that it may be conveyed to you as privately as possible.

“Brothers: This supply of ammunition which I give to your Nation, is a plain proof that the fellow at General Arnold’s is a scoundrel, and that we have the most unlimited confidence in you. If we distrusted you, would we furnish you with the means of doing us hurt?

“Brothers: I have received from General Washington a letter, informing me that your brethren who went down are treated kindly, and that they may soon be expected here for the purpose of attending at the German Flats, to which Council I also invite you.”

Copy.

ROBERT YATES, Secretary.

COMMODORE HOPKINS TO MARINE COMMITTEE.

Providence, June 19, 1776.

GENTLEMEN: Herewith you have the muster-rolls, as delivered to me, of the Alfred, Columbus, Andrew Doria, Providence, and Fly; the Cabot’s Captain Hopkins tells me he sent to Mr. James Reid, Paymaster, a day or two before the brig sailed, and it will not be in his power to send any further account till the brig comes in.

You also have a copy of the account Captain Biddle gave of his (I believe) unsuccessful cruise. You have likewise copies of all the orders I have given the several Commanders since I came in here. Also, a list of the warrants and commissions given to officers in the several vessels. Lieutenant Hinman, Lieutenant Grinnell, and Lieutenant Phipps’s commissions, and Joseph Shields and Samuel Tiley’s warrants, were given in consequence of Captain Saltonstall’s promise before he left Connecticut, if they came and brought the men which we received below Reedy-Island; as also the amount of commissions delivered up to me, and those that are discharged and deserted.

The Columbus is gone out on a cruise. The Providence and Fly went out, but were driven in by a ship, supposed to be the Cerberus; whether they are gone out since, I cannot tell; but I believe not, without they went this day. The Andrew Doria will go out in a day or two. I shall go down with the Alfred, in two or three days, to Newport, and there man her, if possible, though I am in doubt whether I shall be able without help from the commanding officer there for some of his men.

The General Assembly gave me twenty men for the Providence and twenty for the Columbus, to enable me to send them out, who are to be returned when the cruise is over.

I think it will be impossible to man the new ships without taking them out of the Army, or by a general embargo, which will be, in my opinion, much more for the publick good. The enemy taking so many merchant vessels will, in time, get almost all the seamen in their hands, besides supplying them with provisions; when, if encouraged, small privateers would bring in more goods, and if taken would be of no advantage to them, save the men they took in them. It is not possible to get seamen while the merchant vessels give twelve, fourteen, and some sixteen, dollars per month.

I think you will soon find it necessary to order to be condemned all vessels bound to Great Britain, Newfoundland, and Halifax, wherever owned, as they soon will have all the vessels and goods covered as West-India property, when we know that they never send any without insurance in England.

You likewise have a copy of an agreement signed by the ship Alfred’s officers and most of the company. Similar articles were signed by the Columbus, Andrew Doria, Cabot, Providence, and Fly’s officers and company, some few people on board each vessel excepted. I am in some doubt whether it may not cause some disputes, without the Congress will interfere, and resolve that the articles shall be strictly adhered to by the whole of the several ships’ crews.

Lieutenant Hacker has commanded the Fly ever since we took her into service, and has behaved so well that I think he deserves a Captain’s commission from you. Lieutenant Hinman is now out in the Cabot, as Commander of her, and I believe is a good officer, and I cannot tell where you can mend it if you should give him a Captain’s commission. Mr. Jones, as the oldest Lieutenant, now commands the Providence, who I hope will behave so well as to be continued.

Enclosed you have a copy of what money I have advanced to particular people, which should be lodged with the Paymasters. The money advanced by the several Commanders, and some by Mr. Shaw, to the seamen, I have not been able to get from them, save the Cabot’s, which Mr. Reed has had some time.

You also have an account of what cannon and stores were delivered at New-London and Rhode-Island, together with a copy of a letter just received from Captain Whipple, of the Columbus.

I send these by Captain Nicholas, to whom I have given leave to go to Philadelphia, partly on his own business, and partly with design that he may give you any informal ion which you may think necessary to be informed of, which may have slipped my attention, as I think him very capable of giving you an impartial history of our whole proceedings.

I am, with great respect, gentlemen, your humble servant,

ESEK HOPKINS.

To the Hon. John Hancock, Esq., President of the Marine Committee, at Philadelphia.

CAPTAIN JONES TO COLONEL TILLINGHAST.

Sloop Providence, June 20, 1776.

SIR: I have made so many unsuccessful attempts to convoy the Fly past Fisher’s Island, that I have determined to give it up, and pursue my orders for Boston. When I arrive there I will transmit you my letter of attorney; in the mean time you will singularly oblige me by applying to the Admiral for an order to receive for me a copy of the Alfred’s log-book, which I had made out for my private use before I left that ship, and which was unjustly withheld from me when I took command of the sloop, by the ill-natured and narrow-minded Captain Saltonstall. When the old gentleman was down here he promised to order that my copy should be delivered, but when my Lieutenant applied for it, the Master of the Alfred told the Admiral a cursed lie, and said there was no copy made out. On inquiry you will find that Mr. Vaughan, the mate of the Alfred, made out the copy in question for me before I went to New-York. I should not be so particular, did I not stand in absolute need of it before I can make out a fair copy of my Journal to lay before the Congress, for I was so stinted in point of time in the Alfred, that I did not copy a single remark; besides, it is a little hard that I, who planned and superintended the log-book, should not be thought worthy of a copy, when a midshipman, if he pleases, may claim one. I take it for granted that you will receive the book. I must therefore beg you to send it, if possible, to me at Mr. John Head’s, or Captain J. Bradford’s, Boston. Regard not the expense, I will cheerfully pay it.

I am, sir, with esteem, your obliged and very humble servant,

J. PAUL JONES.

CAPTAIN JONES TO COLONEL TILLINGHAST.

Sloop Providence, June 20, 1776.

SIR: I forgot to mention to you that your account against the Providence will be necessary to me at Boston, as I mean to transmit the state and condition of the sloop from thence to Congress. I will also be glad of Admiral Hopkins’s account against me or the sloop, and you will please to include in your account the articles furnished to the vessel by the Commissary at Newport. There is a bolt of canvass belonging to the sloop in the upper part of the store; I wish it could be sent to Boston, together with a quantity of knives, (four or five dozen,) a pair of small pistols, some twine, needles, palm, fish-hooks, lines, &c., which Mr. Brownell took away from the sloop, and hath in his possession. It seems he lodges at a Thomas Venner’s, on a hill opposite the burying-ground, on the west side. You will herewith receive a pair of pistols, a musket, and a cutlass, belonging to the Alfred, which please to deliver.

I am, sir, your obliged very humble servant,

J. PAUL JONES.

WILLIAM WATSON TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

Plymouth, June 19, 1776.

SIR: I wrote to your Excellency on the 20th April ult., desiring that the papers might be remitted to me which