Onboard the Warren near Providence
Feby 14th 1777 —
Gentlemen
I sent you a Copy of an Agreement Inclosed in a letter of the 19th June last, Sign'd by the Officers and People belonging to the Fleet fitted out at Philada — and as the time for which the Agreement was made is out, and the Men discharg'd, there is likely to be great Uneasiness among the Crews, whether they Shall divide the Prize Money according to the Agreement, or to the Ships Companys that took the Prizes — and as there has been a great many men Shipp'd Since, who did not Sign the Agreement there may be Some difficulty in keeping it Strictly — On the whole it makes So much Uneasiness that it is in a great measure the means of the Fleets not being mann'd, or at least a Considerable hindrance -I cannot but think if the Congress or the Marine Board, would give it as their Judgement that the Agreement Should be kept up to, or that there Should be no notice taken of it, but the Money divided to the Vessels Crews that took the Prizes — Your Judgement either way would have great Weight and perhaps prevent much dispute
Inclosed you have a Copy of Lieutt [Ezekiel] Burroughs's Orders, who has Mann'd the Hamden and will get on a Cruize the first Opportunity — I could get no Officer of higher Rank to take Charge of her, as she is look'd upon as a Slight Vessel. You likewise have a Copy of Captn Olney's Orders who I expect will Sail from Boston in the Cabot in three or four days — and likewise Captn Hinman's Orders to take Charge and get the Alfred out as soon as possible — but I hear he is making Some alterations in the Ship, without any directions from Me — but I hop[e] they may be for the better — Captn Jones I expect up here to take the Sloop Providence, which his Commission is for — and Captn Hacker is trying to get hands for the Columbus, but at present She has none nor the Sloop but few — In the Ship Providence there is about 110 Men, and about 90 in the Warren — there is in the River below us two 50 and one 40 Gun Ships and eight Smaller Ships, besides Tenders — what may be the Event I at present can't tell, although if we could keep the Frigates mann'd, I think they could not hurt us much — but I find it difficult to get or keep men, when there is no prospect of any thing but fighting —
I received your favour of the 10th-December last (but it did not come to hand untill after we were block'd up) which directed me to get the Ships out a Cruizing as soon as possible — but Since applying to Captn Whipple, he Signified he had Orders from you, and Should take no directions from me — Should be glad to know from you, whether you expect me to direct their Operations or not; for I desire no Command further than you Approve off -and whenever you think my Command is. of no Service to the Publick, I will not only agree, but in Justice to the Publick think you Should give the Command to some man that can do more for the Publick Benefit — although it would give me great Concern to be turn'd out for a Crime, it would give me none at all to be displaced for a better man in my Room — and Since there has been Some dispute with the Owners of the Privateers, caused by their too frequently getting the Men belonging to the Continent in their Privateers — I have not the Influence that I used to have, So that it is not in my power to do the same good that I could have done before that happen'd —
This day about half past 3 OClock in the afternoon I receiv'd a message from Coll [John] Waterman, that a large Armed Schooner one of his Britannick Majesty's Fleet was ashore on the Northern part of Prudence — I immediately put men out of the Warren onboard the Sloop Providence, and dispatch'd her under the Command of Captn John B. Hopkins — they got near her about Sun Sett, when the Schooners people put fire to and quitted her — and we Suppose by the time She blew up, that they had fixed a Train to go off about the time they expected our people to board her — however She is effectually destroyed which perhaps may make them more Cautious of coming where they are not well acquainted — I hear the Said Schooner was one built in England for the business I am with great Respect Gentlemn [&c.]