inform'd the Russian fleet have captur'd 7 Swedish men of war of[f] Hoogland among which was the Swedish Admiral. LANCHON FRÈRES ET CIE. TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN L'Orient, 10th September, 1790. Sir, THE 5th Inst. Captain Bailey in your Brigantine the Bayonne arrived safe here and handed us your much esteemed favour of 17th May last consigning said Brig and her Cargo to our care for which preference we beg you will accept our sincere acknowledgements. We could wish to add that we succeeded in the Sale of the Wine but our best endeavours are frustrated for want of a demand for that article at the moment and we are afraid Captain Bailey must try a better market. The late Suppression of our India Company which we did ourselves the pleasure of informing you by Circular under the date of 15th May, has deranged that trade, and the Individuals have not as yet taken it up here, so that we have at present no Armaments. had Captain Bailey been more fortunate in his Voyage, and arrived about six weeks sooner we should have had an opportunity of disposing of his entire Cargo to a friend who fitted out a Vessel and was obliged to send her to Teneriffe for a Cargo for the India Market, but regrets that cannot be remedied are useless. however as there may be a demand in some of our neighboring Ports and in hopes of having an answer before the Captain can be ready to leave this, we have written to our friends in Nantes, St. Malos, etc., in hopes of doing something. we have even written to Paris to a house late in the direction of the Company and who still continues its Connections in India and fitts out Vessels on its own account Messrs. Monneron Brothers, Bankers, making them an offer of the Cargo and we mention very moderate terms to tempt their acceptance. this Letter we have inclosed to your good Son as he sent us his address some time ago, and we request of him to deliver it himself that he may have the opportunity of backing our proposals and if possible encouraging a bargain. We hope this will have effect and that the return of the Post will bring us a favourable answer. we expect at same time that Mr. Grant Champlin will fix the time of his departure for this place, that we may be expecting the pleasure of seeing him, be assured it will be a sincere one to us and to render him every Service in our power. We have landed the four hhds of Tobacco, which we have no doubt of selling tho' they are far from being a best Quality. did the whole Cargo consist of prime Tobacco we could easily dispose of it as the demand is brisk for the Irish Market and none to be had. however the Scarcity will sell yours. The Pot ashes we shall also place without difficulty and we are only sorry there were not 200 instead of two Barrels for the Consumption is great for that article above the Import. the price we expect for it is 38 li per % and for the Tobacco 36 li to 38 li per %. for the Net Proceeds of those we shall account with your Son Mr. G. C. when sold, and shall advance him the [sum of ] hundred Livres you direct us whether we sell them immediately or not. Inclosed you will find a Price Current of our articles of import and export for Information and Government by which you will observe the articles most likely to sell well and to encourage Speculation we hope it may induce you to extend your Concerns this way and give us many opportunities of shewing you our attention to your Interest and proving how much we are, Sir, Your obedient humble Servants, LANCHON FRÈRES ET CIE. We have sold 2 Hhds of the Tobacco at 40 li per % usual term of 4 Mo. FRANCISCO C. SARMENTO And Co. To CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN Tenerife, 17 September, 1790. Sir, THE foregoing is copy of our last 13 August, to whose contents pray be referr'd. We now have the pleasure to acquaint you of the arrival of our F. C. S. the 20 ulto. at Santo Cruz, with his family all in good health, and returns you many thanks for the civilitys you shew'd him whilst there. Since his arrival every exertion has been used to run off the Bayon's Cargo, which we at length effected at such prices as we flatter our selves you'll not be displeased with, at least we can assure you none better cou'd possibly be obtain'd. The Nt. proceeds £1195.2.9 as per Account Sales herewith are pass'd to your credit in Account. You'll find also inclosed an Abstract of y/a current ballanced by £287.19 in our favour, both which you'll please to examine, and if without error note in in conformity. We were excessively glad to get rid of the Cordage and Corn, expecially the former article, of which kind very little is used here a circumstance that obliged us to lower somewhat of the current price: the Corn tho' sound, had a dark collour, which is bad recommendation, and considering the great quantitys at Market, think it did not sell amiss. As you mean to continue this trade, the only articles we wou'd recommend you to send here are those mention'd in our last, to which may be added 80 ps. Russia Sail duck, 800 to 1000 bushells round Corn, 40 barrels Pork and fill up with pipe Staves. A small Cargo of such articles to arrive here in all the present year, or begginning of next, wou'd we doubt [not] answer your account especially if the price. of wines, as we expect, from the appearance of the present Vintage, lowers in price. You may rely we shall on all occasions consult your interest the same we wou'd our own, and shew you the sincere esteem with which we are, Gentlemen Your Most Obedient Servants, FRANCISCO C. SARMENTO AND CO. Sir, BENJAMIN BAILEY TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN L'Orient, September 22nd, 1790. SINCE I wrote you by Capt. Dickason via Boston Mr. Lanchon has receiv'd answer from the Letters he wrote for St. Maloes and Nantz offering my Cargo for sale wherein no offers are made for any part of it. In the interim three mails have arriv'd from Paris and no answer to the Letter we have wrote Mr. Christopher Grant Champlin, which makes us suppose your Son must certainly be in the Country, as Mr. Lanchon inclos'd the letter directed to his Correspondent in one for Mr. Christopher G: Champlin, thinking his offer for the sale of the wine with the Letter would have more effect. there has been an offer made at this Port at 320 Livres the Pipe, payable in three and six months, which by the first Cost of the wine freight and Commission of 4 per Cent, which Mr. Lanchon requires to furnish the Brandy, and the uncommonly high price of Brandy at Bordeaux, makes Mr. Lanchon think it will be sacrifising too great a part to indulge so unreasonable an offer, therefore if the wind proves favorable to morrow I shall leave this port for the Islands. I have been detain'd by winds this six days, am in hopes to morrow to meet with a fair gale. By the last accounts from Bordeaux Brandy is up to 220 Livres the 32 Velts and soon was like to be as high as 250 li. to 270 li. owing to the great Scarcity and bad vintages for wine for this two years past. I shall advise you immediately on my arrival in the Islands. In the Interim, Remain Sir Your most Obedient Servant, BENJAMIN BAILEY P. S. I have sent by Capt. Sheffield those six Charts I had belonging to Capt. Benjamin Pierce. LANCHON FRÈRES ET CIE. TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN L'Orient, 29th September, 1790. Sir, Our last respects were of the 20th Inst. per Captain Bailey who sailed from hence the 24th with fair Wind and Weather, as we could not dispose of the Wine to advantage, the only offer we had being 320 Livres per pipe payable in 3 and 6 Mo. which Captain Bailey thought too low particularly as Brandy could not be got less than from 8 li to 8 li os per Velt. we sincerely hope that he will meet with better Success where he is going to and that your further Consignments to this place will be more fortunate, which they cannot fail of being if you send us Pot and Pearl ashes, good Tobacco, or good Ship Timber fit for Men of War, a few Barrels of good Tar and good Provisions may also sell, but we would not advise you to send much as they are not yet in the best repute. In our said Letter was the Account of disbursements for the Bayonne, amount £440.17.6 to your debit as per duplicate inclosed, to which we must add £3.8 for Surplus of Outward Pilotage, paid since Captain Bailey's departure and per his order, which Surplus appears to be occasioned by the extra attendance of the Pilot by contrary Winds. We mentioned having sold two of the Hhds of Tobacco No. 2 and 3 and 40 li per % and that we should have sold the other two had they been of equal Quality. we also informed you of the two Barrels of Pot ash being damaged, all which we confirm. We have not as yet had an answer to a letter we had the pleasure of writing to Mr. Grant Champlin at Paris, on arrival of Captain Bailey. We therefore suppose him to have left that City, and we indulge ourselves in the hope of soon seeing him here. We remain very truly, Sir, Your obedient humble Servants LANCHON FRÈRES ET CIE. |