you propose is impracticable. If I detain your Brig 'till the India Ships arrive I must also keep her 'till the Sales commence, if she is to be loaded with part of their Cargoes as it is impossible to get a single Chest from the Company before hand. I shall therefore make the dispatch of the Vessel the principal object of my attention, filling her up with Bohea if there is a difficiency in any other articles. I shall assist Captain Green in the purchase of a Trunk of Copenhagen Callicoes as well as [in ev]ery other case wherein my help may be necessary. With much Respect I remain, Sir, Your most Obedient Servant,

CARL SÖDERSTRÖM

WILLIAM GREEN TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN

My dear Sir,

June 19th, 1784, Saturday 4 oclock.

I HAVE this moment had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 17th and Mrs. Champlin's of the 10th Inst. The form of the pass I request is general, and I apprehend may be granted by the Comittee. It would be sufficient if agreeably to their form, tho only signed by a Member of the Comittee. My project must in a great degree be abortive of profit unless I am enabled to sail before the Middle of October, and I cannot pretend to load her, unless I have your assurance that the pass may be procured from the Comittee of Congress (who during the Vacation possess all their powers) and forwarded to me so as to arrive by the Ist of that Month in England. If the Comittee decline to give it, which I do not apprehend is likely, a similar Instrument, under the Signature and Seal of his Excellency my Namesake,1 will answer my purpose, so as to enable me to proceed on my Voyage. I authorize you to assure His Excellency that I am half an American, but such Instrument must be countersigned by the State Secretary. The pass from Congress may then follow me to India. I think you should give me Introductions to Messrs. Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson 1 William Greene, governor of Rhode Island.

who are your Ministers in Europe, and these may be accompanied by letters from your Delegates in Congress. Perhaps, your Assembly may be now sitting, and your powers as a Corporate body ascertained. Do not fail, I pray you, so soon as you can, to send me a Certificate, that I am a Member of the American Union.1 I continue to think the object worth the expense of sending your Delegates Son to Annapolis, and whatever may be the charge pray let me know as soon as it is determined, and I will pay to your Correspondent in London. Let him not lose a Moment for they are precious at present.

You see my dear friend that I have thrown together a few hints to exercise both your Imagination and Judgment, I have not power to expatiate. With respect to a pass from the Governor of Rhode Island, I am entirely serious, it may answer all the effects of the other from the Congress or its Comittee. And if we succeed in obtaining both they may be of collateral service. The Brig Hope and the Ceres will sail from here in about 8 days. Let me have your opinions. by them and by every opportunity. We shall certainly sail tomorrow or Monday.

Mr. Powell talks of setting off tomorrow to see you. Kit is well. I spent part of Thursday with him. I beg my respects to your good family and that you will believe me ever Yours

WILL GREEN

Pray present my respects to Sir Peyton Skipwith.2

1 Not until May, 1786, did the Rhode Island General Assembly pass an act for naturalizing William Greene, “a native of Great Britain, and a subject of His Britannic Majesty." Rhode Island Col. Rec., x. 197.

2 He is mentioned in Hayden, Virginia Genealogies, 217. He lived at Prestwould, Mecklenburg Co., Va., and was descended from Sir Gray Skipwith, who emigrated to Virginia, from Prestwould, Leicesterhire, during the Protectorate. He married sisters Anne and Jane Miller, daughters of Hugh and Jane (Bolling) Miller. A daughter, Lillia Skipwith, was the second wife of St. George Tucker. William and Mary Quarterly, XXIII. 281.

Sir,

JOHN GREENE TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN

Gothenburg, June 25th, 1784.

I WROTE you of my Arrival by way of London wherein I informd you of my arriving at Marstrand on the 14th Inst. after a passage of thirty four days and the day following arriv'd at Gothenburg, were I found the Captains Lane and Heggerson from Virginia (the two Vessels I informd you of). I made strick inquiry in regard to Mr. Söderström and found he was doing business, and had Capt. Heggersons Cargo which he sold before I arrived. Mr. Grieg had the other which was allso sold at about 5d Stg. our Tobacco turns out very good and is to be sold the 6th of July. Mr. Söderström informs me he has a cargo ready to put on board which I shall begin to take in the first of next month. we are now at the key to clean the Cash I expect to exchange Dollar for Dollar which is the most I can get for them and shall lay them out to the best advantage, in Bohea tea which is about 15d penc Stg. li. Mr. Söderström has wrote to Copenhagen in regard to Mr. Gibbs callocoes but has not an answer yet.

as

the India Ships arived on the 17th Inst. there sails begins the 6th of September. I hope to be at home by the latter end of August, but shall inform you by Capt. Heggerson who only waits for hemp and duck which is expected every moment. from Sir Your humble Servant

[Endorsed,] Per Capt. Lane of Boston.

To etc.

JOHN GREENE

MEMORIAL TO THE CONTINental Congress 1

The Memorial of Christopher Champlin of Newport in the State of Rhode Island Merchant, Most Humbly Sheweth,

That your Memorialist having obtained from the Honorable Committee of Congress in the Month of July last 1 [Endorsed] "Sketch of a Memorial." The final form follows.

Letters of Navigation from this Ship the Hydra then fitting in the River Thames, whereof his Nephew Wm. Green was Supercargo, and John Clark Master, and intended for Bengal and China has since under its encouragement and authority compleated her equipment and loading to a large amount with the various articles of American and European produce, and that she sailed from Great Britain for India in the Month of January last.

That the object of this undertaking is to endeavor to open an advantageous Trade between the United States and the different Parts of India, as well as of China That the Captain John Clark having been taken ill just before her sailing Mr. Wm. Green the Supercargo was obliged on the part of your Memorialist to put in Mr. John Haggey, to command her in his stead.

Your Memorialist therefore prays most humbly that the Honorable Congress will be pleased to furnish him with Letters of Navigation similar to those granted to the Ship Empress of China, and that he may be enabled by the first opportunity to expedite it after her to India. And your Memorialist as in Duty bound etc.

Copy of the Sea Letters.

Most serene, serene, most puissant puissant high illustrious noble honorable, venerable, wise and prudent Emperors. Kings Republics, Princes, Dukes, Earls, Barons, Lords, Burgo Masters Counsellors, as also Judges Officers Justiciaries and Regents of all the good cities and places, whether ecclesiastical or secular who shall see these presents or hear them read,

We the United States of America in a Committee of the States assembled make known that John Clark Captain of the Ship called the Hydra and William Green Supercargo on board her, are Citizens of the United States of America and that the ship which the said John Clark commands, belongs to Citizens of the said United States and as we wish to see the said John Clark and Wm. Green prosper in all their lawful affairs our prayer is to all the before

mentioned and to each of them separately when the said John Clark and Wm. Green shall arrive with their Vessel and Cargo that they may please to receive them with goodness and treat them in a becoming manner, permitting them upon the usual tolls and expences, in passing and repassing to pass navigate and frequent their Seas, to the end to transact their business where and in what manner they shall judge proper, whereof we shall be willingly indebted.

Seal

of

the

States

In testimony whereof we have caused the Seal of the United States of America to be hereunto affixt Witness the Honorable Samuel Hardy Chairman this 8th day of July in the Year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty four and of our Sovereignty and Independance the ninth.

Countersigned

CHAS. THOMSON Secretary.

(Signed) S. HARDY

MEMORIAL TO THE CONGRESS

[July, 1784.]

To the Honorable the Committee of the States appointed to sit in the recess of Congress.

The Memorial of Christopher Champlin of Newport in the State of Rhode-Island etc. Merchant. Humbly sheweth, That he is at present the sole owner, and John Clark at present master of the Ship called Hydra, and that she is of the burthen of about three hundred tons, as appears by an authenticated copy of the Register of said ship which accompanies this Memorial:

That William Green is Super-cargo of said Ship; that she is navigated with about twenty five men, and is bound to the Kingdom of Bengal in India, and from thence to the Port of Canton in China; That as your Memorialist wishes to obtain every possible security for the said Ship during her voyage, he earnestly requests your honorable body to grant to the said supercargo, William Green, Sea letters of the same form, or a form similar to those granted by Congress