Sir,

You being Appointed & Commission'd to the Command of the Arm'd Brig^t Hazard¹ in the Service of this State.—It is our Order That you proceed to Sea on a Cruise in the Track of the Homeward bound Brittish West-India Vessels, which we apprehend to be between the Latitudes of 30 to 36 North, to the Eastward of Bermudas, & there to use your best, & utmost Endeavours to take, Burn, Sink, & Destroy, all Armed & Other Vessels with their Cargoes, belonging to y^e. Subjects of the King of Great-Britain, Enemies to the Sovereign Independant United States of America, & to the natural rights of Mankind.—As the Fleet from the West-India Islands always sails on or about the 25^th. day of July,—should you be so unfortunate as not to meet with any of them in such time as you may apprehend they must have pass'd the above-mention'd Latitudes,—You are then to proceed to the South East parts of the Banks of Newfound-Land, where, some Vessels inward or outward bound, from Great Brittain & Ireland, we are in hopes you will be able to make up your Cruise,—Should you make Prize of any Vessels loaded with Fish &c. proper for the West-India Market, you are to send them to Martinico to our Friends Mess^rs. Godfrey & W^m. Hutchinsons Merchants there,—or should they be loaded with Merchantable Fish, or other Articles usually exported to Europe, you are to direct them to our good Friends Mess^rs. Joseph Gardoqui & Sons Merchants in Bilboa.—Should you be so fortunate as make any Captures, other than above-mention'd, you are to send them under proper Prize-Masters into this or some other safe Port in the United States,—giving the preference to the Ports Eastward of Boston, from whence the earliest Notice is to be given this Board by Express.—You will bring, or send in all the Prisoners you may take, as shall be practicable, in order to their being exchang'd for our suffering Country-Men in the Hands of the Enemy;—You are to be extremely Cautious not to molest the Navigation of the Subjects of our good Ally the King of France, or other Powers in Amity with these United States, But in every thing strictly to conform yourself to the good & wholesome Regulations of Congress for that purpose made & provided.—Be careful to send us by every Prize all the Necessary Papers.—We most heartily wish you Success, & are your Real Friends,

By necessary Papers we mean all Invoices, Bills Lading, Letters, & all News Papers.—

I acknowledge the above to be a true Copy of the Orders I have rec'd from the Hon^ble. Board of War, & promise to obey the same—

Jn^o F Williams