Dear Sirー

My absence for sometime past will no doubt plead a sufficient Excuse for my not writeing, and I suppose you'll say that your hurry must do the same on your part, let it be so then, we are on a Ballance.ー

I've just return'd from Providence, where I've been after Guns, this is the third time, I've been, (and sent) to contract for Guns, and to endeavour to perswade those Gentlemen, who are employ'd to build the Ships there to lend me the Guns, which were already cast for our Ship, as they could get another sett cast for one of theirs, long before either could go to Sea. They seem'd at first to agree to it, and Voted in their Committee to spare the Guns, but with this proviso that I should contract with the Owners of the Furnace for a sett to be replac'd, and pay them their price, which was the unheard of Sum of One hundred pounds Lawf [ul] Money Pton, all this (however unreasonable it appear'd to me) I agreed to do, rather than not have the Guns, but notwithstanding this, when I came to see the Con- tract of the Owners of the Furnace (who by the way are included in this Committee of Mr [Stephen] Hopkins's for building the Ships) it appear'd such a one that I could not in Honour to the States, as Agent sign it, they (some of them especially the Messrs Brown's) declined taking me as Agent, but insisted that I should give my private Engagement to pay for the Guns at that price. I told them that my power was ample and equal to Govr Hop- kinss who appointed them to build their Ships & contract for Cannon, they answered, that they did not doubt it, but said the Congress might think the price too high, and perhaps some dispute would arise. I even agreed to do this and in short any thing almost, that they in such an unreasonable manner asked, but what finally prevented my agreeing at last was that they insisted that I should pay one half down for-those Guns, which they were to deliver me, which already had been paid for by the Continent, or should pay Intrest for the Money from the delivery of the Guns. ー I told them if they would deliver the Guns, I would on my return home, send them Two or three thousand Dollars, and as soon as I could get Money from Philadelphia would pay the whole, as the Continent, would not pay Intrest, and this would be done long before the Guns would be cast for me, with which I was to replace those they lent me, which were not theirs, but the Continent's, such & many more, were the Arguments with those Gentlemen, to induce them to do no more than what I conceive was their duty, but all would not do, there seem'd to be a secret determination not to let me have the Guns at any rate whatever, unless an absolute Order from the Honbl Marine Committee, it appear'd to me, every advantage was to be taken of the Continent in their power, in the Price of Cannon.ー

I've given great dispatch for Masts for both of their Ships at Providence, part of which had got round & they have just began to make them, the rest are on their way ー take the Situation of their Ships, it appears to me impossible, that they should get to Sea in two or thee Months, notwithstanding they tell the Committee they are almost already, and shall want their Guns ー It is truly to be lamented, that there should be Guns belonging to the Continent laying at Providence near three or four Months past, and this Ship entirely waiting for them since June last, at which Time every an might have been had for her, who are now gone either in the Army or Privateering, and the Ship might have Sail'd by the 1st of July without the least doubt, since which she might have taken more Prizes than would have paid for our whole Fleet, numbers of which have been within sight of this Harbour, and all this must be put up with, rather than the Furnace Owners (who are of the Committee and understand one another) should loose Ten or Twenty Pounds P Ton on casting the Guns for the Continent, or a Jealousy that the New Hampshire Frigate, would be ready about four Months before them at Providence ー I should been very happy, if the Honourable Committee, had sent a Man, well acquainted with Ships to have seen who was forwardest, how built and the Properest place for that Business ー Those Ships at Providence in all probability, could not have gone to Sea, either of them this Year, had they not got Masts from hence unless they had gone with improper ones, not by any means to be depended on.

I think it my duty as Agent, to lay this matter before the Honble Committee, as I tho't the Continent ill treated & myself insulted, by their dragging me at the Continental Expence from this place to Providence, twice or three times under pretence of contracting for Cannon, when I was first up in June, they said Seventy pounds would be the price, little after Eighty pounds, soon after Ninety Pounds, and now by their Letter before my going up, the last time, One Hundred Pounds p Ton, upon which I went up least it should be Two hundred pounds p Ton ー They have cast considerable number of Cannon for private Ships, thro the Summer, some of which are Nine Pounders ー with great Respect I am [&c.]

[Note by Langdon] The above wrote to Mr Hancock also, as President of Marine Committee at the same time ー p Post.