[Extract]
Portsmouth [N.H.] August 1st 1778
Dear Sir
Your favor of the 13th Ulto have just received, and am much obliged by your kind Intelligence. The Acco- of Money came to hand in Mr Wentworth's Letter,1 which exactly corresponds with my Books-No doubt the removal of Congress to Philadelphia must have retarded the Business very much-The conduct of the British has been truely Systamatical the whole Voyage thro'; I shall not pretend to describe their dirty Behaviour, only say, it is poor Spite.....
I am amazed that I have no Orders respecting the French Ship the Duchesse of Grammont, as she lays here at great Expence to some body;2 it's three Weeks since I Recd a Letter from the Board of War, in which they mention the Commercial Committee having received my Letter of the 5th of June respecting the Cargo and no doubt all the Letters that came by that Ship were received at the same time-perhaps Orders have been sent and the Letter have miscarried; in such important Matters, duplicates should come, to prevent Miscarriage, pray think of this Immediately—
The Schooner Amity Packet Capn Palmer is taken and carried into New York.3 I've waited on the Navy Board at Boston with the Marine Committee's Accot- which contains every thing except the 74 Gun Ship,4 and it seems satisfactory-shall close the whole as soon as I get out the Navy Board Accot, as the Balance of the Marine Committee's Accot- will be carried to that. I intend to furnish you with the Cost of the Raleigh and Ranger soon, and hope the other Continental Ships will turn out as good, as well equipt, and as Cheap: which I doubt; to say nothing of the Places where some are built, the Risque of getting out of such places to the Continent is worth 20 P Cent. these things must be overhawled, and put on a better footing, many Thousands are lost by their continuing in the present Situation—If I could get Time would wait on the Marine Committee at Philadelphia to talk over some of these matters and State the Facts; and then on a proper Survey of the Ports by Persons appointed by Congress for that purpose, they will know the best places for Navy Yards—
We are going to send two Vessels to Maryland or Virginia for Flour, Corn &c part of which I shall want for the use of the Continent, therefore I hope no Embargo will hinder them as we can't do without. I shall take Liberty to draw on the Commercial Committee for the purpose, as I am in advance for them. I shall inform you further of this Matter—
I most heartily Congratulate you and my good friend your colleague on the prospect of our public Affairs Pray don't forget to write me (one of you) every Week, and enclose a Paper at my Expence. I have been much out of Town otherwise should have wrote oftener. Nothing material to inform you of, only preparing for Rhode Island Expedition5 I am [&c.]
My very kind Respects to Mr. Wentworth—
I expect to Set out for Rhode Island in two days from this, mondy 3d Aut.