our prejudice till in Cash, which on finding wright, please to have noted in our Conformity. Of your Debtors, have collected to this time Rs. 84$351 but we flatter ourselves more will come in soon, when we will remit it to your London friends. Respecting our Market, it is a very poor one particularly for flour, now down to 2800 to 3$ per quintal, Cadiz and Ports aloft also Galicia1 and Biscaya are also glutted, prices for flour and Wheat low and also nominal, and to what a low Ebb would America produce have been, had the Trade not been interrupted. We pray for a Reconciliation of the present Troubles, that Commerce may return to its prestine Serenity. Respectfully we are, Sir, Your obedient and very humble Servants, PARR, BULKELEY & COMPANY Philadelphia, May 6. Reced Via Statia and forwarded by your Humble Servant, WM. DAVIS. Sir, BERTHON BROTHERS TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN Lisbon, the 18th January, 1776. We have before us your favor of 30th August, which requiring no particular reply we proceed to acquaint you that inclosed you have account sale of 1485 barrels flour per Peggy, your 1/4d of the same neating Rs. 1429$914 is carried to your credit. We are sorry that our first connection in trade should be attended with loss; but when we consider the dismal accounts we shall give of several other concerns in our hands, we can but think that the owners of the Peggy's cargo are fortunate not to lose more. By the first packett we shall remit Mr. Geo. Hayley 200$ on your account, and we hope that the remainder will come in in such manner as to enable us to remit the ballance quickly. 1 An old province of Spain at the northwest extremity of the peninsula, forming the provinces of Corunna, Lugo, Orense and Pontevedra. "The Act to prohibit all trade and intercourse with the Colonies" is passed, it repeals the Boston port bills and the fishery and restraining bills, therefore no vessells can either clear from or enter at your lower counties, and the trade in general must stop. We wish you a speedy restoration to that peace and comfort which you enjoy'd before the present unhappy disputes commenced, and saluting you we remain with regard, Sir, Your most humble and obedient Servants, BERTHON BROTHERS JACOB WATSON TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN1 Respected Friend, New York, I Mo. 24, 1776. we THY favour of 11. was handed me by thy brother. had encouragement from one of the Delegates of the Continental Congress that we should not be sufferers by the Peggy's Cargo of wheat. I intend waiting on them once more. if they take the Wheat I will use my best endeavours to get employment for thy ship, likewise damages for her detention if in my power. Should I not succeed in that, intend to request that on our selling the Wheat at Norwich to have the Liberty to ship the like quantity from this port in thine or any other Vessell.2 Should thou decline to let thy ship come down and take it in would be glad to be inform'd as soon and convenient. Perhaps at my return we may be straighten'd for time to write, for should thou not chuse thy ship to come here we wo'd engage another. 3 Its uncertain when I shall set out, as General Lee is coming to Town and am desirous to know what steps he intends to take before I leave home. 1 The original is in the Newport Historical Society. 2 See Journals of the Continental Congress (L. of C. ed.), IV. 117, 120, 124. 3 Major General Charles Lee, sent to superintend the defense of Philadelphia. I forwarded the protests with thy letter to George Haley, per Sampson, Capt. Coupar, who sail'd from this port about 12 Inst. shall send Copies per next conveyance, believes via Phil'a. I am thy Respect'll Friend, JACOB WATSON1 P. S. If thee would take £1000 for thy ship N. York currency2 believes wo'd take her. [Endorsed,] South Kingston, R. I. Dear Sir, THOMAS DOLBEAR TO AARON LOPEZ Kingston, Jamaica, 24th January, 1776. I WAS favoured with yours some time since, and am very sorry that I can't acquaint you with the adjustment of Cox's account, as he has been at the north side of the Island, which has been the only preventive. he will soon be here, when I will not fail of settling so long standing troublesome affair. I find by your account you have charged £40 freight of Iron to Jamaica, which we have long since settled with Captain Wright. I find also that instead of Dollars being reckoned at 6/8d, the Sterling should be brot into Currency which makes an odds on the two £157.10/ of £17.6.6 in my favour, Dollars being at 6/8d from the Policy of this Island, not from the Par of Exchange or intrinsic value. be pleased (as I am in haste) to acquaint Mr. Reveira I have sold about 1/3d of his Candles at 3/9d, for which I expect the remainder will sell, but cannot sell whole at more than 3/1 to make the remittance immediately. I therefore thot it most adviseable to retail them at 3/9d. I shall remit Geo. Hayley Esq. as fast as I can get Bills and make sale. soon as I receive the Balance of Mr. Cox will remit it agreeable to orders. I remain very sincerely Your much obliged obedient Servant, Endorsed, Per Captain Remington. THOS. DOLBEAR as 1 In 1768 he was partner of John Murray, general importers of European and Indian goods, with a shop near Burling's slip. 2 New York counted eight shillings to the dollar. Sir, JOHN JEPSON TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN Portsmouth, Ist February, 1776. PLEASE to settle my negro man Serloues Wages on bord Captain Barren with Captain Benjamin Hicks and pay him whats due, which will oblige, Sir, Your humble Servant, JOHN JEPSON Newport, February 1, 1776. Recd. of Chris. Champlin One hundred and Forty-six pounds ten shillings and 8d in full of Wages due to Captain Jepson on account of his Negro Sirloise. £146: 10: 8. BENJ. HICKS Sir, ZEBEDIAH STORY TO AARON LOPEZ1 Mallaga, February 3, 1776. ON the 9th December last I sailed from Sisciley with a Cargo of Wheat which I loaded on account of Messrs. Maynes & Co. of Lisbon, to whom the same is to be delivered except the Spainish Merkits might aford a better price which seems not to be the case. I have been detained in this Port with a westerly wind sence the 5 Jan'y, in which time I have rec'd a Letter from our worthey friend Mr. Edward Mayne Esqr. of London signifying that those confused disturbances between Great Brittain and america were become verry alarming and that a Bill was depending in Parliment which was thoat would pass, to seize on the Property of the americans wherever the same might be found, makeing no distinction between the innocent and guilty (the Unjustness of which Act would make a Barbarian blush). In consequence of those infernal Storms riseing which threttens our Destruction, I have ben induced to sell our 2/3 of the Venus to 1 The original is in the Newport Historical Society. Messrs. Kirk Partrick & Co. altho what they have given is considerably less than what I realy think she is worth. I have given those Gentlemen a Bill of Saile of our 2/3 of the Venus in the Name of Messrs. Maynes & Co. of Lisbon in consideration for which they have given me their Bill of Exchange on Messrs. Maynes and Co. of Lisbon payable in London for five hundred pounds Sterling the first of which I have forwarded for acceptance the second I keep with me as I am bound their my self with this Cargo the first fair wind. the Net Proceeds of your one third part I shall give orders to be remitted as you shall direct. I have none of your favours later than July last. I am verry uneasey for my little famuley and the only thing that tends to passify me is the friendship of so able a Person as your worthey self, from whom I have reason to expect my little flock will have every timely assistance they may want. I have recomended it to Mrs. Story to remoove into the Country in Preston where I have a Brother for fear sum voilent methods may be taken against Newport next Spring. I wish this may not be the case before this reaches you. I think after that crewil Proclamation from the E. of Dunmore you have little reason to expect Mercy.1 May the Almighty direct and protect you from those barbarous insults prepairing for you, is the sincere Prayer of Sir your Most Humble Servant ZEB. STORY My dear Sir, FRANCIS ROTCH TO AARON Lopez London, 20th February, 1776. I HARDLY expect from the accounts I have been able to collect that it is posible for this to find you at Jamaica, but let it meet you where it will you will I presume be astonish'd at hearing from me in London at so late a date. The various unfortunate occurrences that has attended this 1 May 6, 1775. Force, American Archives, 4th Ser., 11. 516. |