of Cuba during her tarry there and from thence to the Harbour of Newport and there safely moored twenty-four hours, viz. Two thousand dollars upon the Hull, Sails, Riging, etc. and Two thousand dollars on her Cargo. As the Sloop must have departed from your River, near a month before this may reach you and consequently if captured on this Coast you will be informd of it, therefore if not heard of, the presumption is clear, she has escaped the Cruisers upon your Coast, as also ours as we hear nothing of her. We therefore flatter ourselves you will be able to effect the Insurance at 333 per C. taking into consideration the difference between her returning to Newport instead of Philad'a which is much less. at any rate, do not exceed Forty per C. as we mean to risk her rather than exceed that premium. 5/6th of the Premium place to the Rum Account the 1/6th to Capt. Caleb Gardners Account. We are, with much respect, Sir, Your most humble Servant, Sir, CHRIS. CHAMPLIN1 DANIEL CROMMELIN AND SONS TO AARON LOPEZ Amsterdam, the 22 April, 1782. THE preceding is Copy of our last respects under date of the 29 Ulto. per Captain Deshon, to its Contents we beg you'll be referr❜d. Said Vessel left the Texel some days ago with a very favorable wind, so flatter ourselves of her having got safe from our Coast and that this will meet her arrivd at Boston. We have now also to acknowledge the receipt of the Original of your favor of the 30th October on which have at present nothing further to reply except that we shall 1 "I could not get the Lark insured at your limitation, and she left the Delaware Bay the 20th of April; and now have pleasure to inform you I have not heard of her since that, doubt not she got clear of this coast, and hope she arrived safe at the Havanna... . . . While our trade was open I could sell almost any thing for cash; but the stoppage of the Havanna trade by the English cruisers prevents the best men in the city being punctual." Josiah Hewes to Christopher Champlin, Philadelphia, June 5, 1782. the cause the two enclosed letters to be delivered to Mr. Hiam Levy who we expect daily here. To our concern the Brig Robin Captain Cazneau is still in port. what is the Occasion thereof we are at a loss to say. The other concerned in her Cargo and we are occupied to see what can be done in this affair, in order either to force him to go to sea, or to return us our goods. We observed by your last favor of the 18th December your desire to have your account currant. same we shall make out at the first leizure moment. With the utmost satisfaction we can now acquaint you that last Friday the 19 Instant our States General acknowledged the Independance of the United States of America and admitted John Adams Esqr. as Minister Plenipotentiary of said States on which we heartily congratulate you, not doubting but it will be attended with the most happy Consequences to both Countrys. The late alteration in the British Ministry offers also a pleasing prospect of the Blessing of Peace being restored to your Country as likewise to this provided Great Britain should also determine these in France and Spain which however as yet seems to suffer difficulties.1 We remain, etc. Sir: DANIEL CROMMELIN AND SONS DANIEL CROMMELIN AND SONS TO AARON Lopez Amsterdam, the 4th June, 1782. OUR last respects were under date of the 22d April to which we beg you'll be referr'd. Have now to acquaint you that a few days came to hand the Original of your favor of the 26 February; its contents we have duly noted. it is well you've passed in Conformity the Sundry Sums advised you; as likewise the Amount of the different Invoices which is well: tho' we no less than you are very sorry at the ill success of these various Shippement: As to your two Chests of Tea laying at Christiansand you'll before now be 1 Lord North announced his resignation of office in the House of Commons, March 20, 1781. He was succeeded by Lord Rockingham. cern. informed of the cause thereof. And as we have reason to believe our friend at Gotenburg has not been able to dispose of them which we had wished he had done, we have desired him to forward you them by the first Occasion, and shoud there be two opportunities, than by each Vessel one, and to continue to ship you by the Six following Vessels, one Chest agreeable to your desire; but nothing is more difficult than to get orders well executed in these parts, and is attended with much trouble. As to the Brig Robin Captain Cazneau, we have agreeable to our last protested against him and his Owners. But as this can answer to no great purpose, a general Meeting was held amongst the principal Shippers in her. by whom were appointed Mr. John Hodshon and Messrs. De la Lande and Fynje; to take such steps in this affair as they judged wou'd be the best for the general Conin consequence of this they have ordered the Vessel up to Town, where she now lays; but are ignorant what steps they will further pursue and in which we believe they are themselves much at a loss. What ever will be resolved we shall in time acquaint you with. By the Certificates you send us concerning the Queens Ware we are well persuaded the person who delivered us the same did not act well with us, but we dare say the Errors will have been occasioned by his Servants; who will never acknowledge the same; therefore to expect any further Satisfaction from him we despair off, having before allready met with so much trouble to obtain the return he made us, and to go at law on this Account woud be throwing away money to little purpose: we must say that we are very sorry to find this matter so situated, and wish'd it was in our power to give you satisfaction you require. We are much obliged to you for the care you've been pleased to take of the case of goods for Mr. Wessel Van Schaick: We observe the reason of your having deferr'd to make us remittances on the expecta 1 1 "They ordered the Brig up to town and after having in vain tryed to recover the goods with the freight and primage, have compromised to take back the goods on half the freight and primage being repaid. Accordingly the goods are now unloading." Ingraham and Bromfield to John Wheelwright, July 12, 1782. tion of receiving your Account Currant, which it concerns us we have not yet been able to forward you occasion'd by our having of late had a multiplicity of very pressing business on hands: but intend to make use of the first leisure moment to draw it out and transmit you the same, but by looking over your Account the last Invoice per Captain Deshon nearly closed the same. We are now agoing to ship you by the Brig Sukey Captain Moses Grinell one Chest of Tea, of which our next will transmit you the Bill of Loading and Invoice. This Vessel is a remarkable fine Sailor so hope she'll arrive safe. We remain with much regard very respectfully, Sir: Your most Obedient Servants, DANIEL CROMMELIN AND SONS P. S. Pray give us your Opinion concerning the prohibition of the import with you of British goods. We wrote you some time past regarding the demands of our friend Webster Blount Esquire on Captain Hector MacNiel1 and that Messrs. Jno. and Andrew Cabot 2 of Beverley had this matter in hands; but as said Gentleman continues to be without any advices from them he has most pressingly desired us, that an enquiry shoud be made at Messrs. Cabot, how this matter stands and proper remittance made, to which purpose he has sent us open the enclosed letter, that you may see the nature of this affair. As we have a high regard for Mr. Blount, your serving us in this, will greatly oblige. 1 A captain in the Continental Navy, October 10, 1776, and given as coming from Boston. Journals of the Continental Congress (L. of C. ed.), vI. 861. See also Mass. Hist. Soc. Proceedings, XII. 276. 2 Andrew Cabot (1750-1791), m. Lydia Dodge of Salem, and engaged in the unfortunate Penobscot expedition. John removed later from Beverley to Salem. The name of his wife was Hannah Dodge. JOHN DE NEUFVILLE AND SON TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN Amsterdam, 5 July, 1782. Sir, YOUR most esteemed favor of 10 April last per Firebrand, is just come to hand. To reply of what you say about our not giving you sooner intelligence of shipping you some goods per Gibbons, but if you consider the impossibility we were in of doing it, and that we at that time had reason to think ourselves happy to have an Opportunity for shipping them, there was such a Scarcity of vessells in proportion to the trade. We shall follow your orders with respect to shipping you tea when we can obtain it at your Limits which unless peace takes place soon or more appearances than is yet, (particularly as the New ministry in England are again gone out of office), we fear we shall not be able to effect it very soon. The Robin is to be unloaded by the perversness of some of the Shippers. We shall certainly not ship any unacceptionable goods that are liable by the act of Congress, without the particular orders of our friends for that purpose. by the return of the Firebrand, we hope to be able to advise you, of our having another opportunity for our reshipping the greatest part of those goods. till then we beg leave to assure you of the perfect esteem and great regard with which we remain Sir Your Most Obedient Humble Servants. JOHN DE NEUFVILLE AND SON MOSES SEIXAS TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN Dear Sir, Philadelphia, July 17th, 1782. My last Respects was by Captain Davis to which please to be reffer'd. I have this day sold my 5 Chests Tea at 12/6 payable next week at the Option of the purchaser, in Bills at 1/3 per Livre (which is 12 per Cent under par) or else in Cash, which I hope will meet your approbation, as have obtaind 6d in all more than any as yet has been sold since I have been here. You'll please to communicate this |
