Dr Sr:

agreeable to Your request in Your favor of the fir[s]t inst I have applyed to the Cha[i]rman of the secret Committee to know if you sho[ul]d have Liberty to pay for the Brig: that was taken, in answer to Which he says the Charter Party & accots must be before the Committee e're they can give orders for the payment by continual application & importunities I have at last prevailed on the Merin Committee to consent to your shipg men the warrents will be fill'd up as soon as you send the names I expected to send you the Blank warrent but the Commite have changed their minds about that matter aledging it will be necessary to have the names entererd in the office therefore the sooner you send them the sooner they will be returnd I am endeavoring to persu[a]de the Committee to order those Guns at Providence for your ship as she is so much more forward then any but am not certain of success if I do not succeed in this plan shall endeavr to get the first thatthat is made here but how to get them from this place to you is a diffculty I don't know at present how to surmount however shall continue to do every thing in my power that you may be furnish'd with guns the want of which I am fully sensible will be the sole cause of the detention of the ship You say you find the Commt at Providence has Liberty to appoint Leiuts must confess I don't know from whence they got that power but am sure it was not from the Marine Committee or from any man or body [of] men deriving their authority from Congress nor is there any one officer appointed for either of the ships at Providence except the Captains ー