No 180

Gent. Your favor of the 28th December inclosing Account Current &tc and Mr [Abraham] Vanbibber's of the 10th January, have come to hand.

We are exceedingly sorry that our Endeavours to extinguish the heavy Debt you have Contracted on Account of our State, have been Attended with so little success. Had the Resolution got safe through the Enemies and the 92 not missed the Island of Martinique, their Cargoes which were valuable woulq have greatly relieved you the 92 arrived at the Moal almost a wreck, [John] Martin, [Thomas] Conway, and Morre's [Ralph Moore] ² Cargoes if they arrive safe with the Money you have, or will receive for the Powder Leguiere Sold at Carolina belonging to this State will greatly reduce our Balance.

We are getting the Ship Lidia Burthen 400 Hhds ready to take in a load of Tobacco which will be dispatched to you as soon as possible. And you may depend, that the Governor and Council who will shortly succeed us and to whom in future be pleased to Address your Letters, will do every thing in their Power to Strengthen your hands. But if you could Draw Bills upon them even at 25 pCent Discount it would be serving the State and yourselves to do it. Salt, Blankets & Course Woollens with trimmings we want very much and wish to have them almost at any Price ー Mr Vanbibber's Order on us in favor of Vanbibber and Crockett for 1133 1/6 Dollars has appeared and is duly honored.

Pray have you ever heard any intelligence respecting Simonton? Mr [William] McCreary who is now in this State has informed us, that he Shipped to the Care of Mr Vanbibber from Rotterdam for the use of this State, 2100 Musquets, 100,000 Gunflints 20 Boxes Dble & 20 Boxes Single Tin, 1300 Gunlocks 5 Tons Lead and a large Quantity of Medicines that a Mr Beall, who is Connected with Mr Norton at Williamsburgh, informed him, that their Goods arrived safe in Statia that Mr Vanbibber refused to pay the freight of them, and that a Mr [Cornelius] Stevenson had taken them up and sold part of them to pay it.

We cannot give Credit to this information; and beg that you will make Enquiry and inform us particularly how this business has been Transacted; and what has been done with the Goods ー

Inclosed you have Invoice and Bill of Lading for the Brothers Cargo which we wish to a good Market. Herewith you will receive several Copies of the Convention of New York Address to the people of that State which be pleased to distribute amongst the Inhabitants of Martinique and the British Islands also a News paper that has Governor [William] Livings tons Speech to his Assembly This Speech and the Address we beg you would have Translated into the French Language by an Able Hand and send some Copies to Old France

P.S. Send as much Salt by the Brig as she can conveniently take in. We are [&c.]

[Annapolis] March 11th 1777 ー