Maritime

v6:654

"In Marine Committee, Philadelphia, May 10, 1776.

"SIR: You will perceive by the foregoing that Congress have ordered twenty of the cannon you brought from Providence to be improved in Philadelphia; and in order that the benefit of that order may be realized as soon as possible, we direct that you order the said twenty cannon to be put on board the Fly, or any one other of your vessels, and carried to New-York, and direct the commander of the vessel to call on General Washington for his further proceeding, to whom we shall write on the subject. This to be effected in the best manner you can, but by no means to be done to the prejudice of more essential service. The cannon, however, must be sent as speedily as possible by some conveyance that shall be judged best.

"We are, &c˙,

"JOHN HANCOCK,
"JOSEPH HEWES,
"ROBERT MORRIS,
"SAMUEL HUNTINGTON,
"R˙ ALEXANDER.