Gentlemen

The foregoing is a Copy of our last by the Ship Union¹ since which we are without your favours. This covers an Invoice & Bills of Lading of the Brig^a. Nantes's cargo Joseph Chapman Master, which we desire you will sell for the most it will yeild, & invest the Neat proceeds thereof (together with the residue of such other Cargoes, & Vessells as you may have of ours on hand,) with the utmost dispatch, in the said Brig^a. & in such Goods as we have formerly wrote for; or in these mention'd in our Schedule below; giving the preference to the Articles as they Stand in Order. We think it needless to hint to Gentlemen of your Experience in Business of how much importance it is to the welfare of this State, at this time, to have her Vessels dispatch'd with promptitude, as well as exactness, both in the quantity & quality of the Goods required. Any delay in the dispatch must inevitably bring our Vessels upon this Coast at a Time when the days are long, and the Weather fine, at which time, we are most infested with British Cruizers. We beg leave to observe that, the cheif end & design of our passing a Contract with the Sieur Pliarne & C^o. was in order to lay in a Stock of such Goods as this State stood most in need of: & for that purpose, a Clause was inserted therein, by which your house obliged itself to advance to the Amo^t. of £80,000 Sterl^g. untill the Board of War could by a circuitous Commerce, as well as by direct Remittances, place in your hands the necessary funds; this we have endeavored to do, by all the means in our power: our State (the fisheries being destroyed) having no Staple'of Native Growth (except Lumber). & Chesapeak bay having been intirely block'd up, the last Summer, makes it ineligible & almost impossible, to Ship Tobacco from thence, whilst things remain so circumstanced. We therefore make no doubt but that your house must hold us accquitted on that head: especially when you consider that the Breach of Contract did not originate with us. You will excuse us when we accquaint you that in favor of your house we have declin'd Connections that might have been more advantageous to this State. however being desirous to maintain friendship, & a good understanding with all our Correspondents, & presuming that our successes against the common Enemy will place this State in a more honorable point of Light we trust to your Exertions alone, for an immediate Supply; assuring you that you will run no hazard in fullfilling your Engagements with this Board: however to obviate all difficulties we are very desirous that you will transmit us all Acc^ts. of Sales, & an Account Current that we may be able (agreeable to our Contract) to liquidate all Accounts for the last year—We are Gent^n. [&c.]

Schedule viz^t.
3 point Blankets
Cloths Viz^t. blue browns. diff^t. Shades
Buff. (with Trimmings)
abo^t. 7.^#2 to 8^# p^r y^d.
Soldiers Shoes large & Strong
Stocking or hose white yarn
Felt hats for Soldiers (large)
Coarse Linnens for Soldiers Shirts
ab^t. 30³ a 2.^# 3^# a little for Officers
White Flannell (thin) for Linings
D^o. Swanskins⁴ or Coarse Espagno Cettes
Russia Sheeting. 30 Ells in a peice. cost
in London 42/ or 45/ Sterl^g
Brown or some other kind of your
own fabrick instead to make Rifle
Shirts or frocks principally
boxes of Sheet Tin a third X
Lanthorn hornes feuilles de fanuelles
Sewing threads of all Collours &^c. for
Coarse Linnens
Russia Duck
Ravens d^o.
Ticlenburgh
Sail Twine
Cambricks (common sort)
Four Ton Lead to Ballast—
duplicate by the Boston Frigate