Sir, BENJAMIN BAILEY TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN Port au prince, March 16th, 1792. SINCE my last advice of the Date of the 15th Inst. by Capt. Jenney of the Brig Polly belonging to Newbedford fresh difficulties have occur'd which are, on the 12th the town of Leogane was closely besieg'd by the Negroes from the Mountains but were repuls'd by the whites and Mulatoes (after burning 5 houses). They then retreated to the plains setting fire to all the plantations and burning every thing before them. On the 13th at 4 in the morning they made the second attack but were driven back again. the Loss on both sides according to the best informations which are not regular are over 2 thousand. we have learned nothing new to day. the consequences of this fatal stroke are all pasports have been stop'd this five days and we understand none are to be given only to the french merchants, for the future. Molasses is up at 20 li per C. The people at the helm of Government affairs seem determin'd on the Ruin of this Colony and Island. I have 60 hhds. of good Molasses on board have 30 more empty in the country to fill. I wrote you in my last letter that I should embark the next day with 14 empty hhds. to fill but my designs are frustrated, in consequence of what has happen'd since. If the plains of port au prince should meet the fate with those at Leogane the Island is ruin'd, which God grant may not be the case as it will be exceeding hard for the poor planters who deserve pity by all who have the least sentiment of feeling for their Distresses. What Goods I have on board unsold are 3 boxes of S. Candles, 4 Casks of oil, and 8 barrels of herrings. You may rely on my utmost exertions to make all the dispatch I possibly can for sailing and if I am not defeated in my intentions I shall depart from this disagreeable port by the last of this Month. I am most truly, Sir Your Obedient Servant, BENJAMIN BAILEY [Endorsed,] Via Newyork. By Capt. Worth. SAILING ORDERS Capt. Benjamin Bailey. Newport, May 22th, 1792. You being Master of my Brig Bayonne, are to observe the following Instructions. Proceed with all Dispatch to Copenhagen, when you arrive, deliver your Cargo into the hands of Messrs. Ryberg and Co. Merchants there, to whom you are consigned. Balast your Vessel with dispatch, and proceed to St. Petersburg, taking with you Messrs. Ryberg and Co. letter of Credit upon the House of Messrs. Edward James Smith and Co. to furnish you on my account with Russian goods, conformable to my Memorandum, enclosed them, a Copy of which you have herewith. pay the greatest attention to choosing the articles. as Peace is restored I flatter my self Duck may be had, very good at 11. Rubles. procure all the narrow flat Iron you can. some of 2 Inch will be required. when you stow the Brig let all the Duck be put under the lower Deck, and, when your Business is finished return to Copenhagen with dispatch, where take on board such Tea as Messrs. Ryberg and Co. may deliver you to balance my account, which quantity you may nearly fix upon by the price your Rum and other articles may sell at according to the last Sale. I would have you converse with Mr. Saaby, respecting the time of Selling. my Cargo being small I have requested it sold alone, as I suppose it best. large quantities up for sale at a time often reduces the price. besides I think your Rum much better than any Rum shipped from Boston or Providence. take the utmost care in chusing new Tea and good, as we have received some rotten and mouldy Tea in Lawtons voyage from thence. By no means omit having three correct Manifests of home Cargo made out soon after your Sailing from Copenhagen to be in readiness for the Custom house boats. Run no risks of Seizure. be frugal in your expences. fail not to obtain from Mr. Saaby Certificates for landing the rum and Coffee, to cancell our bonds. Buy me at Copenhagen Two oval dishes deep blue and white China, 21. inch. long. Two ditto 19. inch. long or as near them lengths as possible, and deeper blue than the Pattern. Write me by every opportunity. Wishing you Success, I am, Your Friend and owner CHRIS CHAMPLIN Sir, Benjamin BAILEY TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN Elsinore, July 5th, 1792. I HAVE the pleasure to inform you that I arriv❜d below Elsinore in the Sound to day, the wind being a head I was oblig'd to anchor and am now on Shore at Mr. Fenwicks to clear. a prospect of having a wind very soon offers which I shall immediately embrace at the first opportunity. Nothing material has happen'd during my passage in regard to the Ship. the tenth day after my leaving Newport John Southwick fell from the Mast head which fall broke his left thigh but he is in a fair way to recover (the accident.) My prospect of being here in 36 days was good when I first came out but having contrary wind was retarded. I am the twentieth and eight American that has enter'd the Baltic this season. Mr. Fenwick tells me hemp is at 19 Rubles at St. Petersburg, the price of canvas he is not inform'd. I cannot inform you in regard to the price of american Goods at Copenhagen but shall advise you with the price thereof on my arrival there, assuring you of my greatest exertions in regard to dispatch. I am Sir Your most Obedient Servant, BENJAMIN BAILEY the Bayonne proves very tight by no means leaky. P. S. The wind now begins to veer Westward, so I am in hopes of getting to Copenhagen to morrow. Sir, BENJAMIN BAILEY TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN Copenhagen, August 27th, 1792. I Now have the pleasure to inform you of my arrival from St. Petersburg on the 24th Inst. and am now awaiting for 40 Chests of Tea the greater part of which is purchas'd at 2825 per lb. am in hopes to have it all on board to morrow. My hemp was bought at 18 R: Iron at 160 Co. Ravens duck at 101 R: 156 ps. Sail cloth good at 18 R: 52 do. do. at 16 R: No more Sailcloth could be obtain'd although the prices were so exceeding high, although if I could have procur'd the whole which was order'd I could not consistent with your Interest have taken it as it was merely throwing money away to buy at such exorbitant prices. my Cargo remains unsold in consequence of the Quantity of Goods at market and low prices. however Mr. Saabye thinks the next sales will command better prices than the last. I am in hopes to get away on Thursday next. In expectation of being with you by the first of November I remain, Sir, Your Obedient Servant, [Endorsed,] Via Providence. By Captain Read. PORT CHARGES. BENJAMIN BAILEY For Captain Benjamin Bayley here at Copenhagen, Vizt. I RECEIVED your kind favour of the 10th Inst. by Miss Cady, for which and your attention to my affair I heartily thank you. On October 22d 1777 I left the Army at Albany in order to return home for the winter for the recovery of the use of my arm which was badly fractur'd, by a formal written permit from General Gates, who also ordered me a Waggon for my Baggage and gave me an order to call on any and every body for such assistance as I should need on the Road. Early the next Spring I wrote to Doctor Potts, the Deputy Director General for the N. Department; wishing his orders. I received no answer. I sat out therefore without any particular orders and joined the Army at the White Plains, at which place and at Harrison's Purchase near by I spent that season in the flying Hospital. In the Summer following, that is in 1779 you brought a letter from Doctor Shippen, ordering me to repair to Fish Kil and superintend the Hospitals in that vicinity which I immediately complied with. From that time to the time of the new arrangement I held myself in readiness to comply with, and execute any orders that I might receive. From that time to this, I have received no orders altho' I have repeatedly wrote to Dr. Shippen from the Army, wishing to know if he had any new commands for me. I used to join |