P. S. Pray make my respectful compliments acceptable to your good Lady, Mrs. Grant, Miss Champlin and family. I hope you will excuse my sending you a Postcript only and not a letter, but this vessel is on the wing of departing for Boston. I am Yours respectfully, J. TOD REUBEN HARVEY TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN Esteemed Friend, Cork, February 18th, 1784. I WROTE to thee and Partners the 14th via Hallifax acquainting of Captain Sheffield's arrival here. He is now ready to embrace the first fair wind for London. At present it is quite contrary. No price is yet broke for Flaxseed, and until we know how the North of Ireland will be supply'd, there can't be a true judgment formed of the prices here; I shall keep you regularly inform'd of my proceedings in the sale of the cargoe per Enterprize, and shall do my utmost to give thee and the other Owners entire satisfaction. I have not time by this opportunity to answer fully thy Querys, nor indeed are our Laws yet compleat with respect to Trade with America. however an Act of Parliament has lately pass'd allowing your Vessels and Cargoes to be enter'd at our Custom Houses and discharged, without producing any Clearance Document or other paper whatever. Your Ships can be sold without any Duty, but they are not permitted in the West Indies to land Irish produce or manufactures, tho' they may load such articles in Ireland. We can export all kinds of Woollen and other goods to America either in the Vessels of that Country or of Britain. Rum from America can be imported here at the same duty payable on Rum from the British West Indies, viz. 2/11 per gallon; If ever thou or thy friends shou'd ship any here, let it be of superior strength to the general run of New England Rum, which is too weak and ill flavour'd for this Market; besides, it is a loss to import weak Spirit which pays as high a duty as the strong. I fear our Parliament will not grant Bountys on Flaxseed or Naval Stores. There is a Bounty of Id per yard on all Linnens of the value of 13d or under 18d per yard, exported to America. They are made in the North of Ireland and can be purchased to most advantage at the Linen Hall in Dublin, from whence we get them bro't here by land at a small expence. American Flaxseed commands a preference of sale. The Manufactures of this place and neighbourhood consist chiefly of coarse Woollens, Serges, Flannels, Blanketting, common Stockings, Cottons, Jeans, Fustians, Sail Cloth, Canvas, Coarse Linnens, Oznabrugs, Shoes and Boots, with many other articles. Very good Loaf Sugar can be exported on as cheap terms as from England. I am with great regard Thy sincere I I DULY received your favours of the 30th October and 3rd November last, the former of which contained an order for sundry Goods which are shipp'd on board the Mary Captain Macy. and I hope will come out more to your satisfaction than those shipp'd the last year. I have directed that every attention be paid to all the particulars you have thought right to mention, and I shall think myself unfortunate if you have cause a second time to complain. With respect to an increase of the terms of credit from 9 to 12 months, it is a thing I shall always object to and upon this principle that Mr. Hayley I think I may say gave as much satisfaction to his Correspondents as any Merchant in London could do, and I have set out with no other profession but that of doing business upon the same terms that he did, and this principle I must beg leave to be permitted to adhere to, with this observation only that there is no Country where the value of good pay among tradesmen is better known or understood than in this. My situation makes it unnecessary for me to yield to any house whatever in this particular consequently it will be very difficult for me to believe, knowing my intentions and conduct to be fair and honourable that any house in this City can ship Goods or serve their Friends with more ultimate advantage to them than I can. It is my intention to leave England in a few days in the United States, Captain Scott, for Boston and among the arrangements that are to take place during my absence I can with pleasure inform my Friends that Mr. Alexander Champion, Junior, of this City has accepted the principal Agency and conducting my affairs while I am abroad. This Gentleman is eldest Son of the Senior of the present house of Champion and Dickason; his knowledge and abilities stand in need of no comment here. I am sure my Friends will find the greatest satisfaction in him. With respect to your Freight Mr. Rotch has proceeded in Chancery for the recovery of it the opposite party have taken all the time the Law will allow them; but the Attorney who conducts the business assures Mr. R. that the money is safe and must be paid and he hopes before long. It is impossible to say what system may be adopted by this Country relative to Commerce with America a friendly or unfriendly administration in the Government here makes the whole difference. The contest which has subsisted between the two great parties for some months has in fact put a stop to almost all public business, appears at present not so violent as it was, but how it will end it is impossible to say. I am with great respect, Sir, Your obedient and most humble Servant, MARY HAYLEY EDWARD FORBES TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN AND Gent., Dublin, 13th March, 1784. THIS day I was favord with your esteemed Letter of the 26th January inclosing me bill Lading for 319 Casks of 7 Bushels each 4 do. of 5 do. 4 do. of 31 do. Flaxseed per the Brigantine Dungalviz, Captain Swain, with directions to remit the Nett Proceeds to Mrs. Mary Hely in London to whose recommendation I am indebted for the favor of your Correspondence. You may rest assured that I shall dispose of this consignment to the best advantage for your Interest and as the proceeds comes in Cash shall remit the same as you direct. This letter I send under cover to Mrs. Healey to forward you and in a few days shall reply more particularly to the Contents of your letter. There are several Cargoes of Flaxseed already arrived here from America and one Vessell came in this day with Seed from New York and if the quantity arrives that is expected from America I fear there will be money lossed by it. There has been a few Hhds sold at 60/ and some at 65/, yet its impossible to say now how the price may rule; it intirely depends upon what may come to Market. All the products of America are admitted in here. Tobacco at 11d per lb. duty, The price of Virginia is from 17d at 20d per lb: Maryland Tobacco dont answer well here. fine white pearl Ashes at 47/6, Pott Ashes of Grey at 48/ to 50/ per Ct. Ashes pay no duty and the other american products very small duties. Your Rum wont answer here. Barrel Staves £5.10 to £6.10 per Thousand. Referring you to my Next I am Gent. Your Most Obedient Servant, EDWARD FORBES TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN AND Gent., Dublin, 10th April, 1784. I HAVE now the satisfaction to inform you that I have sold all your Flaxseed, except (25 Hhds and the 8 small Casks;) at 58/60/ and a few at 63/ per hogshead a better price then any have been sold at hitherto in any Port in the Kingdom, and expect in a few days to put off the remainder. the small Casks are not quite so saleble as Hhds, and let me recommend to you not to ship any Seed in any Casks that do not contain either 7 Bushels, or 3 bushels. I must get your 5 Bushel Casks put into Hhds. your Seed looks as well as any that came here this Season indeed better then any that came from Philadelphia, therefore let me reccommend to you in future to ship the best kind and have it well cleaned, for in a Glutted market Good Bright well Cleaned Seed will always have a prefference. as Messrs. Carey and Green did not send me Certificate for their Seed being of last years, sold it on Condition to return the money if it did not grow, yet theirs look'd as well as yours; but if it did not Grow and that I sold it for Sowing, I should be lyable to pay a Penalty of £3 per hhds, so Severe are the Laws, and as it look'd as well as yours I thought it most for their interest to do as I did then sell it at Auction where it would not have fetched more than 25/ to 30/ per hhds for oil. I am well pleased with myself for selling so quick as I did, as Philadelphia Seed is to day at 56/ and two Vessels hourly expected from New York with 1800 hogsheds. The principal part of what I sold is at one and two months Credit. what Cash I have received will not amount to the freight, and as soon as I come in Cash you may depend I shall punctually remit conformable to your orders to Mrs. Mary Heyley of London. Captain Swain the night after he arrived drag'd his Anchors and got on a bank where the vessel strained and made much water, however fortunately only a few Casks got damage which I had opend and the |