Committee of War ー
Gentlemen ー

I have a Ship of thre Hundred & fifty Tons, & a Brigt of two Hundred& Eighty, at Portsmouth, nearly Loaded ー I shall be willing to Charter them to the state if the terms will sute me ー they have as Cargo upwards of five Hundred Thousands of Boards, Hopes & Staves-about One Hundred Cask of Herren & some Shingles ー I am Content you should have the whole paying me the first Cost & Charges ー together with five pr Cnt Commishons ー or to pay me the price set by this state Clear of any Charge or Commishons ー the Vessels you shall have at Nine Shillings pr Ton a Month to take them from the time they were ready to go to Portsmouth ー I suppose you have not given more then 8/ but such Vessels Cannot be maintaind at this time for Nine Shillings ー The Vessels I Loaded for Cape Frances ー Capt Nathal Silsbee was to have had the Management of the Business I think I Can Recommend him as a Person fit for any Business at that Place ー the Ship Shall be Dischargd & paid of[f] on the delivery of her Cargo at the Cape ー the Brigt Shall Likewise be Dischargd & paid Provided she Can be sold to my mind ー if not she must be in pay till her arivall in this State, & paid of[f] here the state to pay the Charge of Loading, the Wages & Provisions & the Customary Port Charges abroad ー the State of Insure 150 £ on each Ship more then the first purchese of them at Vendue on Acctto of the Expence I have been at ー

I Loaded these Vessels for my Acctto but I Suppose the Embargo will Remain till late in the Spring when the Danger will be too great for me to Risk them to go of[f] this Coast ー wich is the Only reason of my letting them ー
the Vessels might soon be put to sea as they have most of their stores now on board ー I will part with them as they Cost me & will assist in getting them Out my self if agreabel ー I Shall. Choose Capt Silsbee Should go in the Ship ー the Brigt you will appoint a Master ー or leave it to me as You like, I have left the Matter with Capt Silsbee any agreement from him shall be Acknowledgd by Your [&c.]