Sir

Under the 18 Inst I wrote you fully respecting the Brig Unity, [Michael] Corbit late Master ー not knowing whom to address further on that Subject, I again take the Freedom to trouble you with the enclosure of a Copy of the Letter from Mr Schaltenbrand, already forwarded you ー and a Letter from Mr [Andrew] Slyfield the Mate of the Brig-being the first I have received from him ー Also a Letter signed by him and directed to Mess Bailey.& Brown, dictated I presume by his Attorney ー Wherein it is desired a Power of Attorney might be sent to enable Slyfield to recover the Money left in Shaltenbrand Care ー These Papers with three others enclosed were brought me by Isaac Noyes, one of the Carpenters belonging to the Brig-& whom Slyfield dispatched home for that Purpose I have already mentioned that Bailey and Browns Names were used in a Set of sham Orders, Copy of which I now enclose, because the Register of the Vessel was taken out by them 2 ー The Real Orders signed by myself in

Behalf & by Order of the Colony, were so secreted by Corbit, that I don't think even Slyfield has them ー Corbit was to have assigned the whole business over to some capable Person in Case of his being sick ー I am apt to think He communicated his Plan to Mr Schaltenbrand with whom He left his Money-but being taken delirious on keeping his House, and dying suddenly, had not Time to direct in writing the future Disposal of the Interest ー The Merchant appears to me to have acted an honest fair Part-and p[er] his Letter to understand Business ー The Mate on his Part seems to act on good Principles ー I send this packet by the said Carpenter,

Mr Noyes, that you may interrogate him ー He tells me the Brig would fetch from two thousand to 2500 Dollars ー that by laying in St Thomas so long She must be much worm eaten ー and unfit in some Degree to proceed the Voyage I took the Freedom to propose to you ー I would beg Leave to offer my Opinion in the present Situation of her and the neat Proceeds of her Cargoe ー That some discreet Person be sent immediately to St Thomas with full Powers from Bayley and Brown ー that He gets the Money from Mr Achaltenbrand in the easiest Manner He can ー that He then sells the Vessel, paying & dismissing all the People ー and invest the whole Money left, in such Way and Manner as the Colony shall think proper ー Or when He has got the Money from the Merchant that He proceed therewith in the Brig in any Voyage thought best ー The Sloop bound to St Croix from this Place sails next Week ー it will be a direct Opp[ortunit]y to send ー A Determination soon will be most for the Interest of the Concerned ー as perhaps no other Passage may present

Mr Noyes has brought an Order on me for the Wages due him ー I have no Money of the Colonies in my Hands, having settled and balanced the Accounts of the Brig with the late Committee of Supplies ー There will be due him for Wages the 30th of this Month twenty-Eight pounds 2 /8 ー 28 .. 2 .. 8 for his Expences from York to Newb[ury]poi-t ー 12 for his Expences to Watertown with this Intelligence ー & Horse Hire ー Which Sum you'll oblige him & me by paying ー his Family wants Supplies ー I will be Sponsor that He shaJl make no further Demands on Acct of the Brig ー as well as for any other Monies He may have taken up on her Accountー

You'll please to communicate this, to those under whose immediate Department it falls ー from whom I hope to hear further by return of Mr Noyes.-Being with Respect-Sir [&c.]

Tristram Dalton [Endorsed] In the House of Represent[ative]s March 29 1776 Read and ordered that the 'same with the papers accompanying it be Committed to a Comtee of both houses and that Mr [Seth] Cushing and Majr [Stephen] Cross be of the Com tee on the part of the house. Sent up for Concurrence JWarren Spkr In Council March 29th 1776

Read and concurred & Chas Chauncy Esqr 1s joined Perez Morton D Secy