Dear Sir, 

May this meet you at Philadelphia in the full & sweet Enjoyment of domestic Happiness, and may you may find your Interest less damaged than your Fears Suggested as I find they¹ left the City in a better Condition than was expected. A few Days after you left us I got her Majesty2 into my Neighbourhood with all her Guns, Spars, & appurtenances & have got rid of all the Petit Maitres you left on Board. The Ship is now at no other Expence than Wharfage & the Expence of the Cap^t who was plac’d on Board before you went away, Our worthy Friend M^r Morris³ has order’d Me to sell the Salt I expected to have had a quick Sale for it but on offering it to the Commissaries for Victualling they inform me they have Orders to decline purchasing any more that Article from beeing so high in Demand has become a mere Drugg If I should be obliged to store it the expence would amount to half the Value of the Salt, Im treating with a Gentlemen who I hope will take it, shall esteem it a Favour you would be so kind enough a Drft on France for the Am^o of those Certificates & forward them by Post & to favour Me with any Command you may have here which shall be executed with Pleasure pray make my Compliments to your Lady & believe Me to be yours &c

Boston 12th August 1778

I was too late for last Post & am come to this Date, have sold the Cargo of Salt at 30/ p^r Bushell to be paid for it by the 1^st Day January it was the best Term I could possibly obtain for since the Commissary’s here are forbid by Congress to purchase any more Salt, it has became a mere Drug the french Stores & Ships supply at that Price by small Quantities— I could have obtain’d 39 for it a Month earlier—this is a Day of doubtful Expectation an Anxiety among us, as ye Cream of our Youth with a great Number of Gentlemen, of Figure Influence & Fortune are gone on the Expedition⁴—your Favourite Samuel my Son is among the Independents We expect they have been in Action before now, pray God send good Tidings—yours &^c JB—