Gentlemen

We acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 20^th feb^y of the 2^d & 7^th. Of March last, and are exceedingly pleased to hear that the Warren, after having been so long cooped up in the Bay had got out to sea—²We have since heard that she is arrived at Boston and carried in two or three Prizes.³ We should be glad to get the Providence and other armed Vessels out of the River,⁴ and at a less expence than we find will attend it, but they must be got out let the expence be what it may, if it should be practicable and from the success that hath attended such attempts we infer its practicability. We highly approve of the Conduct of the Board in getting out the Warren and don't doubt but that they will exert themselves in getting out the Providence & Columbus, especially as the season for brisk, Steady North Winds will in a Short time be over, and we are sure that you will exercise frugality wherever it may be beneficial.—

The Demands upon the Treasury from the great departments of the Army are so large and frequent that the[y] cannot be supplied. We have however procured three Warrants—One on the Loan Office of New Hampshire for 30,000—One on Massachusets Bay for 40,000, and One on Connecticut for 30,000 making 100,000 Dollars transmitted herewith for the use of your Board.⁵ We chose to have them on those different States, because Money will be wanted in each. If the Money cannot be had at the Offices, the Certificates may be disposed of—you will take care that M^r Langdon hath his share.⁶ We have already advised you that we have paid M^r Shaw 40,000 Dollars and charged the same to your Account, part of which money we persume will be applied towards fitting out the Trumbull &c. The Warrants we returned to you corrected we are glad to find have reached you. 

We have determined to stop the building of the Seventy four at Portsmouth for the present, and desire you will give orders accordingly, and for seasoning of the Timbers prepared for her⁷ You will man and equip the Warren with all possible dispatch and order her out on a Cruize to the West Indias with directions to Captain Hopkins⁸ to apply to M^r Bingham at S^t. Pierre Martinique or M^r Ceronio at Cape Francois, Hispaniola, for such supplies as he may Chance to want, and send the Prizes he may take to their address or to the Continent as he may judge proper.— 

You will further direct him towards the Close of his Cruize to go to Cape Francois, call upon Mess^rs. Ceronio & Carrabasse for such goods as they may have to ship and take in what he can conveniently bring to the Continent without hurting the Ships sailing. You will furnish us with a Copy of the Instructions you shall give him. 

By the Notes in the Margin and endorssment on the Accounts which you sent to us for inspection, and which we now remit you will see what part thereof is allowed and what rejected. 

Before discharging the wages of those and any other Continental officers, you will procure from the Continental Agent in your district accounts of the Monies they have paid them on that score. We have ordered the Paymaster of the Navy in this district James Read Esq^r to transmit to you a State of Captain Olneys Account, and the Accounts of such other officers now in the Eastern Department as may have received any monies of him. Enclosed is a Resolve of Congress respecting the pay Rations and allowances of officers not in Actual service and during their Captivity and under Parole.⁹ We wish Vessels for the flour and Iron speedily.¹⁰ We congratulate Captain Rathbourne upon his Success, but cannot think he is entitled to the whole of the ship Mary and her Cargo.¹¹ The question was put in Committee & they came to the following Resolution—

“It is the opinion of this Committee from the representation of the said Board, that by the Resolves of Congress the Captors are only intitled to One half of said Vessel & Cargo”—Enclosed is a Copy of the Resolves referred to.¹² You will see that a Claim is put in on behalf of the Continent we shall write to M^r Landais by this opportunity—it is out of our power to comply with his wishes. We have a number of Captains out of employ, and it would be imprudent to pass by them.¹³ We shall immediately write Samuel Tuder and Captain Lawrence at Poughkeepsie on Hudsons River to send forward to you at Boston the sails of the two frigates, which were saved at the time said frigates were burned and which is in their possession¹⁴ If they should receive directions from you therefore. One of those frigates was 28 and the Other 24 Guns—The sails of the 28 may suit one of the Ships building at the Eastward as they are large, and the sails of the 24 may suit for some of the sails of the other. You may direct both or either of the suits of sails of these burned frigates to Boston or Norwich or part to one place or part to the other as you shall judge proper—they had two suits each. We are satisfied with your report respecting M^r Roche.¹⁵ How he came to be suspended by a Resolve of Congress from his command of the Continen tal Ship of war the [Ranger] when he never was appointed to the command of her we cannot tell. Captain Roche laid a plan before Congress, which they referred to the Marine Committee to carry into execution, whereupon they empowered M^r Langdon to build a Vessel of war, and employed Captain Roche to advise and assist about the building &c. He wrote the Committee a Letter dated the 29^th of December last at the close of which he mentions that he had waited with that patience that became a Gentleman in his Situation living on his own Money for Six Months, wages &c being stopped ever since his suspension and that he waited impatiently for our farther orders. He hath a right, as you have reported in his favour, to his wages, and therefore would have you enquire into what time he hath been paid, and what per month, and pay him off. 

We have no vessel to give him the command of without passing by several good Commanders who now hold Commissions and are out of service. If he will accept of a Lieutenancy on board of one of the Frigates and you think him a proper person we shall have no objections, otherwise we shall not consider him any longer as being in the service of the Continent. 

We approve of your altering the name of the Industrious Bee to that of the General Gates altho we think it would have been a higher compliment to have given his name to a frigate. We cannot determine upon a proper person to command the frigate at Salisbury.¹⁶ We would have the berth left open for Captain Manley as he may be exchanged, and for the present the Charge of her be given to the person who you may judge suitable for a first Lieutenant of her.¹⁷ We leave to you to determine respecting the Lieutenants who are desirous to make a Cruize of a few Months. Inclosed are the Rules & Regulations of the Navy—Congress has ordered us to Revise them—¹⁸ If you can suggest any New Rules or alterations that will be necessary, we would be glad you would propose them, and if you can by any means procure a British Privateers Commission, send it forward to us. Coppies of Captain Judds and the Captain of the Jamaica Packets may answer—they were taken by Captain Harding of the Connecticut State ship and their Commissions are in the Maritime Court of the Middle District Massachusets.¹⁹ We have ordered M^r Barnabas Deane of Connecticut to lay his accounts against the frigate Trumbull before you, which you will please to examine and transmit to us a Copy of his account Current when we shall give orders for the paym^t. of the balance that may be due to him.²⁰ We are Gentlemen [&c.]