M^r: John Browne
Sir

On the 3^d instant I put the above Letter into your hand, to which I desire'd you would give a possitive answer immediatly

This you have Neglected to do,—in any Other way then by Absenting yourself from the ship, and Neglecting your duty, 

From this circumstance and many others, togeither with the totall Neglect & Contempt with which you have treated my Orders of evry kind for some time past,—I do conclude, That you Neither intend going in the Ship yourself nor wish that Oth­ers Should go

I Shall therefore write the to The Honb^le Congress to Supply your place with Some person who may be better disposed to cary on the Ships duty then you have been

In the mean time I think it my duty to Suspend you untill the pleasure of Con­gress be known You are Therefore hereby Suspended from the Office of Lieutenant of the Ship Boston in the Service of the united States of America, and are hereby also Strictly forbiden Any farther Exercise of Authourity as an Officer on board the Said Ship or any thing belonging to the Same from the day of the date hereof.

Given on Board the Boston Ship of War in the Harbour of Boston this 9^th day of October 1777.