Esteem'd Friends Reynell & Coates²  My last to you, was of the 27th Ultimo p[er] Capt. [Samuel] Nowell, which suppose you have received, since which your much esteem'd of the 23 Ultimo has come to hand, with Bill of Loading of the particular Iron I wanted, & for which am much obliged. I imagine in this,you will be advis'd of our unhappy Sistuation in this Province, by which you will find, the improbability of Capt Nowells getting in here safe with his Cargoe of Flour &c,³ which is much wanted with us, for I see nothing but Famine staring us in the Face, & unless kind Providence should alter the present Appearance of Things, we are an undone People; in Consequence of these Troubles, I have sent dispatches to Capt [William] Willcomb who may be momently expected to proceed to your Address, with his Cargoe of Molasses &c., & should he luckily Escape our Cruisers & arrive safe with you, please to dispose of his Cargoe for the most you can, & supply Capt Willcomb, with Money sufficient to pay off his People; & I should be obliged you will take out a Register in your Names, for said Vessell & improve her to the best Advantage for my Interest, keeping the N[e]t Proceeds of said Cargoe in your Hands untill further Order[s.] I should like to have her take freights to any Part of the Globe you may think best, & return to you again, & if she should be employ'd abroad, to advantage, & so continue until Times are settled in this Province, tho I think the further she is out of the Continent the better;⁴ if he goes to Spain, pray get her a Pass; If she will obtain £700 sterling you may sell her if you think best ー When she arrives please to direct your Letters to Henry Merchant Esqr in Newport, & pay the Postage in Philadelphia, as the Communication thro Boston is entirely stopped, so that no Letters in the common Way will come to hand

Your particular Attention to this Concern will greatly oblige your Friend

Pray forward the enclosd

If Capt Willcomb inclines to go back to the West Indies for another Load of Mollasses, & you can procure Molasses Hhds & Heads, to Load him please to fill his hold with your Lumber, & between Decks with Flour in small sizd Barrells, & Money to the amount of 1500 Your Currency including the Cargoe on Board & [s]end him back to Guardaloop. I imagine he may make a good Voyage as Molasses will be cheap there ー & 1500 Your Currency will be enough to Load himー