[Philadelphia] November 14th 1776
Sir
By the recommendation of George, Walton Esqr one of your Delegates in Congress we have appointed you Continental Agent in the State of Georgia, in that Station it will fall to your share to supply all Continental Cruizers or other vessels in the Continental Service with provisions Stores and necessarys, to assist the Captains and officers in whatever may be needful — to advance them monies give them advice, and in all things take care of the Interests of the United States. If any Prizes are sent into Georgia by the Continental Cruizers you are to receive them, libel and prosecute to condemnation — then make public sale of Vessels, Cargoes, and all effects that are condemned; and for your guidance we send you a pamphlet containing the Rules and Regulations in these respects, and we shall also send you at a future day Coppies of our official letters to all our Agents along the Continent.
You will receive this by an advice boat belonging to the Continent called the Georgia Packet, intended to be an advice Boat between your State and the Congress. She has been loaden this voyage by your Delegates with Stores for your State, and we expect you will Credit us a handsome freight for the same. We desire you may receive these goods with despatch and as the Secret Committee of Congress order a Cargo back we hope you will use equal dispatch in shipping it. Lieutenant [Isaac] Buck who commands this schooner is ordered to put all the Letters he carrys into the Post office, and we desire you will inform the postmaster he is to charge the same postage as if they had come by land, for we expect in this way to raise some thing towards defraying the expence of these packets in future altho at present the Letters will be very few. You will please to advertize for Letters back by this packet, and as soon as you can dispatch this Schooner back for this port. You will keep a regular account of your disbursments for this schooner and if any balance arises in your favour we will pay your drafts on us for the Amount
We hope you will not suffer Captain Buck to loose any time nor Stand in need of any Assistance that you can afford him. We are sir [&c.] 2