Sr
We have just recd yr kind Letter & take the earliest Oppo to express our Gratitude for your generous & disinterested Conduct in our Affair, a regard to the inclinations of the Negroes as well as our own Interest induces us to request yr farther assistance in this matter they ship'd on board the Armed Brigantine Freedom 2 to fight agt the Enemies of America & in that respect have rendered themselves worthy the Notice of America they were volentieers in the business & ought to be considered in the same light as any other Sailors, & by no means liable to be sold meerly because they are black & their masters have a property in their Service An indented Apprentice is a Servant during the term of appre[nticeship] but no one would think of selling such men if they were taken because of that, however we rest it with you to use such Arguments as will be most likely to prevail for their liberation, we each of us send a Power, fully Authenticated & hope it will arrive in Season & prove successful, we are at a Loss to know (how] to Conduct the matter of Expence, we know not wt it will be neither can we make remittances suddenly by any means we at present know of, we must therefore beg the favr of you to Conduct this Matter with yr discretion & at as little Expence as may be ー inform us of the Expence which we will pay either by answering yr Draught or inaking you remittance if practicable, if in the Course of the Affair their should be any difference of expence in the two Negroes you'! please state it, & to make yr draught of each of us Seperately as our Indent is seperate ー if you Obtain_ Possession of them you will please to direct their Course home in the way you think will be safest, furnishing them with such passports as may be necessary we rest [&c.]
May 8 1777
[Endorsed] May 8. 1777. To Negroes shipped on board Armed briga Freedom.
