_From an old French engraving._] The Congress had, on November 2d, placed $100,000 at their disposal. With this they went about buying ships and supplies for them. A London packet called the _Black Prince_ came into port under command of that Captain John Barry who, later on, was a captain in the American navy. She was of good scantling, and was considered a vessel worthy of becoming the flagship of the new fleet. The committee purchased her, and, after renaming her the _Alfred_, after Alfred the Great, they mounted twenty nine-pounders on deck, with four (it is said) smaller guns--presumably four-pounders--on the forecastle and poop. Another merchant ship, called the _Sally_, was purchased and renamed _Columbus_, for the great explorer, after which she received eighteen or twenty (authorities vary) nine-pounders. She is said to have been crank (top-heavy) and of small value. Two brigs were purchased and renamed the _Andrea Doria_, for the famous Genoese sailor, and the _Cabot_, for the early explorer of North America. These are set down as carrying fourteen four-pounders each. A third brig was purchased in Providence and named for that town, because, according to John Adams, that town was “the residence of Governor Hopkins and his brother Esek, whom we appointed the first Captain.” She carried twelve guns--sixes or fours. In addition to these, the committee obtained a sloop of ten guns, called the _Hornet_, and an eight-gun schooner named the _Wasp_. These were purchased and equipped in Baltimore, and then brought around to Philadelphia. The _Fly_, an eight-gun schooner, completed the list. While the committee were gathering this fleet at Philadelphia, the Congress showed its appreciation of the work in hand by voting that the crews should be engaged to serve until January 1, 1777--practically for one year. They further voted $500,000 of the continental currency to the use of the naval committee. Then, on Tuesday, December 19th, the Congress still further showed their appreciation of the situation of affairs by resolving “that the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania be requested to supply the armed vessels, which are nearly ready to sail, with four tons of gunpowder at the continental expense”; and, further, “that the said committee be requested to procure and lend the said vessels as many stands of small arms as they can spare, not exceeding 400.” [Illustration: Facsimile of a Letter from Abraham Whipple to General Lincoln during the Siege of Charleston. _From the original at the Lenox Library._]