delphia, knowing that the Treasurer General sent his Clerk there a few weeks ago on purpose to negociate Bills to a large Amount, I therefore did not think it prudent to retake any money from Charles Handy for to purchase bills with, nor to pay your order unto John Carter. the latter I effected the 13th Inst. by adding some of my money unto some of yours that I had in hand. hope my determination may prove agreable. I have open'd your Crate of Cream Col. ware the Cups are soo large that they are rather unsaleable and the Quantity falls short. the Brandy that D. Lopez sent was so very low that I have been glad to get rid of it at 7/6 L. My. per Gallon. some Flour of an equal Quality to that which was contain'd in the hhds. that weigh'd 8 Cwt. wou'd sell at 5 dollars, and I do suppose I cou'd get a Quantity off among the Mons. for their Bills at the price that they give. The attention that I was necessarily oblig'd to give unto my Sister Bilhah Levy during her sickness, her death, the want of an Opportunity unto Leicester, the supposition of your being gone forward and on your journey to Philadelphia all combin'd to prevent my writing you untill now, which I hope will find you safely arrived at Philadelphia in good health. this moment the bills for the amount of the flour are brought me and inclosed you have the first and second bills of two setts, one sett for 2400 Livers, and the other for 1162.2.6. the other remainder of the setts shall send tomorrow unto you at Philadelphia by the post as it appears obvious unto me that it is there you want them. Accept the kind salutations of my Mother, Mrs. Seixas, and of, Dear Sir, Your most affectionate humble Servant, Dear Sir, MOSES SEIXAS JOSIAH HEWES TO AARON LOPEZ Philadelphia, 13 February, 1781. I AM this minute favored with yours of the 2d Inst. encloseing four Setts of Exchange vizt. No. 59 for 400 dollars No. 312 for 600 dollars No. 52 for 5901 livers, and No. 35 for 3801 livers, those being the first bills of each sett would be glad the others ware allso come. have jest sold the 600 dollar bill at 721⁄2 for one, and am in hopes to obtain that for the others except the 90 day bill, which will gladly take 70 for, as bills are falling here, will sell as soon as posable on the terms you mention, giveing time to collect the Continental or York State money. Could soon sell them for Penna. State paper, but fear could not readaly change it. I note the whole of your letter, but the post comeing in so late and going out again allmost immediately have not time so fully to answer you as could wish, but will send you a few lines to fish kill next post. Se price current and believe me most sincerely yours JOSIAH HEWES P[rice] C[urrent] flour 120£ windward rum £32 Jamaica ditto £45 Molasses £22.10 to £24 Raw Sugars £350 to 400£ loaf do. £9. to 10£ Coffee 16 dollars Chocolat 18 dollars pepper 98 dollars Nutmeggs 500 dollars bohea tea 90 Dollars plenty Dry goods or rather European Goods what cost I liver in france about 30 Dollars Irish linnens that cost 1/ Sterling about 3/ to 3/6 State paper Specie at 75 for I Gold not to be purchased under 100 to 110 for 1. Dear Sir, CHARLES SIGOURNEY TO AARON LOPEZ Amsterdam, March 6th, 1781. THE Arrival of your Goods at Marstrand from Amsterdam, just as I had got the Rambler ready to clear out, and the many avocations which then took place, prevented my taking out my Letter to you, to add, your Goods were come to hand and shipd. Since which I have the agreeable satisfaction to hear of the safe arrival of the Ship with you, and hope you've received 'em free of any damage. I have to acquaint you of the arrival of the Indigo and Pearl Ashes here, which came in the Rambler, but on examining them found two barrells fill'd with Coarse Sand instead of Pearl Ashes. I cannot think it could possibly have been done on board the Rambler, as so gross an Embezzlement could not but have been discovered by some of the Officers. I have wrote several Letters to Mr. Ekstrom of Marstrand about it (under whose care it was stored) and have received for answer that he does not believe it was done while the Goods were under his Care; and he can do nothing about it. Messrs. Crommelin's have had the deposition of the Dutch Captain taken, wherein he declares it was not done on board his Vessel. We have taken every method to find out the iniquity, but without the least prospect of Success. Please to accept my sincere thanks for your polite letter to those Gentlemen, from whom I've receiv'd every mark of Civility. am with all due esteem and respect I AM favoured with yours of the 17th December, by which have the pleasure of seeing that the Goods sent you via Amsterdam were safe arrived, and enclosing a Memorandum for more to be sent thro' the same Channel which should have been immediately complied with, but unhappily we are now engaged in a Dutch War and of course all communication between this Country and Holland is shut up.1 I am therefore under the necessity of deferring the execution of this order till I have your further instructions. Your demand on Mr. Brymer is in a disagreeable situation. He has paid the whole money into the Court of Chancery, from whence it will be difficult for him or any body else to recover 1 The goods were shipped to Amsterdam, through De Neufville and Son, in the Lady Elizabeth, Captain Doorn. it. If it is possible for you to settle it on your side the Water, I would recommend your doing so. I am etc. GEORGE HAYLEY JONATHAN HASTINGS, JR. TO AARON LOPEZ Dear Sir, Boston, 7th March, 1781. I AM happy to inform you that I have committed the letter for Daniel Crommelin and Sons to the Care of Mrs. Ingram who expects to sail very soon for Holland. She has engaged to take due care of it. Since you left Boston a quantity of Spices has arrived in the Ship Mars, 11 ll. of Nutmegs, II do. of Cinnamon, II do. of Cloves and 4 do. of Mace, are offered me at 30/. a pound, french weight, which I suppose is 10 per cent difference. I did not chuse to engage them untill I had your advice. I have sincerely repented that I was so inattentive to your Offer of sending the Nutmegs to Philadelphia. But I must live and learn. Your two Nephews left this place last Lord's-day. I expect a line from them this Evening per post. Mr. Benjamin Hammett has just given me a letter for you directed at Leicester, which I shall accordingly inclose to your Son Joseph to do with it as he shall think proper. The prices current are much the same as when you left Boston. Except the article of Rum which is on the rise. Goods are sold at Auction lower than what they sold for before the War. The Court have now limited the number to six only. I refer you for News to the inclosed paper of the day. March 8. The post arrived and no letter from Leicester. I am, dear Sir, yours sincerely JONATHAN HASTINGS, JUN. DAVID LOPEZ, JR. TO AARON LOPEZ Dear and Honored Sir, Leicester, March 16th, 1781. YOUR last esteem'd favor under date of 30th January I had the pleasure to receive while at Newport, where the prospect of disposing of my few remaining Goods prompted me to go; in which plan I have the sattisfaction to tell you I succeeded, tho' not equall to my expectations; my greatest Object being those Goods bought with your honored self of John Brown. they were such as were much wanted, and would have commanded a reasonable profit, but the advantage that the Company of Powers and Rogers had in their purchace of those same articles, enabled them to offer theirs at what mine cost, and their want of Cash dispos'd them also to improve every opportunity of availing thereof. this being the case, with the continual and progressive fall at the eastward, I deliberated to content myself with very light Gains, and after continuing there 4 weeks, with much assiduity and pains I brought the greatest part of them to neat me from 10 to 15 [per] Ct. profit, with the advantage of the Solid Coin for their proceeds. I have a few still remaining which have left in the hands of our friend Seixas, who am in hopes will be able to put them of at same rate. having while there an offer of 8/ per Gallon for the residue of your Jamaica Rum being 46 Gallons, I thought proper to accept it, as also for what I had of my own, which hope will prove pleasing. On my return to Providence I was call'd upon by Jno. Brown to enquire in what manner you had order'd his Note to be discharg'd, the term of which had then expir'd 10 days, and his call for moneys being very urgent I ventured to place in his hands 90 hard Dollars, the sum I was in Cash for your account and have the pleasure since my arrival here to find it conformable to your wishes. Mr. Francis Brinley having occasion for some paper Currency, I also supply'd him for your account £189 at 72 for one for which have taken his receipt for £2.12.6 Silver Lawful money. My last |