Gentlemen/

On the representation & earnest Solicitation of Mr Vanbibber, I wrote you the 8th of December last offering to move from this Island down to St Eustatia in order to release that Gentleman from the West Indies, he being exceedingly desirous to rejoin his family & friends in Maryland ー from what he told me, at that time I really thought such a measure would not only oblige him, but tend to promote your Interest also. ー But, notwithstanding I am still of Opinion that Statia is the best place for purchasing & selling any kind of Merchandize, I find that the great Number of Cruizers continually hovering about that Island & the Inability of its Government to check their Ravages, render it infinitely more unsafe for the Americans to resort to than to this ー Our privateers (which are every day going out & coming into this port) together with the french frigates & Guarda Costas have lately kept our Coasts tolerably clear of the Enemy's small Cruizers, which have been (and still are to Leeward) the greatest Annoyance to our Commerce. ー Add to this that we have now a brisk trade opened to Dunkirk (a free port) in the Article of Tobacco, and that we possibly may have a chance now and then of dealing in the Bill way with the privateers men (who begin to sell certain kind of prizes here by connivance of Government) and I am of Opinion, upon the whole, that this place has yet the advantage. ー I therefore concieve it incumbent on me to inform you that I shall remain here untill I know you have seen this Letter & recieve your Orders in consequence of it to go elsewhere, whatever may have been your determination on what I formerly wrote you ー This change of Opinion may appear to you perhaps fickle, but it arises from a change of Circumstances, of which I thought it a duty to inform you. I have the Honor to be [&c.]

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