Providence Septr 22nd 1776.
Gentlemen
Since my last I have been to See Governor Trumbull on the business of his Letter to me, a Copy of which you have Inclosed ー from there I went to New London which place I left the 19th instant ー Captn Hacker is there with the Hampden, he has Graved her and she will be Ready for Sea in a few days but not full mann'd ー have Order'd her round to Newport there to join the Alfred who I expect will be Clean'd and ready for the Sea in a Week ー The two Frigates here will be ready for Sea in a week or 10 days, but it will be very difficult to mann any of them without you will make the Chance of Prize Money as good as they get in the Privateers, which is one half and large Sums advanc'd to the People before they go to Seaー
I expect Governor Hopkins every day, hope he will bring with him the Commissions for the Officers of the New Ships ー The Alfred and Hampden Shall send as soon as possible on the Station you Order'd, and if Governor Hopkins brings no other Orders for the New Frigates I think it will be the best Use they can be put too to attempt to clear the Sound with them as Governor Trumbull advises ー as that if effected will give great ease to Supplying our Army near New Yorkー
Since I wrote you there has arrived here seven or eight valuable Prizes Sent in by the Privateers out of this place ー and a Brig Captn Biddle's Prize was taken by the Cerberus, a few days ago the people got onshore in their Boat, and are Sett out for Philadelphia ー There is a Report that a Prize Brig taken by the Columbus was Spoke with a few days agoー
Inclosed you have a List of the Privateers out of this Place, them that are call'd Letters of Marque expected to get mann'd in the French Islands ー You likewise have a List of the Prizes brought in here ー I am with great Respect Gentlemn [&c.]