Sir

I hope this will soon be delivered to you after d[i]spatched from hence as I have received directions from the Marine Committee at Baltimore to send you on A different service to that which the Orders I gave you before you left fort Island directed.²

With this you will receive Letters for William Bingham Esqr the Continental Resident at Martinico and you are immediately to proceed for that Island and deliver said Letters, the purport of them are that he should Ship on board your Ship, a quantity of Arms Ammunition Cloathing and other Stores that we suppose will be lodged there previous to your Arrival. If you find that Mr Bingham has it in his power to comply with this requisition, you are forthwith to receive on board All such stores as he may desire and return with the utmost expedition to the Coast of America in order to get them landed in some safe place, from whence they can be transported by land to our Armies or Magazines. These supplies are exceedingly necessary for the service of the ensuing Campaigne and you cannot render your Country a more essential service than by bringing them soon and safe in. Should it so happen that these expected Supplies are not arrived at Martinico or that Mr Bingham has but A Small portion of them, you may take on board what he has and then proceed to St Eustatia, first consulting with Mr Bingham on the propriety of this measure. At st Eustatia you will call on Mr Samuel Curson, Mr Comeilus Stevenson and Mr Henricus Godet with the letters herein and if they have any of the expected stores receive them on board & should these make quantity or value sufficient retum to America from thence, but should you be disapointed here also, you will then proceed to the Island of Curacoa and deliver the enclosed Letter to Mr Isaac Govemeur; and should you find at this Island Mr John Philip Merkle of Amsterdam ³ who will be at Mr Governeurs; you may consult with him and Mr Governeur whether it is better to take him and his goods on board the Randolph or to ship his goods on board other fast sailing Vessels to come on the Coast under your Convoy; and do therein what shall seem best to them and yourself, but be sure to bring them Safe. Should it so happen that Mr Merkle is not at Curacoa, nor any of his goods you will then proceed to Cape Francois and deliver the Letter herewith to Mr Stephen Ceronio if he has goods or Stores receive them on board, but failing of sufficient there you will go to the Mole St Nicholas deliver the Letter herewith to Mr John Dupuy take in what he has to ship, and then make the best of your way back to the Continent.

As you command the first American frigate that has got out to Sea, it is expected that you contend warmly on All necessary occasions for the honor of the American flag.

At every foreign port you enter salute their forts and waite on the Governor, General or Commander in Chief, asking the liberty of their ports for the Ships of the United States of America. Take care that your people do not molest their Trade nor Inhabitants nor in any shape disturb that good understanding we have with them

Should you take any prizes in the West Indies that are bona fide British property within the discriptions of Prizes as laid by Congress, you may send them into Martinico to the care of William Bingham Esqr — to st Eustatia to the care of Saml Curson junr Esqr — At Curacoa to Mr Governeur — at the Cape Francois to Mr Ceronio, at st Nicholas Mole to Mr John Dupuy, observing that if any part of the Cargoes suit the consumption of the West Indies, and not consisting in such Articles as are wanted here, the Agents of the Prizes may make sale of all such goods and apply the Neat proceeds to the purchase of such supplies as we are in want of, and we will pay here that part of the amount that appertains to you, your Officers and Crew, but the Ships must be sent to some port in these States for condemnation with A Compleat Inventory of what has been taken out, any Prize you take that you think may be disputed or appealed for, must be sent for the States without breaking bulk. The Agents at each place will make the necessary supplies for the charges and expences of your Ship, but you are not to pay any Custom House fees or duties any where. you must encourage as many Seamen as possible to enter on board your Ship at every port you enter and from every prize you take. As the British men of war on the West India stations are not often well manned, it would give great eclat to our Naval Service if you can make prize of one or more of them, and if so you will do well to tempt some of their best Warrant officers such as Boatswains, Gunners, Quarter Masters and their several mates to enter our service, for we would wish you to bring both these and plenty of Common Sailors home to Assist in Manning our other ships of war.When your errand to the West Indies is compleated, you'l observe it is mentioned already that you are to return to some Safe port in these United States of America. The uncertainty of the fate of war makes us cautious of saying positively which shall be the best port. There is little doubt but this will be the most convenient to receive the Stores at, being most Centrical and probably not very distant from the Scenes of Action, and as you are well enabled to defend yourself against most single Ships, and capable we hope of outsailing any of the enemies it appears that you might venture to call at Cape Henlopen or Cape May for intelligence without incurring the charge of rashness, and we will endeavour to keep out some small Cruizers About the time you are expected to give you information. To these you'l shew the signals mentioned in your letter of the 6th instant to ine but least you should forget to keep A Copy I shall repeat that "you are to be known to small Cruizers by a White Jack at the fore top mast head and a pendant over it." Shew this same signal to the Light House and we wiH send down Orders there to answer it by A White sheet if All is well, but to hoist english Colors if you are in danger, and as it is probable some more of the Continental frigates may be out and Cruizing on the Coast, I shall enclose you herein some Signals by which Continental frigates may be known to each other by day or by night, as Copies shall be furnished to each of the Captains and you will duely Observe your part of them. I need not repeat what has been said in your former Instructions respecting the care of the Randolph, treatment of your men and prisoners &c &c but wishing you honor and success I am Sir [&c.]

P: S: If you do your business at Martinico you may bring back the Letters for Messrs Curson Godet, Stevenson, Governeur, Ceronio & Dupuy & return them to R M