Dr Sir

Considering it will soon be if it is not already Necessary to appoint Commanders for the Continental Frigates, and sensible how much depends on having the best in the different Colonies as well on Acct of their Courage & experience, as on their Abilities Skill & Judgment in Maritime Affairs, I take Liberty to Nominate those in Connecticut who I am confident deserve the preference to any in That Colony being well acquainted with the Gentlemen, who have followed the Sea for the last Fifteen years, and I do it the rather as I know that the Gentlemen Delegates from the Colony are not so immediately acquainted with them ー as I nominate without any Sollicitation I do it disinterestedly-Captn John Deshon of New London, is an experienced Seaman, a Man of Temper, firmness, who carries good Command and is well beloved by Seamen as well. as higher Orders of People in . the Colony-Capt Ebr Whiting of Norwich, served if I mistake not, as a Major in the Land Forces of Rhode Island last Warr (then young) since which he has been Master of a Vessel, & much approved of, he is possessed of a Military Genius, I may almost say hereditarily, as Govr Hopkins well knows, his Reputation for Courage, as well as skill & ability in Naval Operations is good, as well as his Family & Connections which might be of service in procuring Seamen &c-Capt Jeremiah Wadsworth of Hartford is a Young Gentleman of abt 28 Yrs of Age, a very able, experienced & judicious Seaman, of good Genius, good Education, & has much resolution, address & at the same Time Oeconomy in dispatching the Business he undertakes, as any Man I was ever acquainted with in my Life, and is as highly esteemed in the Colony as any Man of his Age, in whatever Rank the others May be Capt Wm Griswould of Wethersfield has had long experience at Sea & commanded a Shipp of 20 Gunns In the Turk[e]y or Levant Trade to which Command he raised himself by service, having Neither [Posit]ion or Money to assist him, supposing he had made sufficient to Live on, he returned a few years since to his Native spot in Wethersfd he is abt 40 Years of Age & very Active & I believe from some late unfortunate incidents in Trade would be willing to be employed-Capt Jno Cotton of Middletown has followed the Sea from his infancy (as I may say) has sailed in Mr [John] Alsops employ who knows him well, & I refer to him for his Character, he has served formerly as an inferior Officer in the Navy, & last Warr in a privataer ー Captn Saml Chew of N Haven I have heard a good Character of, I know him to be a very active Man, and that he has had a.good Opperty for Experience ー Capt Seth Hardin[g] & Capt Robert Niles both of Norwich I should have mentioned particularly but I have heard they were in the Colony employ-I have Mentioned those most like to answer the expectations of the public, in that Colony, as Captains or Commanders of any one of the Frigates. I have neither Interest in or Connection with one, more than another, I have a right therefore to say that I am confident, that if either Whiting, or Wadsworth, are appointed they will answer the expectation of the public-give me leave to suggest as No Time ought to be lost it would be well to submit the recommendation of inferior Officers to Gentlemen of Character in the Colony ー I directed my Brother, who superintends the

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Building of the shipp in Connecticut to submit all his Accts & proceedgs to a Commee at Middletown, these were Messrs Richd Alsop. Philip Mortimer, Titus Hosmer, G. Phillips & Co[mfort] Sage ー I can only say, should any such Measure be adopted, you may Rely on the Recommendation of these Gentlemen who are persons of first Character, & who will not disappoint you ー whereas attending to Casual Lettrs of Recommendns will I apprehend be liable at least to be very prejudicial to the Cause & perhaps have the disagreeable effect of disgusting the people when the Men are to be raised 3I trust I shall be excused my Freedom, when you recollect, that a Naval Armament, has from the first been my favorite Object I am Dr Sir [&c.]

Silas Deane