John R. Livingston to Robert Livingston, February 2, 1777

Document

Transcription

Boston Feby 2d, 1777

[Extract]

I begin to grow tired of Privateering and wish I could take all my,i,property from the Vessels I am concerned in. I here send you a list of them which ifyou will be so good as to offer to Walter Livingston who perhaps may take them

1 — 14th	Sloop Congress sailed from Phila about the middle of October since sent in one prize though it was retaken	£666	13	4
1 — 14th	Sloop Chance ² sailed at the same time	666	13	4
1 — 12	Briga Rising States mounting Eighteen Six pounders carries One hundred and eighty men saled Jany 26th — a finer Vessel allowed by those who are judges than any yet Sailed	1503	0	0
1 — 16	of Ship General Mifflin ³ mounts Twenty Nine pounders and Six fours now in the Port of Boston is supposed to Sail in Six weeks to carry 250 Men	1245	16	8
1 — 12	of Sloop Beaver almost ready for sea Lying at Providence at which place there is a Large Body of men	800	0	0
		—————
	Amount of the whole comes to	£4882	3	4

You find by this State of my accounts in the Shipping way that I am rather too deep so that if you can sell them all or separately to any person that will have them provided I am informed first of what Vesels they take as I shall endeavor to do the Same here and they might be sold to two people at the same time which would make great confussion should any one make a good off er that is not less than £ 4400 for the whole of them you will be so good as to inform me by express of it as I would take it though I should lose a little by it, for I find that so much money in privateers is gaming very high and to a great disadvantage. If Walter Livingston chuses to take only'the Ship and Briga — he can have the first at 25 PCt on what I gave and the other at 30 PCt.

1. Papers Relating to Naval Affairs, NYHS.

2. Congress and Chance were Pennsylvania privateers.

3. Rising States and General Mifflin were Massachusetts privateers.

Document Information

Date

1777 February 2

Author