I am to acknowledge the Receipt of your Excellency’s Letter of the 6th instant, and to inform you that, Zealous to do every Thing in our Power to serve the common Cause of America, the Committee have determined, instead of the small armed Sloop, to send the large Vessel with Fifty Men upon the Bermuda Enterprize; with Orders to Capt. Whipple to cruize Ten Days off Sandy-Hook for the Packet expected from England; and if he is so fortunate as to meet her to put the Letters ashore at South-Hampton and send them by Express to your Excellency. She will sail Wind and Weather permitting the Beginning of the Week.1

There is in this Town a Mr Du Ville, a Frenchman, who hath made several Voyages from this Port during the last Four or Five Years, and is esteemed a Person every Way well qualified, and to be depended upon, for the Execution of the Plan he proposes. He was with Capt. Hopkins the last Voyage when he imported the Ammunition &c. lately purchased of Messrs Clarke & Nightingale for the Army; and hath brought with him a Set of Papers to qualify a Brig[an]t[ine] as a French Bottom. His Scheme is to proceed to Bayonne in France, where he is well acquainted, and there take in a Load of Powder, which he says can be effected in Three Days. This Dispatch will be so great that Intelligence of the Vessel cannot be sent to England timely enough for any Measures to be taken to intercept her upon her Return. I think the Plan practicable and likely to be attended with Success. We have here a Brigt., a fast Sailer, and otherwise a suitable Vessel for the Voyage, which will bring about Eighty Tons: And we will undertake to fit One Quarter of her, and to supply the Money to purchase One Quarter Part of that Quantity of Powder; which is the most we can do here.2

I have written to Governor Trumbull upon this Subject, and desired him, if the Plan meets with his Approbation, to dispatch a trusty Person to confer with you upon it, who can return through Providence and let me know the Result, so that we may immediately equip the Vessel for the Voyage.

I have communicated to Messrs Clarke & Nightingale that Part of your Letter which related to them. They desire me to present to you their respectful Thanks for the polite Notice you have taken of them. I have the Honor to be with much Esteem & Regard, Sir Your most obedient and most humble Servant