Newbury Port July 31, 1775
Sir
You being Master of Our Brig Unity and all Things necessary for Sea being on Board Our Orders are that you proceed with the first fair Wind from hence to Sea, and make the most prudent Dispatch to some English Island in the West Indies and at such Port or Ports in any of them as you judge best sell your Cargoe on Board after which equip your Vessel for the Force Trade and taking your Cash and any other Things you judge may answer best proceed to Porto Rico or some other Spanish Place & there invest the neat Proceeds of your whole in such Articles as answer at the Curacoa Market or in Holland, to either of which Places you are to go and there dispose of your Cargoe you may have thus procured. If at Curacoa you are to take your Cash and go to some English Island and clear out in Ballast for home as no Produce can be bro't agreeable to [Continental] Association ー If you go to Holland and there sell your Wood and other Things you get at Porto Rico you are to endeavour a Freight to England or otherwise proceed to London, in Ballast ー Where your Vessell is to be absolutely sold unless Matters are accomodated ー You are to apply to Messrs. Champion, Dickason & Co. on your Arrival for Advice, & proceed accordingly. ー But should there be no Prospect of improving your Money in the forced Trade, which is our Design in the Voyage, you are to endeavour to secure a Freight to any Port of Europe, remitting your Cash to the abovesaid House in London for our Account as well as your Freight Money, reserving enough to buy you a Load of Salt with which go to N F Land and there sell the Vessell, making the best of your Way home, & paying your People off ー But if you can do neither of these Things you are to remit your Money as aforesaid & proceed home in Ballast Your Signals when you return to be Blue Burgee under your Jack at F T Q M Head & Ensign under your Pendant at M T Q. Mast head ー Keep us advised pr. all Opportunities ー Avoid speaking any Vessels as you may loose some of your Hands. For your Encouragement We agree to allow you Three Pounds six shillings & 8d p Month ー The Priviledge of Eight Hogsheads out Freight free ー Three pr Cent on the Sales of your Cargoe & 3 pr Cent on any Remittance except Cash ー Also customary Priviledges & Commissions on the Forced Trade or Freight.
Samuel Bayley Moses Brown
1. Mass. Arch., vol. 208, 271. These orders, as was subsequently disclosed, were sham ones.