1st. You being appointed a Captain in the Army of the United Colonies of North America,² are hereby directed to take the Command of a Detachment of said Army and proceed on Board the Schooner Hannah, at Beverly, lately fitted out & equipp'd with Arms, Ammunition and Provisions at the Continental Expence.

2nd. You are to proceed as Commander of Sd Schooner, immediately on a Cruize against such Vessels as may be found on the High Seas or elsewhere, bound inward and outward to or from Boston, in the Service of the ministerial Army, and to take and seize all such Vessels, laden with Soldiers, Arms, Ammunition, or Provisions for or from sd Army, or which you shall have good Reason to susspect are in such Service.

3rd. If you should be so successful as to take any of such Vessels, you are immediately to send them to to the nearest and safest Port to this Camp, under a careful Prize-Master, directing him to notify me by Express immediately of such Capture, with all Particulars and there to wait my farther Direction.

4th. You are to be very particular and diligent in your Search after all Letters and other Papers tending to discover the designs of the Enemy, or of any other Kind, and to forward all such to me as soon aspossible.

5th. Whatever Prisoners you may take you are to treat with Kindness and Humanity, as far as is consistent with your own Safety. their private Stock of Money, and Apparell to be given them after being duly search'd, and when they arrive at any Port, you are to apply to the Committee, or to any Officer of the Continental Army stationed at such Port for a Guard to bring them up to Head Quarters.

6th. For your own Encouragement and that of the other Officers and Men, to Activity, and Courage in this Service, over and above your Pay in the Continental Army, you shall be entitled to one third Part of the Cargo of every Vessel by you taken, and sent into Port, (military and naval Stores only excepted, which with Vessels and Apparell are reserved for the publick Service) which 1st third Part is to be divided among the Officers and Men in the following Proportions. Captain 6 Shares, 1st Lieutt. 5 do, 2nd Lieutt. 4 do, Ship's Master 3 do, Steward 2 do, Mate 1½ do, Gunner 1½ do, Boatswain 1½ do, Gunners Mate and Serjt. 1½ do, Privates 1 Share each.

7th. You are particularly charged to avoid any Engagement with any armed Vessel of the Enemy, though you may be equal in Strength, or may have some small Advantage; the Design of this Enterprize, being to intercept the Supplies of the Enemy, which will be defeated by your running into unnecessary Engagements.

8th. As there may be other Vessels imployed in the same Service with yourselves, you are to fix upon proper Signals, and your Stations being settled so as to take the greatest Range, avoid cruizing on the same Ground. If you should happen to take Prizes in Sight of each other; the Rules which take Place among Private Ships of War, are to be observed in the Distribution of the Prize-Money.

9th. In Case of retaking the Vessel of any Friend to the American Cause, I will recommend it to such Person to make a suitable Compensation to those who have done such a Service; but such Vessels are not to be deemed as coming within the Directions respecting other Vessels.

10th. You are to be extremely careful and frugal of your Ammunition, by no Means to waste any of it in Salutes, or for any Purpose, but what is absolutely necessary.

([Endorsed] Sept. 1775 to Captn Nicholson Broughton³ Instructions [Endorsed by Captain Richard Varick] Captn B. sailed the 5th Sept. N.B. his Letter of 7th)