Dear Sir —

I have full authority from Congress, to employ proper Persons to bring Salt from abroad, for the Use, & at the Risk of the United States — The Govr & Council of the State of Connecticut Consent that I shall in behalf of the United States, be equally concerned with them in A Number of Vessells to be sent out, sufficient to bring in 80, or 100,000 bus of that Article — I Am obliged to go to Camp — I therefore hereby Authorise you, to Conduct sd matter, & do every thing necessary therein, as I could do if present, taking the Advice of The Govr & Council therein — & what you do, I will Confirm — You'll furnish Bread & Flour for the V essells, & such other Articles as you have, that they want, or that you can Procure — Provisions of all kinds I suppose will be best to send out to purchase the Salt with — The Vessells that have been employed here are now dismissed — Pray Send on Flour as fast as possible to the Army, they may go to Stanford & Norwalk — You had best send on for Cash soon — I will write you again as soon as I get to Camp — If the Rum is going at Vendue — Purchase — unless you hear further from me — I am Dear Sir [&c.]

Speak to Mr Leffingwell
to send on Flour —