In Secret Committee of Congress

Honorable Gentlemen

Baltimore Feby 18th 1777

You will receive herewith a Copy of our Letter of Yesterday by the Lexington with its enclosures. This goes to Boston for a Passage from thence. An armed Vessel belonging to that State will carry the dispatches, & will be governed by your directions respecting her Load back, & the Time of her return. Should you have failed in obtaining the Loan, or of getting the Cloth, Cloaths, &c mentioned in the Resolve of Congress, you will please turn the Vessel over to Messrs Thomas Morris & William Lee, or either of them to receive such Continental Cargo as they may be enabled to send in her. Unless you should be of Opinion that the public Service requires that she should return immediately to North America with your dispatches, in which case you will direct what you judge best for the public good. We are with perfect esteem, honorable Gentlemen [&c.]