Ship Providence 26 July 1778
Dear Sir
we have the Pleasure to inform You That mr. Gardner1 with his People Came on Board this morning, and all are well &c—You herewith have his Reciepts for the Brig And her Cargo, as Deliver’d by himself—He informs us that, the Leakag is Verry inconsiderable, he Says he Expended for his Crew, one half Pipe of wine only, and he has Reciepts for One Hundred and twenty four Pipes, so that there Is not so much as was imgined. there is also On board Nine Thousand weight of Cork for which he was offered nine Livers pr Hundred, also 112lb Candles, not accounted for &c We in General are Verry well and have the Honr, to Subscribe our Selves your most Obedient [&c.]
Jonathan Pitcher Silas Devol Patk Fletcher W Jones
LB, MiU-C, Abraham Whipple Letter Book. Addressed: Abraham Whipple Esqr./Nantes.” Docketed: “26 July 1778/Letter from Ship.”
1. Nicholas E. Gardner had been prize master of the prize brigantine Lord Grosvenor, which was at Ile de Ré. The sale of Lord Grosvenor and its cargo had been overseen by the firm of Fairholme & Luther.