Sir
You are with the Providence under your Command to go to Sea with the Sloop, and follow the above directions2
You may send any Vessel in to Port for Tryal that you may think are Acting detrimental to the Interest of the American States ー3
You are first to Convoy the Fly as far Westward as Fishers Island, and any Vessels that may be at Stonington, back by Point Judah, or in Sight of this Harbour ー
Esek Hopkins C in Chief
Newport June 13th 1776 ー
To John Paul Jones Esqr Commander of the Providence3
1. Papers CC (Letters of John Hancock, and Miscellaneous Papers), 58, 155, NA.
2. To proceed to Newburyport, and convoy to Philadelphia a vessel or vessels with 120 chaldrons of coal. See Marine Committee to Hopkins, May 31, 1776, John Hancock Papers, LC.
3. Jones wrote to the President of Congress, Dec. 7, 1779:
The Commodore employed me afterwards for some time to escort vessels from Rhode Island into the Sound &c while the Cerberus and other Vessels Cruised round Block Island. ー at last I received orders to Proceed to Boston, to take under Convoy some Vessels laden with Coal for Philadelphia ー I performed that Service about the time when Lord Howe arrived at Sandy Hook.
John Paul Jones Papers, LC.
