Gentlemen —

By the information which this Board has received, it appears there are now several of the Enimies Ships and Tenders in this Bay, and as none of the Armed Vessells belonging to this State can be employed in the Bay, except one Brigantine and one Schooner, which are already order'd down,² the Board are apprehensive they may not be adequate to the purpose of keeping the Cape May Channel clear of the Enimies Cruizers, or of protecting the Inward and Outward Bound Vessells.

They therefore submit it to your honors, whether it wou'd not be for the Publick Service to Order such of the Continental Vessells as are fit for the Purpose down, to Co-Operate with the Vessells belonging to this State.