[Extract]

... Large Ventures have been lately made for military Stores; for which Purpose we are now loading a Ship for Europe, with Tobo at Alexandria; her Cargoe is all on float, & I hope to have her under sailing orders in a few Days ... I have in Conjunction with Mr [John] Dalton, the Charge of providing & equipg arm'd Vessels for the Protection of this River.. The thing is new to Me but I must endeavour to improveby Experience. I am much obliged to the Board for joining Mr Dalton with Me: He is a steady diligent Man, & without such Assistance I cou'd not have undertaken it. We are building two Row-Gallies, which are in considerable forwardness; & have purchased three Sloops for Cruisers, two of them, being only from forty to fifty Tons Burthen, are to mount 8 Carriage Guns each, 3 & 4 pounders, they are not yet fitted up, & we are exceedingly puzled to get Cannon for them; the other, the American Congress, is a fine stout Vessel, of about 110 Tons Burthen, & has such an easy draught of Water, as will enable her to run into most of the Creeks, or small Harbours, if she meets wth a Vessel of superior Force: She mounts 14 Carriage Guns 6 & 4 pounders; tho' we have thoughts of mounting two 9 Pounders upon her main Beam, if we find her able, as we think She is, to bear them: her Guns are mounted, & are to be tryed to-morrow. We have twenty Bars of Powder, & about a Ton of Shot ready; more is making; Swivels we have not yet been able to procure, but She may make a tollerable Shift without, 'til they can be furnish'd; we have got some small Arms, & are taking every Method to increase them, & hope to be fully supplyed in about a week more, her Company of Marines is raised, & have been for some time exercised to the Use of the great Guns; her Compliment of Marines & Sea-men, is to be 96 Men. We are exerting our selves to the utmost, & hope to have her on her Station in less than a Fortnight, & that the other Vessels will quickly follow her, and be able to protect the Inhabitants of this River from the piratical Attempts of all the Enemies Cutters Tenders & small Craft.