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Esteemed Friend  Having none of thy favors unanswer'd we have nothing in particular to reply to, the present is to sollicit the favor of thy Consignments & at the same time beg leave to acquaint thee that we do not intend sending the Hanbury or any other Ship to Virga this year,² flatter ourselves that this Circumstance will in no degree prevent any of our friends from favoring us with their Tobo as usual, we have given our friends Balfour & Barraud directions to take a Charter for any quantity they can procure & believe they will meet with no difficulty in procuring freight for their own Tobo if that is more agreeableー

We have not yet dispos'd of the Hanbury's Cargoe last year, as we were of opinion that tho the prices have been good they might rather increas'd & that there was very little chance of their falling ー There is at present rather a stagnation ー buyers are unwilling to come to market & Merchts backward in giving them encouragement, be assured, we shall now & att all other times make it our study to do the best with whatever is intrusted to our care, we remain with respect [&c.]

[Stamped Received at postoffice] Norfolk May 24