Secret Committee to Robert Purviance , Samuel Purviance, Jr.

Your favours of the 12th & 15th Inst. came duely to hand the first advising your purchase of flour & enclosing Inventories of the Two Prize Vessells. We think the flour was bought very reasonably & mentioned it in Congress as proper to be delivered to the Commissary at Baltimore for the use of the army which was agreed to & he must settle with you for it. We entered into the consideration of purchasing the Prize Vessells immediately - for several reasons that need not be repeated, thought it best at present to decline a purchase. However we shall be glad to know who buys them & the prices they sell for, as it may probably suit to charter shou'd the purchasers want Freight. We have seen the owner of the Brimstone here & he has our offer under consideration. Respecting the Cloathing, you have purchased or have in view to purchase we refer you entirely to the Cloathier General James Mease Esqr. whose department it is to manage those affairs. It wou'd give us pleasure to hear that the Virginia, Capt Nicholson, was Sailed & your Bay clear of the Enemies Ships, there are several of them at Cape Henlopen where they have done much mischief.

We are Gentn., Your obedt hble Servts. By order of the Secret Commee.Robt Morris,¹ Chair Man