[Extract]

I have a long time waited to receive a[n] answer to my Letter respecting the purchase of the Millish, she is to be sold Wednesday Se'night have wrote to Mr [Leonard] Jarvis to purchase her for account of the Contininte, as I have bot only two of the four order'd by the Secred Comitte, I have desir'd him also to purchase the Brig Active, she is about one hundred & thirty Tons, if she goes cheap she is a strong built vessell & doubled forward, having been .in the Greenland trade, [and] Liverpool built ー As she is rather under the Size order'd by the Secret Committe please to say if I shall place her [to] your private Accot ー The Lively's Sale was put off till next tuesday by reason of the Weather, I hope the orders I have given to Mr Jarvis to send the easter [Esther] to south Carolina will be approv'd off as by very late Accots we have certain intelligence that Cheseapeak Bay is full of cruisers, it appears shocking to send so fine a ship without the least prospect of her going clear ー

I dispat[c]hed a schooner the 13 ultimore and yesterday a small Brig for Baltimore to bring Iron for the two ships that is to be built in this State ² I had no discretiony orders therefore was Obligd to send the Brig. I have given the Capn every necess[a]ry precaution, and have orderd him into york River to get intelligence how it is up the Bay for we are Informd the Cruisers are all off the mouth of patomack if he finds that to be [illegible] Case he is to send express to Congress to let them know of his arrival, its possible he may be furnish'd withe the Iron without going farther up . . .