connecticut were order'd or Recommended for the Raleigh, which made me think that I was sure of them, immediately Desire'd Capt Thompson to proceed to Boston or even to Connecticut, to See after them and have them hawled by land. when he got to Boston he found that Mr Dean the Agent at Connecticut had been there, and that one Mr [Richard] Derby who was imployed to get guns with Capt Manly, had Agree'd with Mr Dean for all the twelve pounders he had; for Manlys ship, at a Certain price and Commission — and that no guns were left for us axcept those which are improper Size; This appeared to Me to be Strange Sort of Conduct. that after the guns had been order'd for me, (and the property of the Contin[e]nt) should by the influence of either Agents or Captains be appropriated another way, at a Certain price, with a Commission, as I understand the Matter from Boston, — by all which the Honbl Committee will See that the Raleigh is without guns or any prospect of them, unless we can get them Cast at Massachusetts by takeing the pig Iron Ballast out of the Alfred, for that purpose, which Capt Thomson, who is now at Boston is endeavouring to effect. —

It is a Matter of great Concern to me to See this ship in this Situation, her bottom intirely foul and must be Cleand before going to Sea, the most part of her men left her, Seeg no prospect of guns, much Provision &c expended, the whole of her Ballast, Water, wood, Shot, and aU Stores must come out in order to Clean the Ship before going out. when I think of the pains Iv'e taken to get this Ship Dispatched the great Prospect I had of it, and the Disappointment Ive met with in the guns, after being at much expence and leaveing no Stone unturned, to procure them, and all in my opinion oweing to the influence, and unfair dealings of Some people imployed in Publick business, and to think that after all the first ship ready (by at least Six months if not Eight) should be the last Served, is I con£ess the most humiliateing Circumstance of my life — I Humbly Submit this matter [to] the Honbl Committee and shall go on to do my best to get her guns —

Capt Roches ship has been raised Some time, the whole of her timber Cut and hewed in the woods Six weeks but the hawlg has been Such that it has been impassable to get the Timber in — but I hope soon to give her Dispatch — by virtue of a letter from Colona! Whipple, I am Cuting and Procureing large Parcel of timber and plank, &c. for the Seventy four. the Dementions and order for which, I hope Soon to Receive Inclosed is Sketch of the Honbl Committee Acct Curret by which they'll See the Necess[i]ty of my haveg a Considerable Sum of money Sent for the use of the Several vessells which I hope will come immediately by the Bearer's or Some other way or the business will be Retarded, lv'e got the Iron for Capt Roche's Ship, but shall want forty or fifty Tons for the Seventy four gun ship — the Honbl Committee will See by the Acct that Iv'e no money in my hands; and that for to Compleat the Raleighs bills (which never can be done, till the guns are on board, and the men enter'd) for Capt Roches Ship Timber plank Iron, Labour, Cordage Sail Cloth, guns, which we are procureing, with all Stores, for Procureg Timber, Plank, Masts, &c for the 74, all which might be done this winter, will amount to very large Sum of money (without which it will be impassable to go on with Dispatch) which the Honbl Committee will please forward on in part, as soon as may be, as Iv'e great Number of Carpenters and other Tradesmen at work who must be paid every fortnight or three weeks, b.esides the Cost of materials Iv'e Advanced what little Stock of money I had already for the Service — I beg leave to Congratulate the Honbl Committee on the glorious Success of our Arms, every person seems to have new Spirits, and ready for Action —

with all due Respect I have the Honour to be [&c.]

P.S. The Captors of Ship Royal Exchg prize have been pd off some time past Honble Jno Hancock Esqr
President of the Honble Marine Committee —