My last to your Excellencies was of the 18^th Inst.¹ since which I am without any of your Favours.

I sometime since recv^d from Holland 13 Bales & Packages containing oznaburgs, Sail Cloth, Medicines &c. which the Shippers informed me were on Acco^t of M^r Grand,² from whom I had no advice relative to the Business, I in consequence wrote to him, & have for answer that altho’ the Goods were shipped in his Name they are on your Acco^t: I beg to know how they are to be disposed of. I have also lately recv^d 196 Swivels from Holland without Advice, I wrote to M^r Dean³ in consequence & had for answer that they were part of M^r Merkles contract,⁴ and were paid for by the Commissioners. My Duty, here obliges me to inform you, that these Swivels altho’ new, are the worst I ever saw, and I had rather see them sold for old Iron, than that any american should risque the Loss of his Hand by putting a Match to them. I have also from the same place 19 Cases & 5 Casks without advice or knowledge of their Contents, on examination I find the former to be arms, & the latter Locks and other Musket furniture These with about 2500 Suits of Cloaths that remain, 55 Cases of Sabres, 14 Casks of Copper & between 3 and 400 Cases of repaired arms in the Magazine form the quantity of Goods on Hand. I beg to know how they are to be conveyed to america as I find I shall be able to get but a very trifle, if any, on board of the americans that are here. I forgot to add to the qty of Goods about 30 Tons of Anchors, that I have imported from Spain on the public Acco^t. As M^r Dean is absent it is necessary to explain this transaction. When I was fitting the Frigate⁵ I found it impossible to procure Anchors for her here. It was therefore necessary to send to Spain, from whence they come as cheap, excellent in quality, & generaly with as much expedition as from any where else; As we were in want of Ballast it was determined, with M^r Deans approbation, to add to the qty 2 Setts of heavy anchors for the 74 Gun Ships that were building in America, which would at once serve as Ballast to the Ship, and be a reasonable supply. Unfortunately the Vessell that was to bring these Anchors was obliged to put back having sprung a leak, she was condemned, & the [anchors] were then obliged to wait another opportunity; this reduced me to the necessity of borrowing a Sett for the Frigate from the Kings yard at L’orient, which the Commissary consented to spare me on my promise to replace them from the Forges in that neighhourhood. These therefore are still to be paid for. The Anchors from Spain have arrived at last and remain to be sent out, they are of a superiour Quality, & would be an important acquisition were they in America. Perhaps the Boston⁶ might take them in. You may think me tediously particular, but I had rather fall into that Error than let any transaction of mine be obscure or unexplained. When I have the Honour to appear before you I mean to pursue the same plan in everything that relates to public Service, since I have been in its employ.

I imagine that I shall not have occasion to draw for more than 20,000 Livres more to finish my Acco^ts on the public Acco^t, except the above article of Anchors. As soon as my Health will permit I will submit all my Acco^ts to your Excellencies. I have the honour to be [&c.]