Baltimore 31st Jany. 1777.
[Extract]
My last informed the Convention of the arrival of the armed sloop Montgomery, Capt. [William] Rogers, with two prizes, vizt. a brigantine and schooner in this harbour. I have procured libels to be filed against both, and the 10th day of February was appointed for trial. I shall assist Capt. Rogers to obtain condemnation, but learn that the brigantine's cargo, consisting of about 3000 bushels of salt, will be claimed as the property of an inhabitant of this town. The schooner's cargo is valuable, and as some articles, vizt. cheese, &c. are perishable, I have obtained leave to land the cargo under the care of the Continental agent for this State. I am informed there is woollens sufficient to clothe a battalion, which I shall reserve until I receive the orders of Convention; there is also about £400 sterling worth of fine Irish linen, much too fine for soldiers' shirts; these I would advise to have sold here, together with such other articles not suitable for the troops, as they will in my opinion, yield a better price here than elsewhere, and the sailors will want money. I have advised Capt. Rogers to fit out his sloop for another cruise, as soon as possible. Should you order any of the articles to your State, they must be conveyed by land, as two English frigates with two tenders are lying at the capes.
At foot you have an abstract of the schooner's cargo, collected from the cockets, the invoice being destroyed. I have the honor to be, sir [&c.]
Schooner Hannah's Cargo, vizt:
12 |
barrels and 10 half barrels of barley. |
7 |
bales woollens. |
23 |
tierces, 26 barrels, 7 ankers, 25 firkins beef. |
1 |
puncheon, 2 boxes and 3 bales woolens, |
21 |
casks raisins, say 21 casks. |
1 |
bale osnaburgs. |
1 |
cask neats' tongue. |
6 |
bales and 33 loose bolts canvas. |
4 |
tierces and 19 barrels peas. |
1 |
barrel pork, 1 cask lampblack. |
36 |
kegs pickled tripe. |
2 |
cases mustard, 1 box spices. |
5 |
firkins butter. |
1 |
case buttons and trimmings. |
23 |
coils cordage. |
1 |
case pickles, 3 chests Florence oil. |
15 |
hhds. beer. |
3 |
bundles twine. |
30 |
bundles sheathing paper. |
112 |
cheeses, 1 keg nails. |
1 |
hhd. glassware. |
50 |
hampers red port wine. |
4 |
cross cut saws. |
1 |
pack cinnamon. |
1 |
puncheon and 1 barrel shoes. |
2 |
boxes pipes, and a parcel of oakum. |
N.B. Several of the woollens and linens. being wet, it became necessary to open them.
Brigantine Minerva's Cargo.
3000 bushels of salt, and 1 puncheon rum.
P.S. Please to inform the superintendent for the frigates, that I learn anchors may be got of one Forbes at Cannain [New Cannan, Conn.] who makes them, and is not far from Hudson's river; none to be got here, and at Philadelphia they are fully employed for their own vessels.
To the Hon. Abraham Ten Broeck, President
of the Convention of the State of New-York,
at Fishkill.