Sir ー I wrote you the 9th instant, via Maryland, to the care of Mr. Clem. Biddle, merchant in Philadelphia, in whose hands I begged you long since to keep letters for me, as he would have more frequent opportunities to forward them than you from New-York, they having four pilot boats in this trade, and they outsail every ship they meet with. The sloop [blank] Wharton, and Capt. Porter, are out from this nine weeks; no account of them. David Morris and two others, who sailed three weeks after them, are safe arrived in Philadelphia. Am very uneasy about Mount, and still I am very certain he was not taken in the West Indies. We have daily advices from most of the islands; but in case she is arrived, and not in your power to send her out again in safety, which I should be very sorry for; in that case you and T.G. must be mindful of the remittance, and believe it would be as easy to make from Philadelphia, if not more so, than from New-York. The. merchants there have large sums owing them at St. Kitts and Antigua, and . the factors want to remit, and T. and A. no doubt would think hard of a disappointment, particularly at this time, when they have fathered so many American vessels, and they all want cash. I apprehend you will have a warm summer, as all the troops have quitted Boston for New-York, and the preparations you are making, I hope, will enable you to give them a warm reception. I am astonished the merchants at New-York, Philadelphia, and other places on the Continent do not fit out privateers as last war, with commissions from Congress to take all vessels coming from or going to Europe, from any part of the world whatever, as English bottoms; the Admiral has given two commissions at Antigua and one at Dominica, to vessels fitted out by the merchants and planters, to take all American vessels they can meet with; and I must say I do wish the Americans would return the compliment. If two or more privateers did once appear in the West Indies, all kinds of produce, particularly sugar and rum, would fall 25 per cent. Since we had advice of the fleet sailing from Philadelphia, the shippers to Europe offer 10 per cent premium against American privateers only, and many of the merchants that have wrot~ for insurances expect to be disappointed. By a vessel from Madeira, we are advised that three outward bound Indiamen were laying there waiting for convoy, with large quantities of wine on board, and I am very well convinced if a few privateers were sent into these seas, it would prevent any sugars being shipped this season, they are so damnably frightened since these few vessels sailed from Philadelphia.

Twenty-nine sail transports, under convoy, passed here last Saturday from Antigua, with troops and stores for the army that was at Boston. Rum is very plenty in every island, 18d. and 20d. per gallon; the transports have taken in a large quantity at St. Kitts and Antigua, which kept the price at 2s. 6d. Lumber is £40 per M. and in making sugar hogsheads every second stave is made out of boards brought from Egg Harbour, and they will not have hogsheads for rum nor molasses; and the Congress would do right to forbid any lumber being shipped from any part of the Continent; and a few privateers to pick up the Irish vessels with beef and pork, would be the plan, and 20 or 30 sugar ships convoyed in safe to any part of America, would be glorious prizes, and then to sell the cargoes on reasonable terms, would enable the Congress to carry on a war for seven years. If these vessels were constantly kept cruising, I am very well convinced every English island in the West Indies would be ruined in three years; and you may be assured if some such plan is not adopted by the Congress, America is ruined. The army at Boston is constantly supplied with bread, flour, wine, rum, molasses, gin, beef and pork, from the West India islands, and that will continue to be the case let the army go where they will, unless they receive a check from the privateers. The great Mr. [John] Burke, who was taken last winter going into Boston with a cargo of rum and sugar,2 is returned to Antigua, and is now fitting and loading three vessels for the same purpose. I am exceedingly sorry he made his escape, or was suffered to leave the Continent, as he is concerned in the two privateers that are fitted out there.

No beef nor pork at market; butter £ 12 per firkin, tobacco £5 per cwt. rice 40s. corn 16s. pease none, flour £ 12 per barrel and plenty, hams 18d per lb. cheese 18d. sheep and poultry any price you may please to ask.

My compliments to friend Helen and family, Captain [Anthony] Rut gers and others. I am, Jack Thompso n.