Providence March 9 1776
Mr Thos Durfey 2
Sir I recd a memorandum by Mr. Read for a number of Cannon & Swivels, our Furnace is now going & makeing Cannon but as we have a Contract in part made with our Govert tho not quite settled, for a number of Guns and expect to make for the ships building here, but some of the owners not at home, and not knowing how soon you must have your Guns, puts it out of our power at this present time absolutely to determine an answer for you, but woud have you give us the longest time you Can wait by Reeds return on saturday next, by which time we expect to be able to let you know more fully abot it. Intram [&c.]
N Brown
1. Nicholas Brown Papers, JCBL.
2. Thomas Durfee, of Freetown, Massachusetts, was one of the bonders for the brigantine Rising Empire, a vessel building for the colony. Mass. Arch., vol. 139, 120.
