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Autographs/H: 1777 Letter From Thomas Cushing To John Hancock With Fantastic Content About The Conti

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Autographs/H: 1777 Letter From Thomas Cushing To John Hancock With Fantastic Content About The Conti
(JOHN HANCOCK) & THOMAS CUSHING. Autograph Letter Signed "Thomas Cushing" twice, as the Continental naval agent in Massachusetts, January 26, 1777, Boston, 13" x 11", Very Fine. Cushing, who was responsible for awarding contracts for construction of vessels and building up the Continental navy, writes to "The Hon John Hancock," President of the Continental Congress. In part: "...I yesterday drew a Bill...on yourself in favor of Mr. William Shattuck....for one Thousand Dollars, I cannot as yet get any money of the Agents Excepting a small matter from Cap Bradford....I have many People to pay off who want the money, and I know not where else to get it, I would apply to our Treasury for the loan of some, but it would be in vain, as the Treasury is almost, if not quite exhausted. Please send the dimensions of the ships immediately, as they will be wanted directly to determine in what manner to hew the Timber, no Iron is to be had here under Eighty pounds p[er] Ton, pray send a quantity immediately from Baltimore send also a quantity of Hemp if possible...I should be glad to be informed whether after the frigates whch I have built are compleatly fixed & gone to sea, I shall have any more to do with them....Will it not be as much as one man can do to take care of the prizes that are & may be taken by the armed vessells fixed out by order of Gen. Washington? As I have had the trouble of building these frigates at this very difficult time, and which the usual commission wch. Congress may allow will but poorly compensate...I should think it would be but right that I should be employed to supply them with ye Provisions...and also as Agent for ye prizes they may take...." After signing, Cushing writes more thoughts vertically, in the left margin, and signs again. He recommends Capt. Job Prince to command one of the ships to be built, and notes that Capt. Waters and Capt. Tucker, who are carrying this letter to Hancock, have served "in the Continental service by virtue of a commission from Genl Washington," and they are unsure where to go for new orders. Cushing recommends that a Marine Board be established at Boston, "consisting of a member or members from each of ye New England governments, vested with certain powers for...ordering and...Improving the Continental Ships...upon such voyages as shall most promote the Common Cause and most Effectually annoy the Enemy...Should there not be a magazene of stores provided for these ships & a proper yard filled with masts of all Dimensions for their use...." A seal tear affects words in five lines of the postscript, and there are a couple of tiny holes at fold junctions; otherwise, boldly penned and signed. Excellent content about the fledgling American navy.