1775 the 10th of July ー Being a Stagnation of all kid of Business my Curiosity [led] me to proceed with General [Horatio] Gates, to Cambridge,³ and after my [arriv]el there, I was politely Introducted by that Gentleman, to General Washington, who in a Few hours Became Acquainted with my Abilities as a Seaman ー h man of propperty & Capable of Exicuteing any plan of a Voyage, that may be proposed, Either in the Servis of the States, or O[the]rwise⁴ ー General Washington acquainted me with the State of the Armey in Respect to Ammunition, and Requestd on my Return to Philadelphia ー that I would use my Interest with other Gentlemen & proceed on [a] Voyage to Europe for a Cargoe ー to which I g[a]ve him my promis[e]  The Day Following Departed & on the First of August arived in Philadelphia ー and in Conformity I waited on Several Gentlemen of [Fort]une [so]me of whom would have gladly Accepted, had they Be[e]n provided with Cash or Funds in Europe ー in the Course of my applications Messrs Morris & Winey agreed to be a party Concerned, on the Following Planー

First they were to Load a Schooner with Flour on their own Accounts,⁵ & in addition to give me their Seperate Drafts for £[80]0 Sterling Each, to which I was to add an Equal Sum for my proportion the vessel to proceed to Europe with her Cargo, on their Accounts & Return on Acct of Thomas Mason & Co mutually on the thirds ー while the Schooner was Loading I Repeatedly Acquainted Messrs Morris & Winey ー that in Case we Increased our Capital ー I was Confident that something would Turn up, while in Europe, to be worth our Attention ー on the 8th of august Mr Morris Desired me to waulk into his house, that he and Mr Winey had somethin[g] to Say ー Respecting the Future Opperations of the Voyage⁶ ー after I was Seated in his Back parlour ー Mr Morris acquainted me, they had Considered my Late proposals, and Concluded to give me their addit[ional] Creddit for £500 Sterling Each, To which I was also to add £500 more on my Own Acct ー Mr Morris then said, as the Dispute was Become Searious ー Betwen us & England ー that in his opinion, Bills Drawn on them, was Rather precarious, and he had his Doubts Respecting the Fate of ours ー But should the Bills of Either party be protested, on whomsoever the same may Fall ー was to be made Good by the party Deficient, on my Return to Philadelphia ー that as the Voyage was precarious and uncertain no unforeseen Accident happening should alter our Plan Homewards by the thirds ー he also Requested in Case anything should offer, worth my Attention & I Could Obtain a Creddit, to Accept of the Same & that every Transaction of mine should be on a[cct.] of Thomas Mason & Co by the Thirds ー which is a'greable to the Latter part of Mr Morris's Orders ー on acct and Risque pr Agreement ー Mr Winey Solemnly agreed with Mr Morris's proposals ー and his Ideas Respecting Bills of Exchange ー though he said, he was still Purchasing From the Lieftennant Govener of Georgia at 150 Exchange & Remiting to Messrs Pigon & Booth Merchant[s] in London

these Declearation[s] were Virbely made when the Fate of our Bills was not known, & the Success of the Voyage precarious & Uncertain ー in Case of Accident, on my part Shurely Gentlemen I had a Right to the same Claims, they proposed for themselves, thoug[h] it now appears ー their Virble Contract of honour was Only Given, To alter, as Circomstances may happenー

On the 11th of August the Vessal being Loaded, I waited on Mr Morris for his Orders, which Expressly says ー if you Lay out £3600 stirling in our Account ー you are to add £1800 ー on your Own, and so in proportion ー Note, a Greater or Lesser sum by the thirds ー on the 12th do  I Departed.