[Extract]

...I am attentive to what you mention with, Regard to an Officer being appointed to the Command of the Royal Savage, and have, accordingly, fixed my Eye upon Colonel [Edward] Wigglesworth, who has, upon my recommending it to him, most readily undertaken to serve as the Third Officer on Board the Fleet, yourself first, and Genl [David] Waterbury, Second. He will sail tomorrow Morning in the Gondola, now here. The Colonel is a good Seaman, appears to be much of a Gentleman. and has, as far as I can learn, an unimpeached good Character.

Lieutenant [James] Calderwood delivers you this Letter, and carries down with him the Seventy Men you have demanded. I understand Two Hundred Seamen are inlisted at New-York for this Service. They shall be put on Board the Row Gallies, the Moment they arrive. The first Row Galley will be to-day, the other Two, General Waterbury assures me, will be launched this Week. No Time' shall be lost in Rigging them, and dispatching them to the Fleet. As soon as you get the Reinforcement I now send you, you will not, perhaps, think it necessary to detain Colonel [Thomas] Hartley's Detachment. He seems exceedingly anxious for them to return, as he hopes to engage his whole Regiment for another Year.

I send you by the Bearer, Lieutenant Calderwood, the Draught of the Lake as you desire....

When General Waterbury and Colonel Wigglesworth join the Fleet, you will be able to dispose it in three Divisions; yourself in the Centre, General Waterbury on the Right, and Colonel Wigglesworth on the left. This Disposition will teach the Captains of the Vessels to know their Commanding Officers, and prevent any Confusion or dispute, about Command, in Case an unlucky Shot, or other Accident should take off the General.

As you have seen, and examined every Part of the Lake in your Way down, I should be glad to know your Opinion, what is the properest, and most defensible Station for the Fleet to take. Gales of Wind will probably be heavy about the Equinox. You are too good a Seaman not to take a secure Place for Anchorage against that Season. I am very much pleased to find the Gondolas are such good Sea Boats.

I fancy you will think it immediately necessary you should send hither your most experienced Pilot, to conduct the Row-Gallies with Safety, to the Fleet. Let him have your positive, and particular Instructions, how You think proper he should proceed. It will be proper you should communicate the Orders you, from Time to Time, receive, to General Waterbury and Colonel Wigglesworth, that they may know how to act upon any Emergency.

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