Dear Sir

Your several favours of the 16 & 24th Ulto Ive just Received by which I find that some of my Letters have miscarried (it is not my Friend thro' Forgetfullness by any means I think I've not omitted only one week since I first wrote [)] Your two Letters have been on their way one Month which makes me think there is some interruption your Letters were brou't to me by a private Hand picked up in a Tavern at Newbury Port before this comes to hand you'll receive some of mine by which you'll See that the Schooner Betsey arrived Safe and hope that the Schooner Friend's Adventure is arrived with you for Flour & Iron ere this which you are to pay for as also Mr Wharton's accot as you'll see by my Letters, You'll see by my Former Letters to the Marine Committee the Sales of the Prize Ship [Royal] Exchange by which I Cr the Continent for about £5000 L My which is almost expended Mr [Joshua] Wentworth has not paid me any money as yet but what I shall have of him will not amount to more than two Thousand Dollars which is nothing — The Betsey Frigate Capt [Thomas] Palmer sailed few Days since for France I shall Charge that Ship one Thousand Pounds with the Repairs included on Hull Masts Yards &c. — which any person must think reasonable as I could have had three hundred pounds more for her

I shall make out the Secret Committee's accot soon by which they'll see the expenditure of the money & the Ballance due to me there is nothing for European Markett here except Masts & the want of Cordage prevents my sending away another

We are just beginning Cap. [John] Roche's Ship hope to have her raised soon the other being Launched by building this Ship in the Winter will cost one third more I observe you mention a 74 Gun Ship but why have I not Orders to cutt Timber the Time will be over for balling before I can hear from you as it will be two Month's before I have an Answer to this as the Post now goes — I shall at a venture Cutt & hall three or four Hundred Tonns of Timber more than I want for this Ship for Godsake let the orders come in Season as it will be impossible to do without let the Orders come from the Committee, or by their Order as it will not do for me to act from Private Letters least any Dispute —

If I had Orders now as the Snow is just now come could get all the Timber in the Yard this Winter Which is the main point but if the Orders does not come in few Days it will be impossible — by the Strength of Your Letter of the 24 Ulto shall have some Hundred Tonns at a venture as I said before. If our Schooner arrives & there should be an embargo at Philadelphia you can send her away as the Iron & flour is wanted in part for the Continent. Cap. Moffatt has mentioned his Vessels to me I should certainly take her but no Cargo can be got for her I am obliged to strip the [Royal] Exchange which belongs to the Continent for want of Cargo

I am now in the House as also your Bror Joseph for the upper Towns George Gains & John Pickering was chose, but the latter refuses — I observe what you mention of my Neighbour & shall take due notice off it if any Vessel could be fitted away he should do it takeing all Advantage & if you think of any thing let the order come to him who is as good a Man as can be [had] for that Business — If the order should come soon for the 74 I shall offer him to superintend the Yard & pay all monies if nothing better

Think of any thing my Friend & I am ready as I know of none I would sooner serve. — Inclosed you have a Sketch of the monies in my hands, by which you'll see the immediate necessity of sending me Twenty or Thirty Thousand Dollars more than what you have in Your Hands — The Ballance of which you'll also send as I shall draw no Orders, all the Gentlemen from the Southward who have had Prizes here lay out their money here & of Course will not buy Bills on Philadelphia — pray my Friend bear this in mind immediately on the receipt of this send off the money — otherwise I cant carry on Cap. Roches Ship, as I find Provisions & pay the men every Fortnight Let the order for the 74 come immediately if it comes at all, for without the Timber is in the Yard by the middle of February it cannot be got in & Twelve Hundred Tonns of Timber or more is no small piece of work to Cutt hew & hall This Timber must be paid for Down therefore Cash must follow ev'ry order or it may as well not never come -let me have Duplicates of all Letters & orders least any miscarry it is verry unaccountable that the order could not have come last Month the odds of it's not having come then & not till January will be at least Ten thousand Dollars

I've charged 2½ [per cent] on Prizes which no Doubt is the hvest as to building of Ships in the way I do it letting every thing pass thro' my hands & not Contracting makes much work & trouble the expence you'll easily see I've three Clerks which is great expence my Warehouse always like Tavern at great Expence in Treating Gentlemen who have business with me — These matters take the greatest part of my Profits therefore it cannot be done in this way without good Commission & unless I Contract with some Persons & take no Trouble about it which is not a good way —

As to surrender of Forts Washington & Lee are in my Opinion Trifles comp[are]d to the Grand Cause it ought to Inspire us to noble deeds am verry happy in what you mention of secret Intelligence No Guns from Connecticut the Raleigh must now lay 'till Spring must get out all her Water Ballast &c & must be hove Down & Cleaned before going to Sea — I expect the Assembly will go into Choice of Delegates next Week which will be immediately Transmitted you pray get us some money for our State that Wee may not omit any more —

I Intend writing yqu from Exeter relative to the Affairs of this State — beleive me my worthy Friend tho' you are in Philadelphia I am not unmindfull of our intimate & old acquaintance let me say — I am with Respect [&c.]

P S pray send me word how much money Iv'e had in all from the Marine Commee