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Sir,

ALEXANDER KEITH TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN

Nantes, 15th October, 1784.

Now that peace is restored to the Continents of Europe and America on a permanent footing and that trade begins to recover from the many misfortunes that were the consequence of the war and still more of the peace, in quality of an old established Merchant in this flourishing City and well acquainted with every one of the branches of its trade, I take the liberty to make you a tender of my best services. here, assuring you that by my intimate Connections with most of the principal manufactures in France, and my experience in the disposal of every article of the produce of your Continent, I have it in my power to serve you on the most advantageous footing in every respect. This you will acquire ample and sufficient proofs of when you may be pleased to make a trial, and I think prudent Merchants may venture now to do something with a fair prospect of success, as the frenzy of many adventurers immediately after the peace pouring immense quantities of goods into your ports not at all adapted to their wants or consumpt[ion] seems to their cost, pretty well subsided. For my part, I continually stood aloof till now that I look upon trade as pretty well purged and as I confine myself entirely to the commission branch and have made it an invariable rule to ship no goods for any quarter unless with Funds in hands either in Consignments, good bills or a confirmed credit on one of the principal cities in Europe. I have it by that means in my power to serve my friends. on the very lowest terms and infinitely better than your Countrymen have been since the commencement of their connections with France. The considerable concern I hold in one of the principal Callico and Chintz Manufactures of this City enables me to serve you with that essential article for your market in a manner respecting patterns, taste, stuff and price much superior to most others, being

intimately acquainted with what is suitable for your Consumpt[ion].

The moment I receive value either in goods, bills, freights, vessels ordered for sale etc. I a[m re]ady to return the full amount in such goods as may be ordered and with the utmost Dispatch.

The present low prices of french manufactures in general especially the remarkable low rates of brandies and wines occasioned by a very plentiful vintage, still more so of all sorts of teas and other East-India goods will I hope engage you to do something this way and favour me with your orders which I repeat to you will be executed to your utmost satisfaction and in such a manner as to insure me their Continuance. meanwhile, in expectation thereof, I enclosed hand you the price current of our principal Exports and Imports from your quarters and remain in all your commands, Sir, Your most obedient Servant

Sirs,

ALEX. KEITH

HENRY GREIG to Hunter, GIBBS AND CHAMPLIN

Gottenburg, the 23d [?] October, 1784.

BEING without any of your esteemed favours I embrace this opportunity of transmitting you a price current of our Imports and Exports at this market for your and friends information, prices that will be found upon the whole more encouraging than any in Europe. in case you should incline to speculate the ensuing Winter or Spring, and if you are pleased to favour me with your Commands I make no doubt of rendering you so favourable an account of them as to merit a continuance of your favours. A Cargo of the best St. James or York River Tobacco, joined with 40: 50,000 li. good middling Domingo or Martinico Coffee small green bean about as much rice, with 10: 20,000 li. of purple and common Copper Carolina Indigo will next Spring, or indeed in general, find a very good Market with us, and what is singularly encouraging, our charges on every commodity

are remarkably low, being only 4: 5 per Cent Commission included. I am in all your Commands, Sirs, Your most obedient Servant,

HENRY GREIG

Sir,

JOSIAH WATSON TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN

Alexandria, 31st Nov., 1784.

I WROTE you the 10th and 17th instant to which please refer. Your favour of the 9th instant I am to acknowledge the receipt of and note the contents. Tobacco has not sold under 28/ with us and little has yet been purchased at that price, nor is there the quantity offered I had reason to expect. indeed as high as 30/ has been given within these 8 days past. however money is scarce and I flatter myself the current cash price will not exceed 28/. during the winter I am of opinion it will be under that price. As I before observed doubt not but the business of your Brig will be transacted by me in such a manner as to meet your approbation. In reply to what you mention respecting the purchase of 100 Hogsheads on your own private a/c I can at any time draw Bills on Philadelphia provided they are at sight and some times at 20 or 30 days, but as the produce of the Southern States draws a considerable sum of Money from the Northern, it very seldom happens that Bills can be negotiated further North than Philadelphia.

Since Peace took place Tob'a has been a cash article, and I have found it impossible to purchase on any Credit without giving 2 or 3/ per Ct. more than the current price, even for 2 months. therefore I think you would find it your interest to make immediate payment. I will however purchase it

in any manner you think proper.

In my former letters I informed you of my Establishment of Watson and Urquhart at Fredericksburg on the Rappahannock. Should your Brig not have sailed before this reaches you I should wish you would order her up that River, where I can load her full as low if not lower than on

this, as Tobacco seems to come in faster to the Inspection on that River than ours. however on either I shall endeavour to give you the necessary dispach. during the winter months for several years past Tobacco and almost every kind of pruduce has fell and I think will this year. therefore it will be a favourable time to purchase. Annexed you have our price current. And am, Sir, Your Obedient Servant

JOSIAH WATSON

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THE long and disagreable passage I had from your place of 30 days put it out of my power to give you that early intelligence you wished to receive respecting the Cargo you depended on my House preparing for your Brigantine. On my Arrival I made every enquiry and find our Market extreamly high and Produce very scarce. Tobacco is as high as 7 Dollars per 100 lb. and nothing but the Hard Cash will command any quantity. Rice is not to be had at any rate, N. E. Rum is a Drug and will not fetch but little more than the first Cost, and the Dutys are exacted to a penny, that is the Original Invoices must be exhibited at the Custom House. Coffee and Molasses are the only articles that will yield any profit and a small quantity of each will stock the Market.

If my advice is taken it will be to send the Vessell to Charles Ton or Virginia, where I think you will just now do better than at this place, and I sincerely wish this may reach you in time to prevent a disappointment which must unavoidably happen.

I shall write you again by some other oppertunity should this miscarry, and am Gentlemen Your Most Obedient Servant,

J. BURGWIN

WILLIAM GREEN TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN My dear Sir,

BEING upon the point of embarking with my dear little Woman, the Young one, and Jane Bell in the Hydra, I have only to request in as few words as possible, that you, and your good Lady will remember us constantly in your prayers and endeavor to procure us at least by your good wishes all the winds that will accelerate our passage to Bengal, and a quick and happy return to Newport.

A variety of circumstances not necessary at present to detail, induced me to prefer fitting out the Ship, and loading her for you, in the manner agreed upon, by my Agent Mr. William Robertson of Towerhill, than by myself, and I have desired him to forward to you, Duplicates of the Invoices, and of the policies of Insurance, which you may expect to receive by the first opportunity. In the first instance, as she is cleared out for Madeira and Rhode Island, the Insurance extends no farther than that Island. She could not be cleared out from Great Britain for India, but as soon as I may be presumed to have reached the Limits of the Channel, the Insurance will be continued (if possible) on the same Policies to Chinsurah in Bengal which is a Dutch Factory, within a few miles from Calcutta, where I shall endeavor to enter her, or, at least, make such arrangements with our friends as to get rid of my Cargo, by means of the Country Ships, to advantage and to receive from them my homeward bound Cargo.

At this period I do not imagine I shall extend my voyage to China. The discretionary powers received from you, leave me entirely at liberty, to act for our general welfare, as circumstances may require and I shall avail myself of them to the fullest. I shall subjoin at the end of this a

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