Gentlemen

Upon the recommendation of your freinds here we have appointed you ContinentaJ Agents in the State of South Carolina, as such you are to supply any of the Ships or Cruizers with whatever Provisions Stores or necessarys they may be in want of when they put into or arrive in any of your ports. If repairs are necessary we depend on you to employ the best Tradesmen and see that the business is done with dispatch. You will in short do all things in this department that you think will serve the Continent and promote the service of the Navy and you must send us proper Certificates Signed by the Captain or principle officer of each Ship or Vessel of your expenditures and your drafts on this board for the amount will be duely honored. It is a Standing order to all our men of war and Cruizers to send their prizes address[ed] to the Continental Agents at the ports where they arrive. If any such come into South Carolina, you must receive the same into your charge, prosecute them in the Admiralty to condemnation make the Sale of them at Public vendue — pay all charges justly attending each Prize, and credit us for such part as appertains to the Continent agreeable to the Rules and Regulations of Congress, a book of which shall be sent you. The shares belonging to the Officers and Crews of the Captors you must divide amongst them agreeable to the said Rules and Regulations, and to do this justly and equitably the Commanders must furnish you with compleat and certified list of the officers and men entitled to a Share of each prize and the share or shares they are respectively entitled to, and you are to pay all persons concerned their shares as soon after sale is made as you possibly can, and return to this Board duplicates of all your accounts and proceedings. We are Gentlemen [&c.]