know when we may expect the provisions of by the Bearer. no Beef is wanted now. I suppose the same allowance of Callavances as of Pease allowed to the Men.

PATTERSON AND HOOD TO COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS

Gentlemen,

ON Wednesday the first Instant the Tide Surveyor of this Port boarded within four Miles of this Town a Topsail Schooner, name unknown, the Masters name (supposed to be) Campbell who reported from Casco Bay. soon after the Tide Surveyor had boarded the said Schooner the Master ordered his people to weigh Anchor and sailed down the River, declaring he would go to St. Eustatia and carry the Tide Surveyor and people, consisting of four Boatmen, with him. next day the Schooner was seen sixty miles down the River with the Kings Boat at her Stern; since which we have not heard of them. we have full information that the above Schooner was loaded with Contraband Goods, and have reason to conclude they consist of Tea and War-like Stores from Holland. We therefore think it our duty to give you the earliest intelligence of this Vessell, lest she should attempt to land her Cargo in your Port. The above Schooner is deep waisted, with two small Ports on each side of the Waist, brown bottom and her Quarters painted light blue. If such a Vessell should arrive in your Port, we request you will be so kind as to let us know it. We are, Gentlemen, Your most Obedient Humble Servants,

JOHN PATTERSON, D. Coll'r.
ZACH. HOOD, Compt.

Custom House, Philadelphia 3 February 1775.

[Addressed] The Collector and Comptroller of His Majestys Customs, Newport.

[Endorsed,] The Coll'r and Comptroller of His Majesty's Customs at Newport Rhode Island.

[and in another hand,] John Martine Leake Treasury Chambers, Whitehall. Per favour of Mr. Harrison.

PARR, BULKELEY AND CO. TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN Lisbon, 1st February, 1775.

Sir,

We are favor'd with your much esteem'd lines of 25th November handed us by Captain Barron of your Brig Peggy, who we find is loaded to another house owing to Flour being above our limits, which is well, as we never like to encourage our friends to risk their property without a prospect of advantage, sorry whenever we draw a Commission on a losing account. Have now the pleasure to advise you of a remittance made the 24 December to your friends Messrs. Hayley and Hopkins for Rs. 100000 being something more than we were in Cash from your 1/3 concern in the Peggy's Cargo: you may depend on our exertion to close this affair as soon as possible by a remittance to your friends and furnish you with the accounts.

We remark what you say respecting our drawing a Commission on freight money, and reply that it is customary even supposing we were to pay the money to the Captain, being a gratuity for transacting the ship's business, and we hope you will do us the justice to make enquiry into this Charge and acquit us accordingly. Respecting the five Barrels flour that Captain Barron was deficient, we assure you they never appear'd in our store, having renderd sales of that Voyage to the concern'd, and we are certain they never were landed in Lisbon. we have frequent short deliveries from on board, and the mistake often proves to be on your side the water. Cargoes hurried on board without either mate or Master keeping count, and bills of Lading sign'd from a slight reckoning of the storekeepers. We are far from harbouring the least thought of any embezzlement on board, but as the bill of Lading expres'd a certain quantity, we were under the necessity of charging the deficiency to the Ship.

We shall be happy in rendering Captain Barron every service in our power, and wish for our friends sake the Peggy had arrived to a better market. never was Lisbon

in so glutted a state, and wishing for opportunities to support a reciprocal correspondence remain with great regard, Sir, Your obedient humble Servants,

I HAVE before me your favours of the 12th and 24th November, for which am greatly obliged. The bills you have drawn on me in favour of H. & H. are accepted and you may depend shall be punctually discharged. I have agreable to your direction made £450 Insurance on Flax Seed in the Brittania, Captain Fair, from Newport to her port or ports of discharge in Ireland, the Account of which you will find enclosed premio etc. being £11.10.6 is to your debit. We have received a Letter from the Captain advising his arrival at Dublin, which I desired Mr. Samuel Fowler to inform you of in a Letter we wrote him by Captain Collins. I have also made £800 Insurance on 11/16 of the Sloop Adventure to Africa and America, the Account of which is likewise enclosed premio etc. being £86.12.3. I sincerely wish she may make you a succesful Voyage. I have also made £450 Insurance agreable to your desire for account of Mr. Geo. Champlin as above on the Sloop Adventure, for premio of which have debited your Account £35.11.9 as per Account herewith.

I am sorry to say American affairs bear every day more and more a gloomy prospect. Our Administration are determined to enforce the oppressive Acts of parliament at every hazard. Under this circumstance the order you send for Goods must remain unexecuted. I hope we shall gett into a happier situation some time or other but at present it seems to be at some distance and the Issue must

I fear be inevitable ruin to the Commerce of both Countries. I am very respectfully, Sir, Your most humble Servant, GEO. HAYLEY

Dr. Mr. Christopher Champlin for the following Insurance on the Brittania, Fare, at and from Rhode Island to her port or ports of discharge in Ireland

£450 on Flaxseed . . . at £2 per Ct.

Policy.
Commission

£9.

5. 6

2. 5.£11. 10. 6

On the Adventure, Champlin, at and from Rhode Island to the Coast of Africa, during her Stay and trade there and from thence to her Ports of Discharge in British America

THE foregoing is Copy of our last respects. We now enclose your Account Current for the last year, ballance thereof being £22673.-.9 in our favour is carried to your debit in new Account which if upon examination found free from Error please note in conformity of which shall be obliged by your informing us in your next.

We have since our last received your esteemed favours of the 8th and 23d September, 10th October, 16th and 24th November, 2d and 21st December, to which we now propose to answer in the order they lay before us. In that

of the 8th September you wish to have £100 additional Insurance made on the Diana, but your Letters of the 8th, and that of the 23d September in which you advise her misfortune both came to our hands the same day by Captain Jenkins, and of course the additional £100 could not be done. Your care to send this Intelligence is another proof of that Integrity of which we have seen many Instances in the course of our correspondence and does you great honour. We have very lately received the papers relating to that loss via Philadelphia, and have laid them bef[ore] your Underwriters. £400 of this Insurance was done upon the Vessel and they have agreed to pay that Sum as usual in a Month, so that our next will cover the Account of the settlement for that part; but the remaining £100 which is done on Goods they defer settling till we can furnish them with an Invoice of the Cargo which was on board her at the time she was lost. By the bill of Lading which you have sent us the value (exclusive of the Mules which they suppose were landed at Jamaica) does not amount to near £100. We must therefore beg the favour of you to send us an Invoice with all expedition.

We have perused with all possible attention what you write about your Brig Leviathan, with Capt. Lothrop's Letter and your orders to him, which we have also laid before your Underwriters, but they will do nothing in it till we can furnish them with some more authentic proofs than merely the Captain's Letter. This is one of those unhappy cases which generally end in litigation at Law. If that must be the case our utmost attention shall be given to it as soon as we are furnished with legal proofs which we hope you will be able to do ere long. We should think it impossible (if Lothrop's state of the case is true) that they can detain him or his Vessel much longer; If not, when he returns you will easily procure and send us every necessary proof and we will then exert every possible diligence to procure you justice.

The bill you remitt us for £1000 drawn by Benj. Wright on ourselves is accepted and when due shall be placed to