Hon^d Sir

This you will receive by M^r Angell¹ Lieut of the Defence, he waits upon your Excellency for the determination of the Councill of Safety, respecting the fitting out the Vessells now in the Harbor of Boston-several Officers have arriv'd since I wrote by Capt Perkins,² who will be oblig'd to lay still untill M^r Angells return, I doubt not I should be able to obtain many good Seamen if I had orders so to do — I must refer your Excellency to M^r Angell for the particulars relating to each Vessell, especially the Defence, as we are very uncertain about preparing her rigging, Capt Harding was for Rigging her into a Ship, and most people are of opinion she could make a better Ship than Brig. I have given M^r Angell a Survey of the Defence,³ properly certified, and hope to receive full directions when he returns — We shall want two pair of Six pound Cannon — if we had all Sixes itwould be better — M^r Angell will give your Excellency an account of the Stores we shall want from Connecticut — My brother some time since forwarded 7 bolts Russia Duck to Lebanon, we shall have occasion for that and a large Quantity besides. — I will take the most prudent measures for obtaining the Stores to be purchas'd in this place. — I remain [&c.]