Gentlemen

Your letter of the 17th was laid before our Committee yesterday; by their desire I am to inform you that the Certificates for the Goods Sent by Mr Johnson Gildart to Mr Winter are founded on Sufficient Assurances of their being legally imported. The Certificates granted for goods carried from this to other places, have been generally Signd by me as Chairman. Sometimes by the Clerk of the Committee. I happend to be lately in the Country when the aforementioned Certificates were Signd by two very respectable Members of our Committee. I think your objections to them are well founded, and that the admission of Certificates Signd by only one or two Members of the Committee unless such as are usually known to do Such Business might give Room for impositions. I Return you the same Certificates Signd by Several other Members of the Committee, Shou'd you in future receive certificates Sign'd by myself only whilst I continue Chairman you may regard them as Sufficient. The convening a Number of our Committee on every occasion that requires Certificates for goods Sold here wou'd be an endless Trouble.ー

It has always been understood here that Mr. Johnson Gildart was and is Attorney in Fact for his Father James Gildart but how far he is otherwise connected with him as a Factor Agent or Partner is unknown to me or Such of the Committee as discuss'd the Subject yesterday, he was unable to attend the committee being Sick, but sent us a declaration by his Clerk that his Father was not concerned in the Purchase of Tobaco which Mr Winter was ordered to make: It is probable the purchaser can give you more Satisfaction on that head, if you can obtain a sight of his orders  I am with great Respect [&].

Directed to Geo: Dent Esqr Charles County