Ship Montgomery, May 9th, 1776, 9 o'clock.
Gentlemen,
Yours came to hand of ½ past five, according to yours of the 8th half after nine have Dispatch'd the Powder out of your Ship, before I got your Last, we have had no boat from below since Last Night, by your Last Determination, it distresses me much the want of Powder in the Ship, having but Six Rounds for Each Gun on Board, will take the first oppertunity to get throo the Cheavex De frize, as the Wind is, I Expect some boats up every Hour, I think it not Prudent to go far down till I can Know how the[y] are situated, I will endeavour to act with every Precaution, & give every assistance Possible, our situation will admit of, we are getting our People Quartered, the[y] Keep so continual going and Coming that we hardly [klnow Whether we have them or not. I shall observe your Instructions as Near as Possible. I am Gentlemen [&c.]
Thos. Read.
Directed, To the Committee of Safety, Philadelphia.
1. Hazard, et al., eds., Pennsylvania Archives, 1st series, IV, 751.