the Casks did not contain as much as they were markt, at lest a great many of them, especially those markt WD; for they loose on an avarage one peck a Cask or rather more, and of this there can be no doubt, as the Flaxseed Works where it was sent to be cleand, at that time or since, had no other to mix with it that could cause any mistake; and the greatest part was measured before it was put into the Mill, for as they found them run short they were induced to try many more Casks than is customary to do, and one of our Clerks saw several Casks tryd; and we understand by those in that way, that from experience they have found the Seed from New England and Rhoad Island to run short.

We now enclose Sale of the Seed and instead of 8/9 we have carried it out at 9/ which we have no doubt will be satisfactory to you, and our inducement to do this is because we take a part ourselves or if you choose it, as we have before observed, we will take the whole, or the whole of the Flour; for tho the first Cost of both is too high to expect any great profit, yet we hope either will be attended with some little, and we are at a loss to know which to give the preference to. Net Proceeds thereof being £1065.19.6. is to your Credit.

Since writing the above we find the Seed is all shipt, say per the Snow Dickinson, [blank] Johnson, Master, and inclosed is Invoice for the same on our joynt account (supposing you acquiesce to the proposal) amount being £1145.6.7,

and as you determine we can make the Entries hereafter. You will find there was 23 Casks condemnd, we will endeavor to sell them for something and what they sell for your account shall be credited the same. All Seed before shipping is sent to some of the Mills to be cleand, for which 2/6 per hhd is paid, and a deduction of 2 per Ct. for wastage in cleaning. When the Bills of Lading are signed we purpose to send you one, and we intend to write to London for Insurance. We remain with respect, Sir, Your Very Humble Servants,

STOCKER AND WHARTON

STOCKER AND WHARTON TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN

Sir,

Philadelphia, March 12th, 1774.

We have before us your favors of the 1st and 5th Inst. confirming the proposal we made of your taking a half concern in the Seed and our holding the same part in your one third of the Peggy's Cargoe of Flour, and with you wish the former adventure may prove more fortunate at the market it is going to than it did at this, and it is our opinion it will; for now the Vessels are all saild the quantity shipt from New York, this place, and Maryland is ascertaind, and falls short of what went the last year between one and two thousand hhds: so that we find those that are adventurers in that article have good hopes of its leaving a profit. We are not well enough acquainted with the Trade to Ireland to give you the information you request, but we will make enquiry and let you know hereafter. from what we have understood the price of Seed there is as fluctuating and the profits as precarious as on any article shipt from the Continent, and the greatest part of what goes from hence is on account the people the other side the Water. It has given us a good deal of pain that the Seed fell so short and we have no doubt of your being imposed upon. there was not a Cask of Seed in the Works but yours and the Proprietor of them is a very careful honest Man.

Inclosed please receive a Letter from Messrs. Parr, Bulkley and Co. of Lisbon which came inclosed to us a few minutes after the last Post went out. You will be informed by it of the arrival of your Ship Peggy. Mess. Parr, Bulkley and Co. mention the nominal price of Flour to be 3$800 and hopes, with having a little patience, to obtain it. if they do that adventure will leave some profit. they mention they would soon make your Friends in London the remittance you requested and give Capt. Barron their best advice and assistance. Salt was very low selling at 1$700г per Moy which contains from 16 to 18 bushels.

We observe you had orderd £600 Stg. Insurance on your third the Cargoe per the Peggy; the same sum we requested to be made on the Seed, so that no notice need be taken of that in our Accounts, at least the difference can't be much as we do suppose the premium will be the same on both. We remain with respect, Sir, Your Very Humble Servants, STOCKER AND WHARTON

Sir,

HAYLEY AND HOPKINS TO AARON LOPEZ

[London,] 6 April, 1774.

THE preceding Copy of our last we confirm; since which Captain Allen is arrived from Dunkirk and proposes returning to Newport in Captain Hall. We have paid him £126. 18.11 on the Brig's account, for which you will find his receipt enclosed, and he has delivered us a bill for £95.17.10 for proceeds of his freight to Dunkirk, which is accepted and when paid will be placed to your credit. We hope it will not be long before we have the pleasure of acquainting you with the Sale of his Vessel; He will inform you of the bad state of her Sails and Cables. we hope nevertheless she will not lay long on hand. We have not a Line yet from Captain Buckley.

We have now to acknowledge Receipt of your favours of the 1st and 10th February, and agreeable to your instructions therein we have made the following Insurances,

£1000 additional on the Ship Nancy, Capt. Wright, to Jamaica
and London, for 3/4 cost of which we debit you as per

Account

£48.15.

£1400 on the Deborah, Davenant, for which we debit you £35. 5. 6
£ 700 on the Jacob, Peters, to Barbadoes and back, for half
of which we debit you

£15.17. 9

the Accounts of all which you will find enclosed, and sincerely wish them all successful Voyages, particularly we hope you will not be disapointed in your view of the Jacob's Voyage. The bill you remitt us for £35 drawn by Captain Wright on ourselves shall when due be placed to your

credit. We wish our application to the friends of Mr. Veratt had been more effectual; if your bills had been the only ones in the same situation we think they would have paid them, but they assure us there are several more in the same state and positively they are determined not to pay any of them. The Insurance on the Neptune was, as you observe, made in the name of James Burke; but no prejudice can in such cases ever arise, provision is made in all our policies for a change of Master and nothing is necessary in case of accident but a proof of its being the same Vessell on which the Insurance was made. We are much obliged to you for the trouble you have taken in explaining the conduct of your Factors last year which we own had hurt us, but what you now say has removed all difficulty from our minds on that head. May better success attend your future endeavours and guard you from so many unlucky accidents as you experienced last year. The letter you enclosed us for Messrs. Mayne and Co. was forwarded immediately upon our receiving it. We are very respectfully, Sir, Your most Humble Servants,

[Endorsed,] Per Capt. Hall, via Boston.

HAYLEY AND HOPKINS

PELEG GREENE TO AARON LOPEZ

Dear Sir,

Ocracock, April the 6th, 1774.

THIS my second is to acquant you that I have been laying at Ocracock from the twenty first of March with varable winds and weather with continual Gales of wind and so large a sea that no Pilot would carry me over the barr, and on the second of April I issued forth. a Gale of wind from the ENE with squals of wind and rain at 4 am it backned to the NbE and still continued to blow harder and hard parted my small Cable and found the Gale still increase at day light saw several vessells drove on the barr where there Vessells and Cargo must be intirely lost, if not there life, and finding myself driving directly on the bar for my

then

last bower Cable would not bring hir up, and for the benefit of your Interest and our Life I thought proper to cut the other Cable, run hir on the Point of Ocracock, which was the last place we could save our selfs and accordingly did and thanks be to God save our vessell and Cargo and our Lives which had we drove on the bar must unavoidable been lost. we have met with no other damage but lost our boat we got the vessell off with only takeing the Lumber of Deck. Meridian the Gale moderated. this day I expect to have all the Lumber on board again, and then shall make the best of my way to Savanna La[Mar] there was fourteen sail of vessells drove on shore, and five of which will be entirely lost, and one drove over the South breakers and gone to see and every soul perished. am, Sir, your Humble Servant and yours to serve, PELEG GREENE

[Endorsed,] Per favorer Captain Rodman.

CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN TO PARR, BUCKELEY AND CO. Newport, Rhode Island, April 16th, 1774.

Gentlemen,

at

I AM now to acknowledge your esteemed favours of 25th Jany. 5th and 14th Feby. noticeing the arival of my Ship Peggy, your Intention of remitting my Friends at London £500 Stg: by first Packet, and the remainder of my 1/3 of said ships Cargo as fast as your in Cash, all which is agreeable and I doubt not of your punctuallity in this matter. I fell into this Business in some measure to facillitate my remittance to London, as my annual call that way is upwards £5000, which I yearly import. If the Freighting to Lisbon, etc., proves inviting, I shall increase my Concern by building a ship to stow 2000 Barrels. Your contracting for a small Freight to Baltimore and another from thence to Lisbon is much more agreeable than to have returned with Salt, as the quantity lately imported from your quarter has lowered the price with us; and if her passages are short and no delays in the ports some profit will arise. I suppose you mean by the Freighters paying half the Port charges, to