[Extract]

Another Subject of great Importance, We ought to have been informed of, I mean your Navy. or We ought to have known the Number of your armed Vessells, their Tonnage, their Number of Guns, Weight of Metal, Number of Men, Officers Names Ranks and Characters. in short, you should have given Us your compleat Army and Navy Lists ー besides this one would have thought We should have been informed, by Some Means or other of the Privateers fitted out in your State ー their Size, Tonnage, Guns, Men, Officers' Names and Characters. But in all these Respects I declare myself as ignorant, as the Duke De Choiseul, and I Suspect much more So.ー

our People have a curious Way of telling a Story. "The Continental Cruizers Hancock and Franklin took a Noble Prize." Ay! but who knows any Thing about the Said Cruizers. ー How large are they? how many Guns? 6. 9. 12. 18 or 24 Pounders? how many Men? who was the Commander? These Questions are asked me So otten, that I am ashamed to repeat my Answer, I don't know. I can't tell. I have not heard. our Province have never informed me. ー² The Reputation of the Province, the Character of your officers, and the real Interests of both Suffer inexpressibly by this Inaccuracy and Negligence ー look into Coll [Archibald] Campbells Letter. with what Precision he States every particular of his own force, of the Force of his Adversary, and how exact is his Narration of Facts and Circumstances, Step by Step? ー When shall We acquire equal Wisdom? We must take more Pains to get Men of thorough Education and Accomplishment into every Department, civil military and naval....