[Extract]

Your Esteemed favour of the 27th of Decemr & 4th January are now beforfe us and Contents Noted . . .

Your Sloop is now discharged but your soon [sic! son]² thinks we had not better be in a hurry to purchase as he wants to hear from you first ー and also as Flour is high, and is Expected lower, if the Roads will get good. therefore we hope that either he or us will Soon hear from you . . . we shall endeavour to get your Sloop loaded and if you do not send bills in time we shall draw on You for the Amt . . .

Our G.W. wrote you formerly very fully about a Vessel for our Trade but for fear you may have forgot we will now repait to Say it theres a probability of trade being kept Open between this town and Yours. And you think you Could Manage all ways to have a Vessel Loaded here by us we will agree to take (the one half) but would Rather take the whole (of a new Vessell from five to Seven) Hundred barrells at a Reasonable price say at first Cost and allow you a Commission. We will give you our bond for the money and pay you with the freights and Commission as she Arrives, you shall have liberty to fill her up with goods always from your place freight free to this, if Consigned to us, on the Sale of which you shall pay three & three fourths P Ct and on her load back you shall pay the Common freight & the same Commission and if you Send bills to load here, we must have a Commission for selling them, we will pay the Wages and make her a free bottom.

We think this is nearly the same proposal that our G.W. formerly made you, and have no Reason to wish to hold take the whole. Reather than half only that it will prevent any Confusion in our Accts hereafter. We hear that the Kings speech to parliament is Come in Declaring his American Subjects in a State of Rebellion & Beggin the Assistance of his parliament to bring them to their duty. we wish it may be false, but are fearful it is true, and we really dread the. Consequences that may follow all over this Continent.