[Extract]

My Dear Son Upon the table before me lye large packets of Letters which were returned to me a few days ago from on board the Ship Port Henderson Capt [Henry] Aitkin I had from day to day written by that Vessel to Mr. [William] Manning, Mr. [Ralph] Izard, your Uncle, Miss Patty, Mr. [John] Delagays & I believe not fewer than half a dozen Letters to your Self, this vessel had met frequent interruptions at length when She was on the very point of Sailing all her intended passengers on board & Monsr. Rilliet among them, the Act of Parliament for prohibiting all Trade & Intercourse with the United Colonies made its appearance ー the [Provincial] Congress Sitting, a Motion was made & immediately followed by a Resolution, that the Ship Port Henderson being British property be Seized, her Cargo Sold & the Money arising from the Sales deposited in the public Treasury-accordingly she was seized brought up to Charles Town & Monsr. Rilliet laid yonder letters again upon my Table the Sight of them draws a tear in each Eye ー they contain no Treason no Plot nothing that can possibly work Evil to the State nor to Individuals I would give a hundred Barrels of Rice for the Safe passage of them to your hands.

Mr. Alexr. Wright who is going to take Leave of his Father Sir James has politely made me a tender of his Services, I embrace the offer & am in hopes his Interest may procure a passage in the packet for this & its contents which will be a Letter containing two Bills of Exchange for your Uncle 2 & an uncovered Letter to your Dear Sister 3 I have taken off the Cover in order to avoid Bulk-