Honble sirs
Your honble Chairman Mr Morris, informs me you never Received an Account [of] my transactions Respecting the Sloop James, Capt Gillis that was taken afterwards retaken [and] Carried into Salem, I wrote you fully on that subject under the 16th Decr 2 and informd you that some months before the Committee wrote to me on that matter, the Sloop arrivd at Salem and Cargo was sold, But tho the Sloop was Condemned, they had not sold her till after hearing from Congress, she went off at £200, and being much out of repair and badly found, (being robb'd [by] the Cruisers that had taken her) I thought she sold at her full vallue, nothing could be done [in the] matter but receiving our proportion of Vessell & Cargo the Accounts I now transmit as settled wi[th] the owners, I am sorry to acquaint the honble Board that the Tryton is not yet saild, being disappointed of a parcell pot & pearl Ash, how to mak up a Cargo for her I know not, having only three hundred & twenty T[ie]r[ce]s Salmon, & two trs pearl Ash, yet provided I am in pu[rsui]t of Oil to morrow will determin whether I shall get it,
The Ship Esther was to sail yesterday for Rappahannock the Ship mell[ish] we purchas'd for £ 1020, the Peggy a fine ship one of our prizes Claimed by former owners at philidelphia lays unimprov'd waiting the decision of Congress I shall use my utmost Exertions, to dispatch the Tryton I have the Honor to be with all due Respects Gentlemen [&c.]
the Sum of £973..7.1½ I have
Carried to its proper Credit
