Dear Sir

I wrote you of yesterday's Date by an Express under Cover to General Washington, when I inform'd you every Circumstance that Occur'd necessary for your Go[v]ernment as to the Ships. I hope soon to hear of your having Rec'd my Letter & the Twenty five thousand Dollars as well as the plans all which I Sent under the Care of Coll [John] Bull & that I shall soon have a Rect for the money. I have been oblig'd to Detain Mr Avery longer than I intended, owing to the urgent Business of Congress & the necessary attendance of the Members in Congress, which has prevented the Meetings of the Marine Committee & of Consequence Retarded their Business, which has Delay'd Mr Avery. I now inclose you the Dimensions of every thing necessary for your Guidance in matters respecting the Ships & other Appurtenances, what further Occurrs to you necessary, let me Know & the Directions shall be transmitted you. I now Beg you will Set every Wheel in Motion, employ every Man that can be usefull in the different Branches, procure every Necessary that can be obtain'd with you, the Deficiencies Acquaint me of, & I will Endeavour to Supply them from hence, in short Exert every Nerve to promote Dispatch, let the heads & Galleries for the Ships be neatly Carv'd & Executed, I leave the Device to you, but by all means let ours be as good, handsome, strong, & as early Compleated as any that are building here or in any of the other Colonies, for your reputation & mine is at stake, & there are not wanting those who are fond of prejudicing both. I have order'd Two hundred pieces of Duck from New York Set the Sail Makers at work. Iron I hope you will find with you if not let me know as soon as possible, & I will send some, tho' at the present there is none to be purchas'd in the City owing to the badness of the Roads.

I send you by Mr Avery a further Supply of Money in Bills & Dollars, the Bills I took to oblige the Gentlemen, please to Return them immediately to me if not honour'd, & if paid Send me a Receipt for the whole Sum, & Employ the Money in the Service of the Ships for the Publick Accott ー The Bills & money as follows, Vizt

Do be Careful! to Engage good Blockmakers & let every Article be well Executed.

In writing my several Letters to you previous to this Date, I had not time to take Copies I must therefore Beg at your Leisure you will please to favour me with exact Copies of all together with the first instruction deliver'd you on your leaving Philada this as soon as you can.

I was in hopes of being able to Send you the Dimensions of Rigging &c, but the Committee are not Ready, however if you are Ready before you hear from me, do not wait, but Employ the best Judges and follow their Advice, I however Inclose you the Estimate of the Report with respect to Cables & Anchors, the other smaller Cables & Anchors necessary Determine with you if you do not hear timely from me.

I have nothing New to Communicate. Do write me often & give me every Occurrence. I hope you will Send me my Commission as Major General that I may Appear in Character I assure you this Appointmt pleases me, I think I know a little of the Duty, & on my Return I will Endeavour under the Direction of your Board to put the Militia upon a Respectable footing, I will not be wanting.

My utmost Exertions shall never be withheld for the Good of my Colony, whenever they can be usefull they shall be Employ'd in the Service however Dangerous, and I Defy Malice itself to Contradict the Sincerity & uprightness of those assertions.

I beg to be Remembred to all Friends. The Inclos'd Letters I Beg you will order to be Deliver'd, that to Mr [William] Bant is of Consequence, I therefore Request your particular Care of it.

Mrs Hancock Joines me in best Respects to your good Lady, & Family & I am [&c.]