York Town [Pa.] June 1st 1778.
[Extract] My Dear Sir
Before you receive this, I suppose you will have rec'd the Order of Congress for going on with your Ship,1 which is to be changed to a two decker and to carry 56 guns—viz 28 of 24 lbs & 28 of 18 lbs.
. . . Give my best regards to General Whipple2 and remember me to all friends. I shall hope to hear from you as often as convenient. I am your friend [&c.]
Josiah Bartlett
Transcript, DLC, Peter Force Transcripts, Alfred Langdon Elwyn Collection, pp. 499–500. Addressed at top: "Josiah Bartlett to John Langdon." Langdon was Continental Agent for New Hampshire.
1. On 29 May the Continental Marine Committee reported to the Continental Congress that, on the advice of Capt. Pierre Landais, they proposed to alter the design of the 74-gun ship of the line (three-decker) building by Langdon at Portsmouth, N.H., to a two-decker of 56 guns. The Continental Congress approved the report by a resolve of 29 May. NDAR 12: 480.
2. William Whipple, Brig. Gen., New Hampshire Militia, and a former member of the Continental Marine Committee.
