Nathl Shaw Jr Esqr
Sir

We received by Captain Chew your Letter of the 27th ulto advising your having purchased A Brigantine suitable for an Armed Cruizer in our Navy. On recurring to our letter to you of the 22nd August last, we find that our Orders were expressly that you should purchase and fit out the Schooner taken by Como Hopkins in his return from the New Providence expedition and sent by his Fleet into your Port. Our principal inducement in giving those Orders was, that a Vessel of that kind was then wanted for an expedition we had planned and Commodore Hopkins recommended that Schooner as suitable for our Purpose.

If on examination you found that Vessel defective, you certainly did your duty to decline the purchase of her, but we cannot consider that you were authorized by the Orders we gave you to buy A Brigantine Eight Months after without having first consulted us on that head. Commodore Hopkins never has been invested with any authority from us to order the purchase of Vessels for our Navy arid we beg leave to recommend in future an observance of our Orders only, advising us when you think any alteration of them will be of service to the Public. From what we. have thought proper to say on this subject you will perceive we do not consider ourselves bound to take this Vessel, but as we think the Public service will be benefited thereby we have concluded to take her, and have appointed Captain Samuel Chew to command her. We now request that you will assist him in getting her ready for the Sea with all possible expedition. You will please to put on board provisions &c for A four Months Cruize and make the necessary advances of Money which will be wanted for manning and fitting her out, and recommend your doing every thing in the most frugal manner. Should you have Any Money belonging to the States in your hands for which you are to account with this Committee, you may apply it to this purpose, if not, you may draw on us and your bills shall be paid. You will please to furnish us in due time with accounts of the Cost and outfit of this Vessel with proper vouchers and a List of the Men on board at. the time of sailing. recommending this business to your Attention we remain Sir

Your very hble servants

P:S: This Brig is to be called the Resistance