[Norfolk] 6th Feb. 1778—
Dear Sir
I Rote you some days ago by Mr. Waire since that I have Viewd. The Boat & think has avery fine one but am afraid we shall be a good while In fitting out as hands are Scarc & this draught has made Most of the young Carpenters Run off1 Tho am in hopes we Shall Launch in 4 or 5 weeks—The Man of war2 at presant Block up the road that there is hardly any gitting Out I Expect we shall load in James River as there is no craft to bring down a Load I shall go to Surinam If nothing happens more than I at presant No off. as the Vesel that has Lately Arived from st Eustatia brings good Accts from that Quarter flour we shall want if we go there & we Shall partly Load with that & Mr Potts thinks off righting to you to gitt what You can of good [flour] for if you can not get it across it will be very High No its Very high here allready I Wish, if any hands should come by you Will try to Make them come this way you may tell them they Nead not be affraid for if we Ever get out of gun Shot of the man of war We shall not be caught as the very Sole of Keel is plain'd as smooth as a smothing ram will make it I hope you will come and se us before We go as I think It would be greatly to your advantage—If you could have An Interview with Mr Phripp as he has Expressd a great desire of seing You & the Partnership of P & B3 will disolve in a year more you May Right Mesrs. J & T smith4 that its Impossible to gett a boat here on any Price & the carpenters at Prest have from £18 to £20 ⅌ ton for building I will send them a draught for a boat by first oppty. I hope my Frend You will right me by Every oppty. & give me the [Current?] news as We Seldom gett any here from the Army My Best Respects to Mrs. Hunter & tell her I wish she was here to Eate good roasted Rock fish as I think it Would cure her If she was Living here Lotts in Norfolk sell High I wish you had a few off them I am [&c.]
William Lewis
[P.S.] If any young Lads would come down 1 will give them good Incouragement ther is Z Lucas I believe would come down if he New it pray Send all you can you shall heare from me by Every oppty dont send my Quadrant but want my Sea Bed I wish you could send it Petersburg
WL
L, ViU, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, Letters of William Lewis to James Hunter (no. 9512). Addressed: "NCastle/To/Mr James Hunter Junr./Mercht./Fredericksburg." Docketed: "1778/Wm Lewis/Norfolk 6 Feby."
1. During the winter of 1777-78, the Virginia Legislature adopted a draft of single, childless men, for one year's service in the Continental Army. John E. Selby, The Revolution in Virginia, 1775-1783 (Williamsburg, Va.: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 1988), 135-36.
2. Probably H.M.S. St. Albans, Capt. Richard Onslow, commander.
3. [Matthew] Phripp & [John] Bowdoin, merchants at Norfolk. Phripp needed a new partner because Bowdoin died in early October 1775.
4. Probably John and Thomas Smith, merchants at Norfolk.
