Sir

Congress have been pleased to authorize me to "Equip Officer, and Man, the Ranger as well and as soon as possible"—of course no person hath a right to contradict any nec­essary Order which I have given or may give for that salutary purpose.—My Orders will always speak for themselves and I am Accountable to Congress alone for their propri­ety.—As I have previous to my Concern with the Ranger paid off two Continental Ships without having any Settlement I should have no Objection to carrying any Public charge to the debit of my private acco^ts. did not the proposition look contracted and ill Natured. In short, I expect my Order to be duely Honored meantime I am [&c.]