Sir

Your favour of the 28^th Ult^o. is received,¹ I am fully Sensible of the disadvantage of doing public business under the Circumstances you do, I wish it was in my power to afford you any relief, or to Answer with any certainty the Several questions you ask, That Congress intend you shall be Supplyed I have no doubt, but whether that Supply will be Seasonable I am Unable to Say, I have always flattered myself with prospects of Supplys equal to the business assigned us, but have hitherto been disappointed & greatly Embarrassed, I can therefore only say it is at present Actually wholly out of our power to Supply you with any even the Smallest sum, we have repeatedly wrote & represented the bad effects both to the Credit & Interest of the Continent, by keeping us so Short of Money,² we have about a Month agoe wrote very pressingly on this Subject, I hope this will produce the desired Effect, but the Marine Com^tee. dont Seem to be fully Imprest with an adequate Idea of the Extravagance of the Times, & the Extensiveness of our departm^t, I hope soon to be able to give you more pleasing Acco^ts. of our own Situation and am in the meantime [&c.]