[Extract]

...my worthy Friend you don't know what a disappointment I've met with in not having the Guns in Time and Orders early to Ship Hands; if that had been the Case; I should have furnished the Continent with as good a Ship, as can be built in any part of the World (season'd Timber Excepted) compleatly Victuald & man'd, & ready to Sail, on a Cruize, in less than four Months, from her raising, which would have convinced, some of our worthy Southern Gentlemen, that this was a place to build more, and th best place, to have a Yard, and Careening Wharf which I intend building, if the Honourable [Marine] Committee will allow me the Extraordinary Expence, which will not be much Its hard that a Man of my Genius, should be so cramped what think you of that, you say my Friend, that you do not take any part, of the Neglect to yourself, you are right, it was not so meant, by any means, am very Sensible no Man, could have done more, what I meant was, that I wished the Honble Committee had paid more Attention to the Navey, but when I consider the hurry of Business and that of such Importance do not wonder, as I know its with much Difficulty things are Compleated

Gives me great pleasure to find the Militia, march off with such Spirit, it bodes well, in short every thing has boded well, in my mind, but now we go by that pleasing name of Independant States, I am perfectly easey about the Consequences of the Warr, as it has always appear'd to me, that is was out of their power to hurt us, if we did not hurt ourselves by delaying every thing to the last, moment...