I am honored with your Letter upon the subject of your application for a supply of provisions for the use of His Majestys Squadron under your Command, and as there appears to have been a misapprehension of some parts of the Conversation that passed between us upon this business I must beg leave to repeat to you what I then said, and nearly I believe in the same words, That I understood from Genl Howe that all Transports were at my direction.

I have read all the instructions given to the Agents by the Navy Board, and it appears to me by them that in all cases respecting the Military, they are to pay attention to such orders as they shall receive from the Commander in Chief. ー By the directions you have given for the delivery of provisions from the Transports dated the [blank] you seem to be of a different opinion ー

In all Conversations we have had together I have been desirous for the good of the Service of submitting every thing to you reserving to myself only a right of protesting in cases that might not appear to me to be strictly regular ー I have represented that in my opinion it would be for the good of the Service that every arrangement respecting the Troops should be left to me, and as you appeared to acquiesce in that opinion all matters of form may be settled at some future day. I am &ca