Continental Congress of the 9th ulto.,1 for shipping the Cargo of wheat. Last tuesday I laid said Order before the Committee of this place, who, after mature deliberation, were of opinion that a Gen'l Order of the said Congress of the 26th ulto. prohibiting the sailing of any vessel for any part of Gt. Britain, Ireland or the British West Indies,2 intirely supercedes their Order of the 9th ulto. and so leaves it not with them to say whether the vessel with her Cargo shall sail or not. The Congress have publish'd another Order of the 6th [4th] currant, which seems to repeal that of the 26th ulto. 'tho' terms of it seem rather ambiguous. I shall however make another application to the Committee here on the strength of it, and immediately acquaint you should they think it gives liberty for shipping the Wheat. In the Interim, I am, Sir, Your most Obedient Servant, JAMES MCCOMB

3

[Endorsed, C. C.] at South Kingston, Rhode Island.

TO JOHN PARISH 4

Boston, 1 May, 1777.

Sir

Messrs. Sam and Wm. Vernon having done us the favour of recommending us and the consignment of the Brigantine Sally and Cargo to your House, for which purpose we have order'd her to South Carolina, there to take a Cargo suitable for your Market, and make all possible dispatch for your City, and address himself to you for the Sales and returns of his Cargo, we have inclos'd a Mem'm of those articles which we chuse for returns. we have been advised to have our Invoice and Bills Loading made out for and in some Gentlman's Name at St. Croix, also to make the Brigantine a Danish Bottom, for the better security of our Property. however shall leave it with you to do as you judge most

expedient. we have agreed with Capt. Harris to go the Voyage without receiving Primage. therefore you will not make him any allowance for this Custom. we have agreed to pay the People one Months Wages at Hamburgh. therefore if they demand it you will please to advance them that

sum.

Sir,

SAILING ORDERS TO BENJAMIN HARRIS

Boston, 1st May, 1777.

if

You being appointed Master of our Brigantine Salley, and ready to sail, its our Orders you improve the first suitable Opportunity and proceed to South Carolina: we think it safest to run for Winyaw, where its most probabil you will here if the Coast off Ch's Town is clear of the Enemie. it is not, its best to run your Vessil into Winway, and there sell your Cargo; as we think the Season is so farr advanced, no time is to be lost in loading your Vessil, with Rice and Tobacco, if to be had reasonable and of a good quality, imagining that article will yeild as good or better profit then Rice. therefore it will be best to take near one half of your Cargo in that article, if it can be had upon good Terms, but you will doubtless consult Mr. Nath'l Russel what will be the most advantageous. If you have not Cargo sufficient to load your Vessil with what Mr. Russel puts on board belonging to your Owners, take as much Freight as will fill your Vessil. after being loaded, make all possible dispatch to the City of Hamburgh, going North about, and judge it will be safest to go to the Northward of Shutland, and keep the Coast of Norway aboard. when you come up with the Island of Heylego Land, near the mouth of the Elbe, doubtless you will meet with Pilot boats that will take charge of your Vessil and carry you up to Hamburgh. when you get up the River as far as Stade, where a Guard Ship lays, you must go on board of her and make report of your Cargo and where from, therefore its best to report from Florida with the manifest of your Cargo, belonging to Ireland, they never

require a sight of any of your Papers, and therefore by no means necessary to carry them on board. only a matter of form and custom.

this report is

upon your Arrival at

as

the City deliver your Cargo and Letters to Mr. John Parish to whom you are addressed, and follow his directions, at the same time urge him to give you all possible dispatch and to take every precaution to avoid danger and difficulty. soon as you have got your Cargo on board proceed North about on your way Home avoiding if possible speaking with any Vessil dureing your whole Voyage, endeavouring to get into any Port of Safety in these States. we wish you

Success and safe return.

You are to have by agreement the following Allowances vizt. Privilidge in the Brigantine 15 Cask of Rice, Commissions 5 per Ct. on Sale, 2 on Returns, Wages £7.10 per Month, and one Dollar a Day allowed for your expences while in Hamburgh, no Vendue Masters Com'n to be allowed by the Owners.

[Unsigned]

JOSIAH HEWES TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN

Philadelphia, 26 May, 1777.

YOURS of the 30 March I receved and have advertized your Ship for Sale; for some time but have not yet had any Application for her, worth Notice, our River has been long blocked up by Men of warr, that many fine Vessels lay idle here, our Merchants seem discouraged, and knowing that Vessels have been sold very cheap in New England, wont talk with me at any thing near the price you mention, 8.000 dollars. was shee here and our port released from the British Ships would readaly sell for the Sum above mentioned, but cant find any of them inclined to purchase her as she is. however, if you choose to fix a prise on her, and forward Inventory of what Stores Rigen Sailes etc. she has that is to go with her wil continue my applications for the seling her, and am with Sincerety yours

JOSIAH HEWES

Dear Sir,

CHRISTOPHER MARDENBROUGH, JR. TO

CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN

St. Christopher, December 13th, 1777.

I YESTERDAY was happy in the sight of my Children, in good health. my Sister and Brother have mentiond to me your and Mrs. Champlin's great kindness to them and my Children, in their distress, that only is the time to know our friends. I can't find words to express the Obligation you have laid me under. this I will say that not only your private family but every friend that you wou'd wish to serve shall look on myself equally bound. you have acted the Samaritan; you have been a friend to my Children in a strange Land, you will ever command every thing in my power, can you point any Service that I cou'd render you here. Mrs. Mardenbrough and my Children join me in sincere regard to you, Mrs. Champlin and your Children. Sally writes Miss Peggy by this Opportunity. I am Yours truly, CHRISTOPHER MARDENBROUGH, Jr.

[Endorsed,] Mr. Christopher Champlin at Little Rest, Conecticut. To the Care of Mr. Jno. Baker Brimmer.

Received and forwarded by Your Humble Servant, JOHN B. BRIMMER.

JOSEPH GARDNER1 TO ROBERT STEVENS & Co.

Gentlemen,

On board the Greenwick, 3rd March, 1778.

THIS is to acquaint you the third day after the Sloop left Bedford we came a cross a Ship of Fourteen Guns and Fifty men, we engag'd her and fought her three glasses but being cutt and much shatter'd to pieces was oblig❜d to quit her. we had the misfortune to loose poor Moses Casey in the Fray and four more wounded. This is likewise to acquaint

1 In May, 1776, he was interested in the privateer Lady Washington, with Joseph Cunningham and Ebenezer Dorr. Lincoln, Naval Records of the American Revoution, 1775-1788, 11.

you the eighteen of February we tooke a Schooner Transport from Hallifax bound to Newport loaded with Codfish and Coal but was blown off the coast and was bound to Antigua. we put a Prize Master on board and sent her to Martinico. this is likewise to acquaint you that the third of March we tooke another Schooner from Hallifax bound for Tobago, her cargo consists of sixty four hogsheads and eight tierces of Codfish eighty five barrells of Pickled Fish and seventeen hundred feet of Lumber and Staves. we likewise put a Prize Master on board of her and sent her to Martinico. This is likewise to acquaint you we are now cruising in the Latitude of Barbadoes and shall cruise back and forth about six weeks longer with the provisor we shoud not take any thing else till then and with the provisor we shoud take another Hallifaxman we shall go with her to Martinico. we shoud take a Britainer we shall proceed direct for America. This is to acquaint you that I have ordered one half the proceeds to be laid out in Produce and the other half to be shipt home in Cash.

Jam Gentlema Fresh Gandour

Yours &

if

[Endorsed,] To Robert Stevens & Co. owners of the Sloop Greenwich, State of Rhode Island.