To George Washington from the Continental Congress Secret Committee, 14 August 1776
From the Continental Congress Secret Committee
Philada August 14th 1776
Sir
You have annexed an extract of a letter we have just recd from Messrs Clarke & Nightingale Merchts in Providence Rhode Island,1 this letter was laid before Congress who ordered this Committee to inform your Excellency of the Powder therein mentioned & to desire you woud take possession of it granting a receipt for the same to those who have it in keeping in order that we may Account hereafter for the Value of such part as may be adjudged to the Privateer that retook it. By order & on behalf of the Secret Committee I have the honor to be Your Excellencys Most Obed. Servant
Robt Morris, Chair Man
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. The undated extract enclosed with this letter reads: “A few days ago we received intelligence that the sloop Nancy was retaken by the schyler privateer Captain [Charles] Pond and carryed into Fury Inlet Bay on Long Island, we therefore dispatched Captain [Peleg] Potter immediately to make inquiry whether the report was true, he has returned and confirms it and further says She was in possession of the enemy but 5 or 6 days and that she is pillaged of almost every thing; out of All the Arms she had, there is but three Muskets and fifteen pair of Pistols left, they have got two Cutlasses and the 4 swivels on board the privateer—seventy One Cags powder and One Cag salt petre they have Stored in Huntington, also one large Case of Linens Cotton stockings and two or three pieces Cambrick, the Case of Flints Containing 10M are sent forward to New York to his Excellency General Washington, One half Cask powder cont[ainin]g 50 Wt they have put into store at the south side of Long Island—this is all that remains of the Cargo” (DLC:GW).