[Extract]
Dear Sir,

Capt Cook Commander of the Washington came here last Night. I will send a Boat To Morrow to take in the Guns from Peeks Kill intended for her Use. It will be impossible to obtain Men from this Post properly qualified to man the vessel, all that would have been Useful for that Purpose being sent to the two Frigates at Poughkeepsie. Capt Cook thinks that the greatest Part of the Men that were with him last summer are in some or other of the Regiments at Peeks Kill and would wish to have them again as they are good Hands & used to the Business. Capt Palmer wishes to decline the Command of the Shark Galley and I have sent an Express to Capt Leaycraft to come down immediately & take the command. If he should also decline Capt Palmer rather than the service should suffer, will again take the Command of her.

The ship Montgomery I expect down To morrow and the Congress toward the latter End of the Week — It will almost dismantle our Forts if we are to furnish them with Guns. I understand there are Numbers of them at Salisbury — Even if they should have been intended for other Use could it not be so contrived as to secure them for the Frigates during the summer — Among them I am informed there are short Eighteen Pounders which the Ships can well bear in this River — If a General Order was issued offering Encouragements to Persons who wo'd engage to serve in the Ships during the season, a considerable Number from the Country might be obtain'd which would prevent the Regiments from being too much weakened . . .