Captn Edward Allen Sir/

The Brigantine of warr Comet of which you are Captn. being now ready to proceed to Sea on a Cruze having on board nearly a full Complement of Men and Provissions & stores for Three Months, we desire that you will Embrace the first favourable Opertunity to proceed to Sea, And you have our Liberty to Cruze not Exceeding Three Months from the day you Leave Charles Town Barr, in such station as shall appear to you most promiseing of Success, During which time you are to Take, Sink, Burn or Destroy, any Ships Vessells or Goods belonging to the King of Great Britain or to any of his Subjects, excepting the Vessels or goods belonging to the Islands of Bermuda or New Providence, and Should you be so fortunate as to take any Prize be carefull to put on board a proper Officer as prize Master and a Sufficient number of Men to navigate [her] with Orders to proceed to Charles Town, or some Convenient Inlet in the State of South Carolina, and we particularly Recommend, that you take the Captn. and two thirds of the Crew belonging to any Prize (you may take) on board the Comet, and that you give directions for treating your prisoners with the greatest Humanity and Tenderness and that you do use your best En­ deavours to Inlist as many seamen for the Comet as will keep the Complement to Eighty, You are to advise the Commissioners by Letter directed to the first Commissioner of every Transaction worth Comunicating during your Cruze, and that you do frequently cause to be read to the Vessels Company the Rule of the Navy of this State, and the Third Article of the Rules of Decepline and good Government and that you Endeavour all in your power to Cultivate Harmony and good Order among the Officers and Seamen And that you do every Month Examine the Accounts of the different warrant Officers and when found right that you do sign their accounts agreable to the General Instructions given you by the Board — And to prevent any Inconvenience that may arise for want of Credit should you be Obliged to put into any Foreign Port you have herewith a Letter of Credit from his Excellency the President on the agent of the Continental Congress residing at such port, and whatever Supplys you may Receive from him for the use of the Comet you are to Draw Bills on this Board for the amount, and advise the Commissions by every Oppertunity of all such Drafts,

The Commissioners. of the Navy having received Information from his Excellency the President of a Number of Brass Field Pieces and Other warlike stores belonging to this State; being at Cape Francois in the Hands of Monsr. Carabasse they desire that in Case you should put into that port at a time your Cruze may be [nearly] out, and you [are about] to return to Charles Town you will call on Monsr Carabasse and take on board the Comet [as] many of them with their Carriages and Stores as you can Conveniently Bring.