To George Washington from the Board of Admiralty, 9 May 1780
From the Board of Admiralty
Admiralty Office [Philadelphia] 9th May 1780.
Sir.
By a letter received this day from Nathl Shaw, Agent at New London, we are informed that a Prize captured by the Dean Frigate is arrived in that Port with Several Boxes of Lemons on board, of which we have directed Mr Shaw to send twelve Boxes to your Excellency.
As there may be some difficulty in obtaining a speedy conveyance, perhaps your Excellency may point out a proper mode for their transportation. I have the Honor to be Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Humble Servant
Fra. Lewis by order
ALS, DLC:GW.
GW replied to Francis Lewis from Morristown on 12 May: “I have been honored with yours of the 9th informing me of your having directed Mr Shaw of New London to forward twelve Boxes of Lemons, out of the Deanes prize, to me—I beg you will present my thanks to the Board for this their polite attention” (Df, in Tench Tilghman’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW).