Sir,

Your Favour of 18 Feb^ry. was handed Me by Mess^rs Vareplank & Brown the 12th Ulti^o. who arrivd here in good Health & Spirits, they tarried here a Fortnight & then went to their respective Homes. I had the pleasure of furnishing M^r Brown with 1200 Dollars for Acc^t. as pr Advice. I have the Pleasure to inform you, that your very lucky Ship the Henrietta Cap^t. Brown arriv'd the 4 after being in Possession of a Privateer out of London 43 Hours, during which Time he was kept in Duress with all his People saving two, the Pump was neglected by which a Trifle of Goods were damag'd—¹ I had a Survey & found proper Dunnage had been afforded, poor Brown,² during his Captivity, committed all his Papers to y^e Sea, and was entirely at a Loss to whom to apply till on Information of my Corresponding with M^r Morris,³ not knowing whether the Cargo was on public or private Account, and shewing him an Order, from M^r Morris to take Charge of all Effects of his that might arrive here, he deliver'd the Cargo into my Hands as did M^r Hall.⁴ Those you shipp'd in the three Friends, which all came in good Order. I'm happy to find by that Gentleman that He brought Duplicates of all the Papers Cap^t. Brown destroy'd, Cap^t. Green⁵ appears to deserve every Civility due to a Gentleman, He with Cap^t. Nicholson⁶ put themselves under the Direction of y^e Navy Board,⁷ their Ships are dismantled & will soon be fitted in a very different Manner from what they were in France. Cap^t. Brown is gone forward determin’d not to return to go hence in the Ship, (he says) by your Direction, it seems his Men when they found he was bound to y^e Continent⁸ grew refractory, & for some Time took the Ship from Him; but by his own Address & the Assistance of his worthy Mate they prevail'd on them to aid in navigating her to this port. But soon after the Ship was discharg'd they insisted on finishing the Voyage here, to which Cap^t. Brown readily acceeded to, & he has accordingly given them Drafts' on you for the Amount of their Wages, the Cap^t. then left the Ship in my Charge with only y^e Mate & Boy, but soon after he went away four of the Men were introduc'd to Me by the Mate whose Character he spoke highly off, and I agreed with them to go whatever Voyage she might be order'd at forty Dollars pr Month. The Wages from this Place has for some Time been as high as fifty, and the Difficulty of coming at them almost insuperable, they have been very diligently employ'd in getting all their lower Rigging lifted & tarr'd, providing Spun Yarn which would have been a very expensive Article here, so high as £26 pr Ct., and giving her a proper Overhaul with scarcely any Expence excepting their Wages & Victuals; Whereas had I been obliged to hire Day's Men I must have paid each Man 24/ pr Day—I shall have the Henrietta fitted for Y^e Sea & ready to prosecute y^e Voyage as soon as I've M^r Morris's Orders respecting a Master and the Voyage He intends her for: The Death of y^e unhappy M^r T Morris,⁹ must give his worthy Patron, Friend & Brother much less Concern than if he had acted a diffrent Part, his Conduct almost destroy'd M^r Morris' Peace of Mind—I beg leave to refer you to the public Prints for News, nothing of Consequence has taken place this Summer by Land the Public Accounts show our Misfortunes in y^e —Great Things have been in our Power but under the Management of Poltroons have prov'd abortive—¹⁰ I shall be happy in rendering you or your Connections any Services in my Power being with all due Respect yours &c

PS If you should incline to speculate in Linnens of a midling Fabric to those equal to Irish at 2/6 will sell to a great Profit. Tea would also give a great Profit. The Politeness & affability of the two Gentlemen You were so kind to recommend much endear'd them to their Acquaintance here, wch I assure you were not a few for y^e short time they staid here