In the Council of Safety,
[Charleston] Wednesday, Jan. 24th, 1776.
The President laid before the board the following letters, written by him in consequence of their orders.
Charles-Town, Jan. 24th, 1776.
Sir ー You are hereby permitted to load the Brigantine Rebecca with rice, at George-Town, under the inspection of the committee at that place ー to whom when the vessel is load en, you will present a manifest of the cargo, in order to be certified by the committee; and that you may be reimbursed the amount by the public on whose account and risk the exportation will be made on the following terms and conditions, viz:
The cargo to be sold at such market in a foreign island in the West Indies, as your master or super-cargo under your direction shall judge best, the net proceed to be laid out in the best gunpowder to be procured, or part in salt-petre and good muskets, with bayonets fixed. It is necessary to observe here, that your last importation of guns for the public was of no benefit; those guns are not fit to put into the hands of soldiers, and such again will not be received from you.
If it shall be impossible to procure good gunpowder, salt-petre, and good muskets with bayonets fixed ー the net proceeds of the cargo is to be invested in the following articles, as such may be obtained, on the best terms, viz:
Steel, wool and cotton, cords, foreign coarse cloths and blankets, tin plates, coarse linens, sail cloths, Russia canvas, paper for writing and printing, nails of all sorts, spades, good musket locks, pins and needles, whip-saw and hand-saw,... The public will take the risk of the cargo and insure at moderate value the vessel, the voyage round, provided you purchase for the net proceed gunpowder, salt-petre, and good guns with bayonets, and allow you fifty per cent profit, upon the amount of the purchase, after safe importation and delivery. If the net proceed are invested in any other articles, you will be allowed sixty per cent on the cost, after safe delivery; but the public will not insure the vessel on her return. These allowances are to be in lieu of freight, commission and shipping charges, so that no other claim, but those of 50 or 60 per cent as the case may happen, shall be made, on the net proceed of the outward cargo, on which no commission or freight is to be charged; but the whole, except unavoidable duties and landing charges, to be accounted net proceed and invested in goods as above mentioned. Fair and well attested accounts of the sale and purchase of goods are to be delivered to the Council of Safety for the time being immediately after the vessels arrival at any one of the inlets on this coast, where the master shall think he may with safety enter, and it is expected, that you will sign a counterpart of this letter, and such further obligation as may be required, for the true and faithful performance of your part of the present engagement.
By order of the Council of Safety.
Henry Laurens, President.
P.S. With the invoice for the cargo outward, you will also produce to us a bill of lading.
Capt. James Darrel.