Sir

The Letter from the Honle Marine Committee of the 18th Ult; is just come to hand incloseing the two Resolves of Congress by which I am Ordered to accot with the Honle Committee for the Continental share of Prize money and also to make Distribution among the Officers & people of their allotted Prize money I shall take care to comply in every particular; The Honle Committee will please to take notice that oniy one Prize viz. the Ship Royal Exchange has come into my hands the sale of which was compleated two Days since I expect to Receive from the Vendue Master his accot in three or four Days when I shall immediately make out my accot relative to that Ship & Transmit it to the Honle Committee — I wrote last week to Esek Hopkins Esqre to send me a list of the Officers & People who have a share in this Prize & that I should be ready in few Days to pay them or their Agent their proportion of Prize money — This I did before receiveing the Letter from the Honle Committee as I was Determined to pay the Officers & People their share of the Prize Immediately as they have suffered in this heretofore — Esek Hopkins Esqre has appointed me Agent (by his Letter). for the Officers & Seamen for the Ships of War under his Command to receive proportion & pay their allotted Prize Money, by which it seems the Officers & Seamen or the Commanding Officer for them have the Liberty to appoint their own Agent of this the Honle Committee will please to inform me as also what Commission I am to Charge on Prizes, and what on my other Business, I am somewhat at a loss in some part of the Honle Committees Letter Where it says "We.shall allow you all your just Expenditures on accot of the Continent to be charged. against their share of Prize money" The way I shall proceed is this after Deducting all Charges & Com[mission]s from theamount of Sales two thirds of the Neet sum will be carried to the Cr[edit] of the Honle Committee's the other third part to the Agent (who the Officers & People appoint, to receive it [)] to be proportioned agreeable to Resolves of Congress

Mr [Joshua] Wentworth who was Agent for the Schooners under General Washington is ready to accot for the Prizes which he has in his Hands only waits an Order from the Honle Committee or General Washington Directing to whom it should be paid and by whom the accots are to be settled. I Shall be happy to have an Answer to these several matters as soon as may be for my Direction — I have the Honor to be with. Great Respect [&c.]

The Honk John Hancock Esqre
President of Marine Comee Philadelphia