EDWARD JAMES SMITH AND CO. TO CHRISTOPHER AND GEORGE CHAMPLIN Gentlemen: St. Petersburg, the 11th July, 1788. On the 27th past we had the Honour to waite upon you last with ample Advices about your Ship the Elizabeth, Captain Benjamin Peirce and the Goods to go by the same for your Account, which confirm and to which beg leave to refer. Herewith have the pleasure to advise, that said your Ship is intirely dispatched from hence and will sail with first fair Wind for Copenhagen. Of the 40 Bundles Clean Hemp loaden by us for your Account we inclose hereby Bill of Loading and Invoice, amounting to Ro. 6346.47 Co. We have advanced Capt. Benjamin Peirce for the use of the Ship as per inclosed Receipt the Sum of Ro. 380. Of course our advances are vizt. for which we have debited your account; to ballance the same, we have drawn this day said Sum of Ro. 6788.62 Co. on our mutual Friend Nicholas Ryberg Esqr. at Copenhagen at 65 days date payable in Amsterdam, Exchange 33 Stuyvers holland Currency per Ruble making f. 11201.4 s. half Currency, wherewith closed your account and doubt not our Draft will meet with punctual honour; we beg you will note every thing with us in Conformity. By the Dates of the Bills of Loading and Invoice you will please to observe we have dispatched Captain Peirce from Town the 8th Instant. We have given him that day a letter for you containing duplicate Bill of Loading and Invoice, to which we beg also to referr. We flatter ourselves you will be satisfied with our management in all this piece of Business as Captain Peirce we dare say is, and we hope to be favoured next year again with your worthy and welcome Commands assuring you of our utmost Care, Attachment and Attention to your Interest and being intirely devoted to the same, we subscribe with the greatest Regard and Esteem, Gentlemen: Your most obedient humble Servants EDWARD JAMES SMITH AND Co. We shant fail to advise you when great alterations happen in the prices of Goods, at present none. Sir, THOMPSON AND GORDON TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN Ir may not be unacceptable to inform you how our flaxseed market turn'd out, which proved a miserable one indeed, above 50 M hhds. arrived in this Kingdom, of which about 20 M hhds. remain on hand. our House sold about 4 M hhds. at 40/ and were fortunate enough to close so. what remains is now selling to the Oyl mills from 30/ to 34/ and demand sufficient for all that remains. when your quantity exceeds 35 M hhds. it ought not to stand you more than 40/ a hhd. Pot and Pearl ashes have both been demanded, and we have made considerable sales of each at 35/ prices will rate according to the quantity thrown in from America. We cou'd make ready sale of a Cargo of best Pot ashes, and doubtless produce for them as much as any other market wou'd, at present they are scarce. We sell and guarantee Debts at 4 per Ct., and on arrival shall advance half Value in London bills, remainder on sale, or by return of Vessell remit full value in Linen Cloth, which is very cheap. none can export the article on better terms, being situated in the center of the manufacture, neither loaded with carriage or factorage as those bought in London and Dublin are, and being confined to the sale of these articles on Commission have nothing to interfere. Barrell Staves serve best for Dennage, boat boards being 2d per foot square oak 80/ a ton but no considerable quantity of either wou'd sell here, not exceeding forty Tons. Remain Respectfully Your Obedient Servants THOMPSON AND GORDON Messrs. Lane Son and Frazer, London can satisfie you as to our House as can Mr. George Gibbs Newport. ANTO. FR. THIRINGK TO CHRISTOPHER AND Gentlemen: GEORGE CHAMPLIN St. Petersburg, 28th July, 1788. THIS day three weeks I had the honour of writing you by the post over England when provided you with Bills of Loading and Invoices of my Shipment by the Brig Elizabeth, Capt. Ben Peirce amounting to £558. Sterling which at the same time advised to have reimbursed myself for upon Mr. Nich. Ryberg at Copenhagen, which by this confirm and crave your kind referrance to. Captain Peirce being sail'd on the 15th I hope he will have made Copenhagen road by this time, the winds having been fair ever since and having an opportunity of shipping to Mr. Ryberg I would not fail to inclose within the dupplicates of said Shipment by Captain Peirce and to inform you at the same time that our trade is become very dull within these ten days, by starting up the prices of most of our staple commodities, that of Hemp has advanced to Ro. 251 to 26, Tallow to Ro. 34 to 35, and Flax to Ro. 38. the reason for these sudden risings may be attributed, to some of the winter speculatores falling short of the quantity of Hemp they had contracted for and which they are now under the necessity to supply from the market, besides several purchases being made for Ships that have dropt in of late. Tallow has advanced on account of the dry Season in England and of Flax we really fall short, a particular demand offering for the same from Scotland. how prices will rule towards the close of our Navigation, and what further passes in trade, shall have the honour to keep you informd of at its time. I have conversed with good Captain Peirce about the mode of stricking out a Line of business with your country and in particular upon those articles that may be imported from America to this country, but to my knowledge there are but few whereto any attention can be paid it be[tter] than Furrs Leather and Cotton. the former we import from England and this being second hand, I think might do best from your port. we chiefly do take black Canada Bear Skins, the lighter the better, Canada Fishers Skins, large Canada Racoon Skins and dark sprin[g] coney Skins, all to be well dressed when they will meet with a ready Sale. We get also from London Calf and Seal Skins besides Butts Leather and your Cattle being so good I should think this would become likewise an object worth reflecting provided the Leather is properly dressed. Cotton I hear is likewise to be got with you, in case the same is in any way like with that which comes from Smirna, it will do very well. The quality of your Treacle or Molasses being unknown here, I would advise to have but a few Casks sent for tryal, like I would recommend to be rather limitted by sending Cotton, Indigo Coffe and Sugar, till these articles are first try'd and experience acquired for the future, a matter of about one thousand hundred weights English of good Rice in small Barrills would likewise do at a time. I inclose for your further speculation a List of our last Years Imports that was published but of late and at the fall shall give you my opinion, which articles may be the most promissing for next Season. Recommanding myself to the continuance of your favours and friendship I remain most respectfully, Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble Servant, ANTO. FR. THIRINGK The opportunity by which this was intended to you having been detaind untill the 1st August, I find needful to add, that the price of clean hemp has started up to Ro. 26 and is now held at Ro. 27. The taking of Trinconomale by the French affords great Speculations and many are of opinion that a war amongst the maritime powers is avoidable. I'll have the pleasure of writing you further at the fall. WILLIAM WILLCOCKS TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN AND SAMUEL FOWLER AND SON Gentlemen, Cork, 1st August, 1788. ANNEXED is Copy of what I had the pleasure of writing to you the 5th of April, the 18th of the same Month arrived the Hannibal which brought me a letter with bill of Lading for 100 Hhds. of Flaxseed shipt for your Account by Messrs. Hewes and Anthony, a few of which were damaged by Salt Water, but not much. Previous to the Ships arrival, I had collected information from Dublin and several parts of the North, where I fou'd there was as great a glut of Flaxseed if not greater than here, which determined me in landing yours, to avoid a greater loss and additional expence. I since engaged them at 40/ per hhd. and six months Credit. the price fell so rapidly that he drew away only a few, and seeks an abatement on the remainder, which I will not give him. Agreeable to order, as soon as I am in Cash I will remit the Net Proceeds to Messrs. Lane Son and Frazer, and Mr. Alexander Champion Junior, of London. Pot Ashes have been a good article. I lately run off a parcel all at 37/ per Ct. Pearl Ashes are not much used in these parts. The Polly from Hudson, in the North River, arrived here about a fortnight ago with 127 barrels Pot Ashes and 60 M very good barrel Staves. the Pot Ashes sold at 33/ per Ct. and the Staves at £6.10. per M. a few days before arrived to me the Ship Donnegal from Baltimore with 150 M Hhd. and barrel Staves, and 429 barrels Tar. the Staves I have mostly sold at £6.12 to £6.16.6 the barrel, and £1 per M the Hhd. but am only offered 11/4 per |