Sir

We have received your Letter of the 3^d. of March, and must confess that it gives us great concern that you should have been thrown into so disagreeable a Situation for want of a proper supply of Money.¹ So great and so frequent have been the demands on the Treasury for that necessary article that it hath been out of our power to furnish the Navy Board agreeable to our wishes.² It is on this account principally that we have wrote to them directing them to stop the building of the seventy four gun Ship at Portsmouth.³ You will drop the building of her for the present & take proper measures for securing and seasoning the Timber provided for her. We shall procure an order on the Treasury or a Warrant on the Loan Offices eastward if possible to enable them to supply you with some money; hereafter when the great departments of the Army shall have been supplied therewith, we will endeavour at the payment of all our debts, and don't doubt but that we shall be able to accomplish it, in the meantime you must make yourself and your Creditors as easy as possible. We are satisfied with your conduct and believe that the Building of the Ships at Portsmouth⁴ hath been conducted with as much Oeconomy and advantage to the Continent as in any of the united States. —

The Navy Board at Boston are empowered to settle all Marine Accounts in their Department—the Commercial Accounts must be transmitted for settlement to the Committee of Commerce. We are with respect [&c.]