The above is Copy of what I wrote you by way of Cape-Ann
³ since which I have got leave to send Capt Hallet in the Nancy to let you know my mind about the times and what I think about your comming home & now I Cannot write Positively but still think it not safe for you to come home with the Vessell. I have given Capt Hallet an Order on you for so much Money as you & he shall think Can be layd out to good Advantage on my acc[oun]t say from five hundred to one Thousand sterling & I shall depend on your adviseing him in all matters relateing to it & of his comming to the Eastward in his way home  he has no Clearance & therefore suppose it not safe to go to Jamaica for a Clearance but you will judge of that, I do not mean to load his Vessell too deep  he has two Regeste[rs] & if you think it safe & Best he may go down to Jamaica as from the Mole in Ballast belonging to Dominica, but I suppose he may be as safe with a Cargo of Molasses, Sugar, Cocoa, & Cotton from the Mole without any Clearance at all, Provided it is Consigned to some Merchant at Cape besue, & the French Clearance to agree with that as any Clearance at all  the reaison of my wanting his Papers so is I think if he is taken there he must be safe if he is leased to that Goverment, & if not taken if he meets an Easterly wind, as it will be the Right season of the year for it he will stand a good chance to get into some of our Harbours, on the North shore, & I am well asured if he dos well, & has a good Cargo of Goods, he will make not less than 100 pc[t] after Paying the Insurance & Charge which at Present is high, I have insured the Schooner out & while she lays at the Mole against all Risques at ten pct  at Present I have not made any Insurance home, as I suppose I cannot at this time get it done under 25 pc & shall not make any at Present for by the last acc[oun]ts from England it sems they are tired of this unnatural War, but of that you can f[o]rm a much better Judgment than we can here as it is but Seldom wee have accounts that can be depended on, if you have a good oppertunity in 4 or 5 Vessel[ls] from the Mole to ship Goods so as to divide the Interest you may ship most or all your Stock home to me, but no Indigo, & then you may settle your affairs in Jamaica, if you think there is any danger of a French or Spanish War, if not I shall be very Easey about it, but be sure do nothing Contrary whereby I s[hould] have any Reaison to be though[t] hard of, the Reaison of my Make[ing] any mention of your Schooner Loading with Salt is the Committees in all oner Towns are very exact, & the more so of such Vessells as there is the least suspition of ther haveing ever gone Rong, & they suppose your Vessell has & Partly for that Reason I am against her comeing, & if she does come think it best with Salt from Turks Island for Boston, & so into any Harbour near, Salt is now none at market & is worth 30/. 8[d] p [bag] or you may Charter the Schooner for any Voyage you like, Provided it is not to the Northward & if you & Capt Hallet Can ag[ree] you may take his Schooner & Come home & he to go in yours  but the times at Present are such that I in my own mind Cannot determin, what will be for the best, & must therefore leave it wholey to you, not doubting but it will be Conduct[ed] with Care & should any thing turn out Rong, I have no doubt but I shall be satisfied with all your Conduct, as I have not the least doubt but all you do will be done for the best  if you have a mind to send any Interest of your own home[in]the Schooner I have no objection, there is but very few art[icles] you can Purchase at the Mole but what will answer wel ー gin, Brandy, & all such things are wanted hereー

Should Capt Nichols be at the Mole, I would have you all adv[ise] togather & determin what to do for the Best, what I have wrote I would have kept to yourself, & not to have it made the least mention of in Jamaica, in regard to the Private[e]ring, Espetially, I should have wrote Nichols but did suppose he must be away before the Nancy Could be there, I have Ordered Hallet to throw all the Papers Over in case he gets taken, & would have you Order the same in what you write by him home, but I do not think of loosing her as the Schooner Sails very fastー

If so large a fleet should come on this Co[a]st in the Spring as is talked of I should think it best not to ship so much Interest to the Northward as I should otherways but it is now said that Commissioners are appointed to come over to accomodate the affairs, but I fear it. ー Should you think of Tarrying in Jamaica with the schooner, I think it best to discharge all hands except your Mate who I suppose to be John Shannon & Mingo & to keep them with you least any thing should happen to you, I shall write you again if I have any oppertunity, as I have already under Cover to Dolbear by way of Philadelphia, you may if theirs is no Prospect of a Settlement & the Schooner cannot be sold, send her for Mules to Gibralter & so to Jamaica, or any other Island, not haveing any thing further to write at this time, I committ you to the Almightys Protection, not doubting but we shall once more carry on Business at Salem in Peace & Safety

From y[ou]r Friend

I have Rote you a long letter & hope you will fully know my Mind by it wich is for you to keep most of the Interest in Your hands till You think the Danger not so much as at this time ー if You Can get 30 or 40 Bags of Cotten at Jamaica or any where Else Ship it by Hallet as it is not Conterary to Congressー