Dr Colln
I herewith send you a rough Sketch of the heads of an Agreament made with the Committee of Congress. Should your Committee incline to send for any Arms, We would contract with them for the same Arnot on the same terms, with only this difference, that we would purchase or Freight a Vessel there, which may readily be done for about £500 to £700 St'g purchase, or if freighted, as low as could agree; in either case we would expect the Committee to fake the Risque of Seizure, &c.
Mr. [Nathan] Rumsey, a very capable young Gentn, who is concerned with us, goes in the ship to transact the Business; with respect to Medicine, I am of Opinion most kinds may be had at Dunkirk, where the Ship will stop, but on looking over a price Current sent me, I find no kind mentioned but Rhubarb & Liquorice. I am Dr Colln [&c.]
Rhubarb from 2 to 4-6.
Liquorice 52-6 p Ct.
To Colln Roberdeau, Esqr, Present.
[Enclosure]
Heads of an Agreement made between the Committee of Congress & Hodge & Bayard & Co., 1776, Feb'y 2.
The Committee of Congress to advance £5000 St'g, either in Bills of Excha or Specie, wt wch H. & B. are to dispatch their Ship, now lying at the Capes, to a Certain Port in Europe, & there purchase & Ship on board the Arnot in good Arms for this Port, the Congress to Insure the Ship against Seizure, Valued at £900 St'g.
Should the Vessel arrive safe at this Port, H. & B. to be allowd the full price the Arms may be Valued at, deducting a Reasonable allowance for the advance of money & the risque of Insurance thereon.
Should the Vessel be taken on her return, then the Congress to pay H. & B. the sum she is valued at & £400 St'g, in lieu of her outward bound freight.
If, contrary to Expectation, H. & B. are disappointed in the purchasing Arms, by the Prohibition of the State, or any other unforseen Accident, then the money sent to be laid out in Powder &c. &c., or whatever the Congress may direct, in that Case H. & B. to be allowd the Frt outwd, as before-mentioned, also a freight on the Goods purchased Inwds, & a Commissn, Exclusive of what may be charg'd by the Factor there, & the Goods to be on acct of Congress.
