RICHARD AND RICHARD OLIVER TO ABRAHAM REDWOOD London, 11th January, 1759.

Sir,

HEREWITH you'll receive a Copy of what we wrote you by Captain Farr. Since then we have received Bills of Lading from Mr. Lavicount for Sugars ship'd per out 2d Leeward Island fleet viz.

10 Hhd. per Charming Polly, Capt. Davis.

All which arrived safe, but remain as yet unsold, owing to the dullness of our present market and the expectation of better prices. Tho yet the goodness of the future sales, depends greatly on the political measures, that may take place on the detention or release of the Dutch Captures we have made; but as our Ministry hath shewn a proper degree of spirit hitherto in the Conduct of our affairs, and have not yet granted the Dutch a general release of their ships (tho some have been given up), we hope the suspence of their determination on them may still give us the benefit of an exportation and thereby raise the value of our Sugars. The foreign demand always gives us great advantage in our Sales, and the exporters, ceasing to purchase as has been the case for some time past, has occasion'd the price being depreciated. You may depend on our mutual endeavours for your Interest, and that the best opportunity shall be attentively observed for the disposal of your Sugars. Your Approbation will always give us pleasure, as we should wish to merit it by making our Services agreeable to you. We inclose you Sales of your 10 Hhds per Gladman, 10 per Lessly, 10 per Hooper, 10 per Coulter, 10 per Gilston, which we hope may be approv'd, the 10 per Hooper were almost dabs,1 and those by Coulter and Gilston but little better. we can't help repeating that the general quality

1 The refuse or sediment of sugar, a term still employed in the trade.

of your Sugars is extremely low and dark. the disposal of them we assure you hath had our Care.

Our R: O. Junior prays his Complements to your Son, whom he had the pleasure of knowing at Antigua; also desires to be remember'd to Mr. Whipple. We both join in our good wishes to every part of your family and remain with Regard,

I WROTE you some time past and since have sent several Copies, but never have been favord with an Answer. I take the liberty once more to request you would let me know if you incline to rent your Estate in this Island. If so I will give you Eighteen Hundred pounds Sterling money per Annum, on a Lease of fifteen, or as many Years longer as you like. Give you good Security here, and in LONDON, for the payment of the rent, and every other matter that is requisite on these occasions. Should this be agreeable, you'll be pleased to signify the same to your Attorneys, as I am always ready to make good my Proposals. This will be forwarded to you by Messrs. Devenport and Wintworth, Merchants in Piscataqua, whom I have requested to pray your Answer, as I've sent a Vessel to their Address, which will return immediately, and may bring it. I am, Sir, Your most Obedient Servant,

THOMAS MARTIN

WHEREAS Thomas Remington of Newport in the County of Newport and Colony of Rhode Island aforesaid Master of the Schooner Wind-Mill is going with a Flag of Truce from this Colony unto the Island of Hispanola in the West Indies and carries with him Fifteen French Prisoners besides the Company of said Schooner, which including the said Thomas Remington amounts to Twenty five in number, And Whereas I the Subscriber am appointed by the General Assembly to examine every Flag of Truce that shall be fitted out of this port and also to see that no Goods be put on board contrary to law having therefore undertaken and performed the said service I do hereby certify that the Schooner aforesaid hath not on board any Goods contrary to law. These is indeed, Six Barrs Beef, four Barrils pork, one thousand weight of Bread, Six firkins Butter and Seventy Barrils of Flour, Which said Quantity of Provisions in my opinion is no more than a sufficiency for the subsistance of the said Thomas Remington his people and the said Prisoners in their voyage to the said Island of Hispaniola for him and his people whilst they tarry there and to support them in their voyage homewards with fifteen British subjects whom he is to bring from thence, if there be so many of them prisoners at the said Hispaniola. Given under my hand at Newport in the Colony aforesaid the Twenty second day of October, 1759.

WILLIAM READ 2

OLIVER CHAMPLIN TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN 3

Gen❜m:

Cape Fransway [Français], 19th Decemb., 1759.

I HAVING this opertunity Imbrace it to Inform you that 15 Days after we left you was taken by a small privater

1 The original is in the Rhode Island Historical Society.

2 Rhode Island Col. Rec., VI. 173.

* The original is in the Rhode Island Historical Society.

belonging to this porte and have been plunderd and arived hear yesterday and libeld I being prisner at larg and mate; my people being Confind my triol will Come on in two or three days and by What Mr. Laveal says am in hopes shall Recover my vessel and moneys taken from me again.

Mr. Laveal says the greates Obstacle in the way is that their is no prisner no Letter to the Govenor but sase that he will do all in his power to have her Restord with the moneys taken from me and doubts not of success. had ther been a Letter to the Govenor it would [have] prevented her being throd into the Judges hands. .

OLIVER CHAMPLIN

W. GRANT TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN1

Monte Christo,2 28 Novem., 1759.

THERE is now in the Roade about 45 sail and eight or ten Ready to sail, so we have a prospect of very good Times. Markets Rises and produce falls at a prodigious Rate, in particular Mollasses which is to be got now for 19 ps. 8/8. The Brigg Hawk from Antigua has Taken two Sloops and a Snow outward Bound and Carried them to port, which I belive will be attended with very Bad Consequence in case their are Condemned, as there is two or three more here and only Waite to hear of the fate of those already Carried to port, before they begin to make Reprisals. I am etc. W. GRANT

WILLIAM LISTER TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN 3

Dr. Sir,

New York, Feb'y 2d, 1760.

YESTERDAY I ariv'd here where I had the pleasure to hear

of our Vessel being sail'd for port Louise.

1 The original is in the Rhode Island Historical Society.

2 In San Domingo, near the mouth of the Grand-Yaque River.

3 The original is in the Rhode Island Historical Society.

4

Insurance

4 Capital of the island of Mauritius, then known as the Île de France.

within this few days has rais'd much. I have got our Insura. done at 28 per Ct. all risques, which is 8 per Ct. more than has been given, owing to the bad success Flags has had lately several of which has been caried into dif't Ports, and if but one barrel of Provisions has been sold to the French they say that the Cargo will be condem'd.

if coming home and no Provisions can be prov'd to have been sold they are in hopes that they will be clear'd so that them few Bbs. of Flow'r endangers the Cargo both to and from port, and by what I can learn Insurance can't be obtain'd at and from Port Louis here now at less than 22 per Ct. or 24. they now make 8 per Ct. difer's between Vessell from the Mount that have cary'd Provision and them that have not. if you want any Insurance done here soon do not depen'd on Mr. Jamison as he will be in the Cuntry for a Mo. or six Weeks and I must return to my Dearest. this is the first time of my seeing my Uncle but not the First L'r to you but have not been Fav'rd with one from you. Please to derect to me at Burlington to the care of Mr. Franklin if by a Vessell to York.

I hope to be with you in Aprill if our Vessell is not taken. my Compliments to all Fr'ds. I remain Dr. Sr. yrs. etc. WM. LISTER

RICHARD AND RICHARD OLIVER TO ABRAHAM REDWOOD Sir, London, 18th March, 1760. ABOVE is Copy of our Letter of 3d November: are still without any of your favours.

You have before this been advis'd the glorious success of our Squadron under Sir Edward Hawk in the defeat of that commanded by Monsieur Conflans destin'd with 18,000 land forces for Ireland. We have now also the pleasure to write you that Thurot,2 after landing and plundering in one of the Northern parts of Ireland, in his return was

1

1 In November, 1759, off Belle Isle. See Dictionary of National Biography,

XXV. 197.

2 François Thurot (1727-1760).