Gent

I wrote Mr Morris few days Since, in which I mention'd that a q[uanti]t[y] of Sugar would be sold soon, they were at the time mentiond but at the sale the first day, they sold so high that I tho't it not worth while to Engage as they sold for upwards of 50/. the next day at the first of the sale I purchased abt Twenty five Hhds Sugar which lv'e Stored for your Acct this is some of the best of the Cargo, and will not Average more than thirty nine or forty shillings P[r] C I should have gone to one Hundred Hhd if a Number of purchasers had not Appeared, which raised inwo high — I mentiond likewise, that in abt month; more Sugar Jamaica Rum Mahogany &c which was taken by private vessell, would be sold, before which I can hear from you, when you'll be good enough to Mention the prices of any of those Articles that you think would do, as it will be some guide to me in purchaseg —

Such has been the Demand for Seamen within these few days that there Wages have risen to abt Twenty Dollars P month — the Privateers give one hundred Dollars P man Advance, by which you'll see that it will [be] expencive to send out ships with Lumber however the Lumber will pay great freight, — we have Number ships which woud Answer the purpose, had they Rigg[in]g but it's [im ]possible to get it in this part of the world — Therefore should you Conclude to send any ships with Lumber, they must be purchased with all Compleat. the ship with the Rum, which is to be sold in abt a month is very Compleat, valuable ship, and as I think she is too small for Masts, therefore will not do for the Continent should she go low, it would be best to purchase her, and fit her out to the .West Indies with proper Cargo Lumber, on your Acct together with Messrs Cunningham & Nesbit, as you shall order — I shall not proceed any further untill hearing from you fully on this matter, which Iv'e mention in mine to Mr Morris aforemention'd to which I beg leave to Refer you — I am Gent [&c.]