Boston 7th January 1778
Honble Gentlemen,
Your Letter was handed Me only last Saturday Ev'ning by the honb S Adams1 I immediately sent an Express to Bedford [in Dartmouth] to acquaint Mr Jarvis 2 with your Orders respecting the Loading the Mellish3 with all Dispatch. I receiv'd his Answer last Ev'g he writes Me he is doubtful if such a Cargo is to be purchas'd, but as ye honbl Committee has order'd it nothing shall be wanting in his power to accomplish it—He says He should advertise to give Cash or West India Goods, & I shall be purchasing what I can here & send down to him the Mode of getting things is expensive & tedious, being oblig'd to freight in two Bottoms & cart it across an Isthmus The Brig Tryton4 is now waiting for a Wind, she is mann'd with french Sailors, & a Capt; Born in Guernsy,5 by Marriage a Nephew to Doctor Franklin, her Acct & Outfit you shall have soon yours &c
J B
LB, DLC, John Bradford Letter Books, vol. 2, p. 105. Addressed at foot: "The Honble. Commercial Committee."
1. Samuel Adams.
2. Leonard Jarvis, Deputy Continental Agent at Bedford in Dartmouth, Mass.
3. British transport ship, taken by the Continental Navy ship Alfred and Continental Navy sloop Providence on 12 Nov. 1776. See NDAR 7: 111, 160, 183, 271.
4. Brig Triton, taken by Washington's Fleet schooners, Hancock, Samuel Tucker, commander, and Franklin, John Skimmer, commander, in Nov. 1776. See NDAR 7: 104, 105, 137, 139, 141n, 906, 1014, 1058.
5. Peter Collas was married to Jane Mecom, daughter of Franklin's sister, Jane Mecom.
