wet fill'd half a barel. his Vessel is now repaird and will proceed for Lisbon in a few days. She is too sharp for this Harbour. I should have sent some of your seed to the Outports but the Markets hitherto was under our's. As your State is now as free and independant as our own, I hope our Commercial intercourse will increase daily, and on my part I shall you may depend studdy to promote it. Our infant Manufactures of every kind are daily improving and increasing, which consist of all sorts of Goods made as in Manchester, Coarse frizes, flanels, Rateens, Shallons, Durants, and Morains and Worsted and Silk Goods the best in Europe, and our Linnens I need not tell you are rivald by none, and cheaper then can be shipt from London from whence hitherto America was supply'd. but one Great barr to our enlargeing our Trade with you, is, our Poverty in not being able to give the long Credits the Manufacturers do in England. here however the prices are proportionably low, and for ready money there is a discount for 2, 4 and 6 Months given at the rate of 6 per Ct. per annum. We have also an extensive Glass Manufacture here and Window Glass in particular is 1/2d per foot cheaper then at Bristol and flater myself will be found equal in quality indeed some kind is Id a foot cheaper.

Our Parliment is desirous to give the American States all possible Encouragement to trade with us, and as an instance they lowered the duty on Tobacco to 11d, in England 15d is paid, and all your Goods and products are allow'd to be imported and remain here for a Market 6 Months without paying any other Expence or Charge then that of Storage. But by the English Navigation Act, which is adopted, here your Vessels will not be allow'd to bring West india produce nor the Produce of any Foreign Nation, but that of America, say the Products of the Thirteen United States may be brought in any of your Vessels, and there is No duty paid on any of America Produce, except 11d on Tobacco and 2d per barel (of 4 Bushels) of Wheat. this latter article will be allow'd only to be sold here when the price of our own Wheat exceeds 30/ a barel that weighs 280 pounds, tho'

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it may be stored as I before observed in the King's Stores, untill the price here exceeds 30/, when it may be sold or sent to a better Market. as to Flour it will not be allow'd to be imported. this is done by Parliment to encourage the Mills, which are numerous here, and are principally owned by their Members. There is expectation that a treaty of Commerce will shortly be concluded between the United States and Great Britain in which this Kingdom will no doubt be included, and untill this Buisiness is finally concluded its impossible to say what further privilages will be allow'd the Shiping of the United States, but the General opinion here is, that your Vessels will be allow'd the same privilages as when you were under the Dominion of Britton. however a little time will tell us more of this buisiness. in the interim I beg leave to conclude, Gentlemen, Your most humble Servant,

I ACQUAINTED you with Capt. Sheffield's arrival here the 14th February by way of Philadelphia, and may now inform that he got to London early last Month, having been supply'd by me with 70 Guineas and some Provisions for the Enterprize amounting to £97.11.11 as per Invoice furnish'd him. Flaxseed is a bad article this year owing to too great quantitys being poured in upon us from various parts of America, which has reduced the price so low as 48/ per hhd. and I'm inform'd that some Seed from New London is sold still lower; I have disposed of about 150 hhds. at 50/ and 49/. per hhd., and 38 hhds. of damaged Seed ar 42/ which is a great price

for such, it being generally sold at 30/ per hhd. only; You may depend that my best endeavours shall be used to get off the whole of your Cargoe this season, and not keep any 'till the next, but indeed I fear some Seed must remain unsold. Referring to my next I remain with regard, Your real Friend,

There has been lately a Glass Manufactory established at Waterford about 60 Miles from hence, which for goodness. of Metal and Cheapness of prices is allowed to equal if not excel those in England. I am constantly supplied with that article for the convenience of American Vessels to my Address.

MEMORANDUM OF THE "HYDRA"

More especially to equip and fit our [my] Ship the Hydra (now lying in the River Thames in Great Britain) completely for the Sea, with Provisions and Stores requisit for the prosecution of her intended Voyage to the Kingdom of Bengal in India. And also to procure and purchase in Great Britain or else where a complete assorted Cargo, of such Merchandise, as with the advice of experienced Merchants, may be judged most saleable at Bengal. And with said. Ship and her Cargo so equip'd, proceed to such Port of the Kingdom of Bengal in India as he may be admitted to an entry, and from thence to the port of Canton in China, and at both or either of those Dominions to sell and dispose of said Ships Cargo of Merchandise, in as full and effectual manner as I the said Constituent might do were I personally present, the Proceeds whereof to be invested in such merchandise Produce or Manufactures of said Countreys, as upon the best information he shall judge most profitable

for the American Market, to where he must return with said Ship and Cargo, Conformable to Instructions received from the Constituent.

Memo. Copy of Special Clause in my Letter Attorney to Mr. Green. April 29, 1784.

N. B. the full Power is recorded in the City Records by Peleg Barker Junior.

THE SHIP "HYDRA"

Articles of Agreement between Christopher Champlin Esq. of Newport in the State of Rhode Island in America, and William Green Esqr. of the City of London. Witnesseth:

That the said William Green, proposing to send a certain Ship of his called the Hydra, to Bengal in India, (now lying in the River Thames) burthen by Register three hundred Tons,means to perform the same, under cover of an American house, whose name must be used for the Proforma, through the whole Transaction, and the Ship of course to be navigated under American Colors, has therefore sold, and conveyed the said Ship Hydra, with all her equipage, unto the said Christopher Champlin, by a certain bill of Sale executed for that end on the Twenty fifth day of April, One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty four, in consequence of which, he the said Christopher Champlin has, in his own name, as sole Owner thereof, taken out a Register for the said Ship, at the Intendants Office of Trade, in Newport aforesaid; and has also executed a Letter of Attorney to the said Wm. Green, in due form, authorizing him to equip and load the said Ship, with a properly assorted Cargo for Bengal in India, where the said Ship is to proceed, under the Sole Direction of the said Wm. Green as Supercargo, and who is authorized to dispose of the said Ship Hydra, and her Cargo, and invest the proceeds thereof, in such Merchandize of that Country, or of China, as may best suit the American Market, to which she must Return; or for which the proceeds must ultimately be shipped.

Wherefore the said Christopher Champlin, for and in consideration, that the said William Green, his heirs and assigns, causes the said Ship Hydra, with her Cargo, that may be purchased at Bengal, or elswhere, be conducted to Newport aforesaid, without entering either of the harbors or Ports, of any of the American States, except in case of absolute Distress, and also paying unto the said Christopher Champlin, his heirs or assigns, two and one half per Cent, upon the full amount of the said Ships outward bound Cargo, purchased in Great Britain, or Madeira, within six Months after the said Ships arrival in America, and, also the said William Green indemnifying and exonerating the said Christopher Champlin, his heirs and assigns, from paying any Costs or Damages which may arise from the prosecution of any legal process, relative to the said Ship Hydra or her Cargo, during her said intended Voyage. The said Christopher Champlin therefore, in consideration of the above recited causes, for the preservation of the said Ship and Cargo, to the real and sole Owner William Green aforesaid, doth hereby promise and agree, to avow and claim the said Ship and Cargo, as his the said Christopher Champlin's property, in full right, as a freeborn Citizen of the United States of America, under every contingency that may happen, in the course of the said Voyage, as far as the Rights of a Freeborn American Subject of the United States, can Authorize, Warrant or enable him to do, in Courts, or out of Courts of law, or otherways, for effectually securing the property of the said Ship Hydra, and her outward, and homeward bound Cargo, for the sole use, benefit, and right of the said William Green, his heirs, Executors, Administrators or assigns, saving and excepting, the Commission of Two and one half per Cent, before stipulated; hereby the said Christopher Champlin disclaiming, as well for himself, as for his heirs Executors, Administrators, and Assigns, any right or property in the said Ship Hydra, her Cargoes, or the Profits which may arize from her said intended Voyage, except the Commission. aforesaid. In testimony whereof, each of the Subscribing Parties have hereunto set their hands and Seals, this first