Mr Pliarne,
Sir,
War-Office,
Boston 16 April, 1777
We have rec'd your favour of the 6th March & agreeable to the Expectation of an Express from us which you therein mention, we have sent Mr John Appleton the Bearer of this, & have remitted you by pim the four thousand pounds which you were apprehensive you might want ー We have also sent by him ー 9111 Pounds, ー which we suppose sufficient to purchase a Cargo for the Ship Pliarne late Caledonia which sails the first fair Wind for Charlestown So Carolina, & likewise Money sufficient with the Sugars we ship by them to purchase a Cargo for the Bark John & A Brigt which we hope will sail soon ー for Virginia ー The Money sent pr Mr Appleton for the Ship Pliarne's Cargo, is intended under your direction for Mr [Alexander] Gillon to whom we consign her, we apprehend this most agreeable to you, if not you have Liberty to alter it as you please, the other Cargo's we suppose you will purchase yourself in Virginia ー
It appears by your Letter that it would be more agreeable to you that the Pliarne should load with Masts &c. for Europe than go to the Southward, but she is too small to carry Masts, & Bees Wax & Peltrys are not to be had here ー for these Reasons the Board have determin'd that she shall go to So Carolina, & have directed Mr Appleton to make you the offer of being concern'd in her or not, & beg you would upon Receipt of this acquaint him with your Determination But that you may not be disappointed, if you have a Wish to be Concern'd in a Mast & Lumber Speculation the Board would acquaint you that they have two large ships, one of which is now loading, & the other will sail the first fair Wind from Marblehead to the Eastward to load with those Articles, & do now make you an offer to take the half of either or both of them ー the Brig which we intended for a joint Concern with you, knowing that we could replace her whenever we should hear from you that the Navigation was open to Virginia; & being able to give a Load to her for France we have sent her on our own Account to Messrs Gruel & Co at Nantes, we shall immediately send a Vessel to you in her stead ー We are obligd for your information respecting Flour & have taken the necessary Precautions for ourselves ー We are sorry that [Holton] Johnson has been so long detained at Baltimore, hope he has sail'd before this ー We inclose you a Schedule of our proceedings, from which you will be able to judge how much we have done towards the Fulfilment of our part of the Contract ー We are very respectfully ー By order of the Board,
