April 4th 1777
Sir
The Committee have written to the Council of war in Providence requesting their assistance in getting the Frigate under your Command manned with all possible expedition.1 On your part as the service of your Country demands it, so this Committee expect your most diligent exertions in geting immediately manned, and out to sea, there to Cruize in such Lattitudes as will be most likely to fall in with & intercept the enemies Transport Vessels coming to reinforce or to supply their Army at New York.2 If it should be your good fortune to meet with any of the enemies Ships of war not greatly your Superior in force we doubt not but you will do honor to the Navy of the United States, and to yourself by bringing such into port with you.
Should your efforts aided by the Council of War3 be insufficient to man your ship fully for a Cruize you are in that case to endeavour to get her manned in such manner as to carry the Ship round to Boston and there exert yourself to compleat your number and proceed on the Cruize aforesaid.4
Wishing you success and health we are Sir, Your friends & servants
Letter book, Marine Committee Letter Book, Marine Committee Miscellaneous Papers, U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. Addressed: "Captain J. B. Hopkins of the Frigate Warren. Captain Abram Whipple of the Frigate Providence. Captain Dudley Saltonstall of the Frigate Trumbull."
1 The Marine Committee’s letter to the Rhode Island Council of War is dated April 5 and printed below.
2 In place of the preceding two sentences, the RC of the Committee’s letter to Dudley Saltonstall reads: "We desire that you will use your most diligent exertions in getting the Frigate under your Command immediately manned for Sea when you are to proceed on a Cruize in Such Latitudes as will be most likely to fall in with, and intercept the Enemies Transport vessels coming to reinforce or supply their Army at New York." IaDaM.
3 Last six words omitted in RC to Saltonstall. Ibid.
4 None of the officers to whom this letter was addressed was able to carry out the committee’s orders. William J. Morgan, Captains to the Northward: The New England Captains in the Continental Navy (Barre, Mass.: Barre Publishing Co., 1959), pp. 76 - 80.