De Bauques and who have done the Insurance on Ship and Cargo to the amount of £3500, say £2500 on Ship and £1000 on Cargo in the office of the London Assurance Company. these Gentlemen or rather this Company are rather particular in respect to vouchers either for an average or loss. I mention this only as a trait of their Character well knowing it is not necessary to be mentioned to you in any other light. Captain Haydon's time after his arrival at Rhodeisland will most likely be much taken up in seeking and collecting such men as will best answer his purpose. the burthen of the repairs, etc. I fear will fall heavier upon you from this cause than it otherwise would do. I would recommend as the first step to heave the ship out as soon as possible to examine her bottom and if necessary nail the Sheathing over again and to get her upon her legs again as soon as can be in order for the doubling and other strengthnings to go on. this I fear will be the most difficult part of the business, it being absolutely necessary she should be kept afloat and by no means suffered to touch the ground upon her side. I have no doubt that every possible care will be taken according to circumstances. I shall have the pleasure of writing to you again soon. in the mean time, I am Dear Sir, with my best Compliments to Mrs. Champlin the young Ladies and Gentleman your Sincere Friend and obedient Servant, F. ROTCH I have put on board Captain Haydon 12 Westphalia Hams and 20 doz. of Burgundy which I wish may be divided into four parts one of which I beg you to keep, two to be sent to Mrs. Jeffrey without her knowing of their coming from me and the other at the disposal of Captain Haydon. pray write to Messrs. DeBauques frères here by all opportunities advising them of the progress from time to time. you make with the Ship and inclose any Letter you may have for me to them. Sir, LANE SON AND FRASER TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN London, the 16 October, 1786. YOUR favor of the 28th July is before us, note the contents and are sorry to find the Legislature of your State had pass'd a Law which would infallibly hurt the credit of it. it was a wise measure in you in preventing your Goods from being sent to Newport whilst the Paper Money was circulating. in the mean time we thank you for your kind promise of sending us a Remittance by way of Ireland and remain Respectfully, Sir, Your most humble Servants LANE SON AND FRASER WILLIAM GREEN TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN Dear Sir, I SHALL not detain your patience with any dull detail of the length and nature of my passage here. It was lucky I came, my affairs requiring very much my presence to keep them in order. What think you of a public sale here, of a part of the goods I sent home in a schooner from St. Eustatia having taken place, so very irregular and unprofitably, as, tho all bear the same comparative value, some of them were sold at a loss of Twenty per Cent, while others retain a profit of Forty on the first price. By the first price I must be supposed to mean the Calcutta price, without any Charge of freight or Insurance etc. I am hourly impatient for the arrival of the Hydra, the season for her outfit approaches fast. I am not yet however absolutely bent on sending her, in case a plan of association for the Voyage, with some others, which I have now upon the tapis does not take place. I have since paid my Compliments to all my friends in London, and have since brought some of them here to render the time light and easy while I am away from my family. Pray make my Compliments to your good Lady, and my charming Cousins, and I beg you will make a thousand efforts to remit as much as possible to Mr. Wilkinson early in the spring. I am much prest to accomplish my engagements and rely on your doing every thing in your power to assist me. I mean to write you again soon. I cannot be particular just now, but as the South West winds prevail much at this Season and the packets are sometimes detained here a fortnight, I send this off, that it may be certain of reaching you by the November packet. Continue to believe me always faithfully yours, Mosthumble brount. Ostend, the 19th October, '86. FRANCIS ROTCH TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN Dear Sir, London, 1st November, 1786. My last Letter to you was dated the 10th of last month by Captain Wm. Haydon in Le Dauphin who sailed the day after from Dunkirk Roads for Rhode island to your address with a small parcel of Hemp and some Iron and a few Currants. My friends at Dunkirk have at my recommendation sent this Ship to you to be doubled and otherwise prepared for an expedition to Greenland. Should Captain Haydon not arrive no notice is to be taken or provision made on this account, if he comes to you safe he is possessed of all necessary instructions for the purpose, which aided by your kind assistance I have not the smallest doubt will fully answer the expectations of his Owners. dispatch is the most essential point to be aimed at, and to gain this point I am sure no time will be lost or exertion be wanting. Hemp has risen very much here, the price is not less than £36 Stg per Ton and is still rising. I must beg the favor of you to forward the inclosed Letters, one to my Brother at Nantucket and the other to Captain Haydon wherever he may be, if he should not arrive safe pray return it to me here. there is nothing new here except a Commercial treaty with France, which will not take place before it comes under the consideration of Parliament. I hope it may lead to a treaty with America but I see no ground for such a hope in the disposition of the present Administration of this Country. I beg Mrs. Champlin's and the young Ladies to accept my best Compliments and you to believe me your sincere friend and obedient Servant, F. ROTCH JOHN COLLIER TO SAMUEL FOWLER AND SON Gentlemen, November the 2d, 1786. You together with Mr. Christopher Champlin, I give my Respects to, and am to acquaint you, Gentlemen, that I have been lately made many Offers for my Flaxseed, but as Gratitude always obliges every thinking person to be sacred to their Word the same Obligation takes hold of me Gentlemen towards you, and therefore am willing to let you know that I have been offer'd Seven Shilling and Six pence Sterling deliver'd at my House from the Liver Pool Vessel that went up the River for Providence the last Week past, and also have been offerd Seven and Six pence from Captain Sheffield who trades from Connecticutt to New Yorke. [Ho]wever Gentlemen you will let me know the most you will give taking the Seed at my House and makeing prompt payment therefor the Bearer Mr. Nathan Tucker will receive your Answer for me. Which is all from, Gentlemen, Your most Obedient and Humble Servant JOHN COLLIER Sir, HARRISON G. OTIS AND THOMAS ENGLISH TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN Boston, November 8, 1786. I PRESUME upon my acquaintance with you to request your attention to a power of attorny forwarded you herewith. The Circumstances which give Rise to it are the following: Mr. Geoghegan charter'd a vessell, the Sloop Friendship, belonging to Ebenezer Smith of Taunton; she was to be subject to Geoghegan's orders, and saild for the West Indies, Geoghegan and Smith being on Board. Smith contrary to Geoghegan's Command carried the Vessell into Eustatia, and afterwards ran away with her and Cargo leaving the Freighter on Shore, who has not yet been able to detect the Villain. Should he put in to Newport or Providence I shall place much dependence on your kind attention to employ some Gentleman of the law, (Mr. Channing is mention'd) and to have him arrested, and his Vessell detaind, untill you can give me Intelligence, at which time you shall be furnish'd with all the Documents and powers relative to the transaction. The Cargo is valuable, to the amount of £500 or £600, besides the Damages and Expences undergone in pursuing the fugitive. The Lawyer you employ may think proper to commence an action for "mony had and receiv'd," merely to detain him untill further and more precise measures may be adopted. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient Servant HARRISON G. OTIS You will please to keep the matter, as much within your own Breast [as] possible. Perhaps an Application to the naval Officer might ensure success. Sir, THRO' the Introduction of Mr. Otis (in the absence of Lowell,) I take the liberty to request your friendly attention to the inclos'd Power of Attorney. Shou'd Smith or his Vessell fall in your way I shall immediately forward you full Powers and every necessary paper relative to this trans |