[Extract]

Dear Sir,ー  The Committee have returned, and I think well pleased with their Reception as well as with what they saw and heard. Impressions, have been made upon them either by the New England Gentlemen, or at Head Quarters, much to the Advantage of our Cause I assure you. Their Return has contributed much to Harmony and Unanimity, in all smaller Matters. in the great material Questions there was enough of them before. . . .²

I want to know what is become of the Whalemen, Codfishers, and other Seamen belonging to our Province, and what Number of them you imagine m,ight be inlisted into the service of the Continent, or of the Province, or of private Adventurers in Case a Taste for Privateering and a maritime Warfare should prevail, whether you think that two or three Battalions of Marines could be easily inlisted in our Province.

What Ships, Brigantines, Schooners, suitable for armed Vessells might be purchased or hired, and at what Price in our Province, what their Burthen, Depth of Water, Length of Keel, Breadth, hight between Decks, Age, etc. and to whom they belong?

What Places are most suitable, that is safest and best accomoaated, for building new Vessells, if any should be wanted; and what shipwrights may be had, and in what Time Vessells compleated?

But above all, what Persons, their Names, Ages, Places of Abode and Characters, may be found in our Province who might be qualified to serve as Commanders and Officers, etc.

These are necessary Enquiries, and I am very ill qualified to make them, yet to tell you a secret in Confidence, it has become my Duty.³ There is a Disposition prevailing to spare no Pains or Expence, in the necessary Defence of our Rights by sea or Land.