I should sooner have answerd your letter of the 25th. past, but that I was desirous first to examine my old papers Letters and Minutes, and to enquire of my Grandson who was my Secretary at that time you mention, and who now lives in the Country. This occasioned some delay, and I am sorry now to inform you, that he being come to Town and having assisted me in the search, we can find no Trace of such a Transaction, now does he whose memory is better than mine recollect that I ever gave Directions, to any Capt. to receive any passengers whatever, and if I had done it in this case it would have been a Single Instance. It being Contrary to my fix’d oppinion, that I had no such authority and therefore it would have been more easily remember’d.

What authority Mr. Schweighhouser may have had from the Navy Board for such purposes, is unknown to me. If he had none his estate is perhaps liable to reimburse the Expence he occasioned you. For it seems hard that you should suffer so great a loss by obeying his orders. I am sir your most obedient and most humble Servant.