Sir

The foregoing are Copys of our last, Which hope soon to hear are safe come to your hands, since have received your esteemed favor of 9^th. June last wherein is acknowledged receit of Sundry letters from us.¹

this by your ship Adams Cap^t. L. Turner, incloses Bill of Loading and Invoice of her Cargo amounting to L.56235.7. which sincerely wish may arrive safe & give entire satisfaction[.] account of Said vessells disbursements shall forward you by the first oportunity after the different bills are Collected, we also inclose you Cap^t Turner receit for the money advanced him for use of his vessell, account sales of the Adams Cargo net proceeds L.55052.0.3 we sold this Cargo immediately after the ships arrival, with Conditions to be delivered which has evited sundry heavy Charges, as you may observe by compairing this account sales with others further inclose you additional accounts of disbursements for the Penet & Nantes² amount^g to L2114.0^s 11^d. Acco^t sales of y^e flaxseed & potash p. the Nantes N^t proceeds L. 22345.17.4, Acco^t. of an Error in the snow Penet’s General Acco^t. of Disbursemnts L. 346.7.11. in the states favour likewise inclose you a translation of Recules de Basmaerin Raimbaux et Cie Accounts,³ respecting the business they were charged with by Gruel & C^o in your states account,⁴ first account of Disbursements against the Brigantine Tirranicidé Cap^t Harridan⁵ amot^g. to L. 19177.19.1 Second acco^t. of Disbursements against the sloop Bunker hill Cap^t Clark⁶ amo^tg. to L. 7612.2 third acco^t sales of the sloop Bunker hill & Cargo N^t proceeds L.27618.18. Invoice of the Tirranicides Cargo amount^g. to L. 35010.6.11. they forwarded you by said vessell.

Cap^t Turner received from us £.1400. .. for his primage as p. inclosed receit he tole us that was the sum agread upon with the board of war, and Mess^rs. Cripps & Mey⁷ wrote us to pay him as p. his agreements & not pay any attention to the bill of Loading that mentioned primage as customary which would amounted to full double the sum; it is necessary to inform you that Cap^t. Turner had several passangers & some Indigo belong^g. to them on freight, which he received the money for & said would settle with the board for the same. three muids⁸ of salt in bulk with that of y^e Cargo belong^g to Captain Turner which he bought & paid for.

Cap^t. Proctor & Cap^t. James (who were unfortunatelly taken in the two mast ships.)⁹ arrived here some time ago, we advanced them money to y^e amounts of L1770 p. inclosed receits, the former went on board the frigate y^e providence,¹⁰ the latter is waiting to take the command of a small vessell now on the stocks, building by two Gentlemen that embark in her for your state—we sincerely wish the whole of y^e foregoing papers may be found Just on examination & give all satisfaction,

in your last we with pain remark the disatisfaction of your having mention’d some time before what Balance remain’d as due to your state as you believed by the remittances, made & the money advanced our unfortunate Pliarne Exceeded what we shipt & paid for your state, this now serves to inform you that M^r. Pliarn never sent any account of y^e money he received from you which left us intirely in the Dark on that point;¹¹ further observe, it gives you no uneasiness to find we are in advance for that or a much considerable amount as it would be but as small part of y^e advances stipulated in your contract with our Mr Pliarne we are happy to think our advances give you no uneasiness, and be assured we will go to the utmost of our abilities in Serving your State which we have given a small proof of but hope you will not think this is done by agreement of contract, as we never received original or Copy, therefore are quite ignorant with the Contents.

With regard to your accounts not being sooner forwarded, we Can only give for reason that M^r. Gruel (who contracted the whole business whilst in the partnership) treated you as he did all others that were pleased to intrust us with their business, by neglecting it in a most shamefull manner, dayly with astonishment we are obliged to see, in what an indolent manner he transacted the business, and are much afraid shall feel the consequence thereof untill the character of our present partnership is established & Known in what manner we dispatch business, which if not already taken place hope will soon be, after our M^r. Penet’s arrival in the Continent, who leaves this in a small Vessell of ours, for the southward, that will sail with the fleet under convoy of the providence & two other Continental frigates,¹² who sees them off this coast, should M^r. Penet be fortunate enough to arrive, will think it his duty to wait on your respectable board of war so soon as possible.

With regard to the political affairs of Europe, must reffer to the french papers we forward you by this vessell, unless it is the King of france’s proclamation giving liberty to fit out privateers & letter of marks against the English, further that a french frigate had already taken five english vessells which are all safe in different ports of this Kingdom,¹³ the french fleet left brest y^e 8 ultimo consisting of 32 ships of y^e line, frigate &^{ca 14} the English fleet went out some little time after, but have not had yet heard of the two fleets meeting which is looked for every moment what the consequence may be, cannot tell, but they assure for certain that our fleet has orders to attack admiral Keppel.¹⁵ we remain with most Sincere your most obedient [&c.]

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3 August 1778

Since Sealing the papers for your board, four of Cap^t. Turners Sailors left him, of which had three taken by the Guards, the fourth could not be found, another has his hand so bad, the Captain will be obliged to leave him, which makes him Short of two hands therefor he apply to us for mony to Ship two others in their place that we could not refuse him & paid him inclosed receit two hund^d. livers, this day we received the news from brest, which we inclose you a hand bill printed in french,¹⁶ the Engagement began, without declaration of War on either side. We beg leave to Remain with due respect [&c.]

NB. y^e. 4^th. Ins^t.
we this moment receiv’d yours of ye 2^nd. Ult^o. by way of Bordeaux informing us of Cap^t. Chapmans arrival, are in hopes of soon hearing that Cap^t. Harris also is saf arrived
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