March 25th 1777
Gentlemen1
Inclosed is a Resolution of Congress in consequence of which, you are hereby directed to purchase, Arm and fit out for the service of the United states three fast sailing good ships that will conveniently mount not exceeding 18 Sixpounders on One Deck.2
If it should be necessary to take off, raise or lower a deck, you’l have it done, or make any other necessary alterations, you’l take care to have them fitted in the best and cheapest manner possible.
Advise the Committee of the purchase as soon as made, and should you not have public Money enough in your hands to execute this business, inform us what sum you shall want for the purpose.
These ships are to be commanded by three Gentlemen mentioned in the Resolution, Captain Jones to have the preference.
We would have the Commanders superintend the fitting of their respective ships.
We are Gentn, Your hble servants
Letter book, Marine Committee Letter Book, Marine Committee Miscellaneous Papers, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.
1 Bradford was Continental prize agent in Massachusetts, while Jarvis was deputy Continental prize agent at Dartmouth, Mass.
2 On this day the Marine Committee also wrote a letter to John Paul Jones: "The Agent Mr. Bradford has orders from this Committee to purchase and fit out three Armed Vessels pursuant to a Resolve of Congress which is transmitted to him, one of which you are to command and the Committee have directed that you should have your choice, therefore you are directed to make your election as soon as the purchase shall be made, and to superintend and hasten the fitting her out for sea with all possible expedition." PCC Miscellaneous Papers, Marine Committee Letter Book, fol. 64; and Paullin, Marine Committee Letters, 1:89. In June 1777 Jones assumed command of the Ranger, a sloop fitted out by John Langdon, the Continental prize agent in New Hampshire, rather than any of the vessels fitted out by Bradford and Jarvis. Samuel Eliot Morison, John Paul Jones: A Sailor’s Biography (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1959), pp. 99 - 101.