Sir

In answer to yours of the 16th acquainting me that my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty desire to know what money I have received on freight onboard the Ship I command, from whom, and by what leave or permission, and to whom consigned: I beg you will please to acquaint their Lordships, that I have received onboard, between Seven and Eight thousand pounds, from Messrs Barnard and Apthrope Merchants in London, it is consigned to Nathaniel Coffin Esqr Deputy to the Treasurer of the Customs in America, the time I received it, was under orders for Boston and did not know it was necessary to ask leave to take it onboard and I intended acquainting the Commanding Officer at Boston on my arrival there and taken his permission before I landed any part of it. I am Sir [&c.]