Sir,

Agreeable to the orders of your Excellency and the Council, I am now heaving down and preparing the Privateer Genl Washington to take her station for the defence of this River, but am much afraid (should even Ball be procured in a short time) She will be delayed much longer than I could wish for want of Hands ー as from this Port being so long blocked up by the King of England's Ships, most of the Seamen have enlisted in the Land Service of the United States. Before there was a Commission for fitting out Armed Vessels in this State, those who did not enlist have gone to other ports, and the encouragement given in the Merchant service and on board private Vessels of War by our neighboring States, so far exceeded the Continental pay that were ever so great a number of seamen here, there would be but very little probability of my shipping a sufficiency of men for the Washington, but as none are to be got here, I see no prospect of her being Man'd without your Excellency in Council could advise me or fix on some expedient, how men may be shipped with dispatch. Most respectfully I am your Excellencys [&c.]