Sir Your letters ofthe 14th Ulto directed to the late Saml Ward° Esqr are now before me & have been read to the Secret Committee by whose order I now Answer them. We are sorry for the loss of the Brigt Cap [Josiah] Shackford, but as things now stand we must expect many More losses of the same kind & think ourselves happy if a sufficient number does but return to keep the Continent supplyed with Arms, Ammunition & necessary Cloathing.

We rejoice however to find by your Second letter that Cap Peverly was returned with 6 to 7000 .. lb of Powder, Which .you were lodging in the Magazine; Shou'd the General give any orders for ~his Powd½r or any part of it, you will transmit us A ,Copy of his order.& the receipt of those yo.1,1 deliver it to, in Virtue of such orders and observe the same Method with any other parcels you may receive on Continental Account. Shou'd the Gen] not give any orders the Powder must remain for the future orders of this Committee. We also desire to be furnished in due time with the Invoices of the outward & homeward Cargoes and with 'an the Accounts & Docu.ments relative to the Contracts. this is mentioi;ied at present only to remind you that such will be wanted when the transactions are wound up:

You will find before this gets to h;md, that the Congress have met your Wishes and granted Licenses for Privateering on our Enemys but they have stopped rather short of the Mark, by not including West India Property. We shall be glad to hear of the Success of the other Vessells you have dispatched & are to dispatch to fullfill the Contract & thanking you for the otherintelligence contained in Your letters I remain Sir [&c.J

By order of the Committee. Robt Morris, Chair Man