Sir

The Board of War had the Honor to receive your much esteemed favour 14^th. Ulto:¹ inclosing a Resolve of Congress for the Sale of the Snow, called Our Lady of Mount Carmel, & S^t. Antony,² & her Cargo, which we immediately communicated to M^r. Rowe,³ in whose hands that Vessell & Cargo now rests.

After some objections & delays, M^r. Rowe made the following proposals, from which he assur'd us, he would not recede, & if not complied with, would not deliver the Interest.

First, such charges as have arisen on unloading the Vessell, taking charge of the Cargo, & Subsisting the Seamen, shall be allow'd, &c paid. In the next place, The Charges of Commissions, of the Maritime Court, Expresses &c, shall be submitted to Three Gentlemen of Character & Probity, & if such charges, shall be by them found admissible, they are to be laid before Congress, for their approbation, or disallow[ance]⁴ by whose determination M^r. Rowe obliges himself to ab[ide?]

The Board, considering the Perishing Conditio[n of] a considerable part of the Cargo, & observing the dire[ctions of] Congress, that, this business might be compleated with [all] convenient dispatch, together with other reasons, that will doubtless occur, have after some hesitation accepted these proposals—⁵ The accounts when Audited & Examin'd, shall be duly forwarded—As Sales by Auction, are prohibited by law, & as we apprehend, that, to be the best method of disposing of this Vessell & Cargo, we shall apply, to our General Court, now sitting, for permission for that purpose, which we have not the least doubt, of Obtaining & flatter [ourselves] that we shall render such accounts, as may be satisfactory to all concerned.—

We do ourselves the Honor, to inclose a Manifest of the Cargo,⁶ to be deliverd us by M^r. Rowe, which we expect to receive in a few days.—

We wish for directions respecting the Hard Money, & Sacerdotal Habiliments,⁷ as we apprehend the former may be wanted for Publick uses, & we conceive an impropriety in disposing of the latter at a Publick sale.—

We would Submitt to Congress, what measur's are to be taken, with the Portuguese Seamen, formerly belonging to the Snow. They have been, & still continue to be subsisted, at the Rate of 56 Dollars P^r. Week. This great expence we must continue to pay, till we are favourd with your farther commands.—We have the Honor to be with the greatest Respect.—

[Boston] War Office June 1. 1778