[Baltimore] the 8th Decr 1775
I wrote you the 28 Octr Since then have recd your favrs of the 4th & 29th Augt and note the Contents. this I intend for a brig that is going from New York, if it gets there in time I still think your letters Will Come safe by Packett if you avoid Politicks therefore would Advise you to write by them if No other opportunity offers I have Long Since ordred Mr [Stephen] Skinner of Amboy to Send you the Disbursements with proper affadavits Concerning the Schooner & and shall write him this post to the Same purpose I am sorry you did not get my letters time enough to turn green out I am well Satisfied with What you have done with her but had you Sent her out with women only. (if the[y] ware spinners) they Would have answerd however I would advise you if possible to Sell her, and if that cannot be done & She Shoul[d] be with you early in the Spring and if you Could get forty women that can Spin I think the[y] will answer well. I also wish to see your selfe here, and I am off opinion you cannot Come out While you have her on hands. Besides I think She would not be Stoped with women on bord as no Doubt you Would have her Registerd in Dublin as you can pass for a member of That City. I often think, if you was here & had all matters on your side Finished (as you must in the Spring) that we Could by some method or other do some thing here of Course you may see we are not so fearful as You are for us. if She Should Come out let the master have orders to Shew the men of war that Orders him to Sommerset County on the Eastern Shore Say to Skinner Ennels as that is a tory County, & at the Same Time his private orders to Come here and he must Carefully hide, all his letters Save a few that you are sure Cannot hurt him after All I have said Should matters Seem probible to take another turn I Think it would be prudent to have her with you to have her one of the first out with Servants but all these affairs must rest in your own breast...
A good dale of the Schooners Servant money yet out, & that & other matters keep me low in cash & in Debt however I have opened a Retail Store on the County Wharfe for Wet goods by Which I hope to maintain The House the Business is Dull... We are in general in high Spirits here tho the ministry threatens us hard and are making Every Necessary preparation to Support our Selves. there is & will be a good army in New England Superior to What governt will have there in the Spring, besides there is a small one in canada that has taken St Johns montreal & the places ajacent, into our posessn So that government has only Quebec in their posession of all that province and we have an army now before that place, and are in hopes it is in our posession yre this, & if not now have no Doubt of getting it this vinter as the[y] Can Send no Succors to it, and govenor Carleton has not 200 regulars to Defind it as he had 600 taken prisoners at St Johns & Chanbelee, beside the Congress are raising troops in Every province. one Batalion is going to be raised in this Immediately by orders of the Congress & its thought our Convention (that are now sitting) will raise three more in Pensylvania & the Jerseys the[y] are raising men and the[y] have about two or three Thousand in pay this same time in Virginia Where they are knocing away by this time with Lord Dunmore there Governor Who is become very troublesome upon the Whole if you Ware Clear of the Schooner (Even at a loss) and out here, I think we might yet do some Sorte of business to Advantage we are in hopes of having This Town Fortified this Winter So as to Defend it from any Ships that can Come up this river if that is Done I have not the least Doubt but we Shall still have some little trade here & perhaps a chance may happen to make something handsome ー Wheat has been 3/ to 4/ at the latter price a large Quantity might be got flour has been 10/6 to 12/ not much has been purchaced Ex[change] 66 2/3 a 67½ up to 72/ in Philada Your Son is well as all the family All your old friends is well, and wish to see you (save the Meathodists) but none more so than