Hond Sir
This will be handed to you by Captain Charles Gluyo la Cheonaye of the Mere Bobie who come to America with public Dispatches. The Cargoe on board agreeable to the Inclosed Invoice is to your address to be sold as soon as possible for Ready Money only and the amount to be Returnd in the same Vessell if it is possible to vest it in any Goods that will answer this Market or (in failure of such goods) in hard money — The best articles are Tobacco, Rice, Indigo Flaxseed Beaver, and furrs of other Kind, Bees wax Cotton, hides Deerskins Calf & mutton do Starch, salt Pork, Mohagony, cow horns Deer horhs Ivory and any other Articles that will probably answer this Market &c &c I fear it will be difficult to find such Articles with us at a price that will answer, as the best of them Tobacco &c must come with as much hazard to Boston as to Europe, but some of them perhaps may be found with you from the prizes that have been brot into our port — I am desired to limit the price but at this distance it is almost imposible you have however a price current at foot which may serve as some Regulation. if you cannot load her in Return to advantage observing to keep her in the best trim for sailing and to give her the Utmost dispatch put on board her as many white Oak Staves for hogsheads pipes &c of the best quality that can be procured, as she will contain and indeed if you put other goods on board, whatever Surplus room there may be may be so fill'd up. the Staves must be fitt for water and wine casks and not for dry hogsheads — The Gentn who owns this cargo is Monsieur Le Ray de Chaumont a Very Rich Mer chant at Paris who has the American cause much at heart — and has on Various Occasions given us very Important assistance Doctor Franklin lives in one of his houses and Looks upon him as one of his best Friends besides which I myself have personally Received very great civilities from him and hope to Reap great advantage from his acquaintance and the Kind partiallity he has honor'd me with. for these Reasons I cannot too strongly Recommend your most particular Attention to his Interest and the greatest possible dispatch
I have written to the [Secret] Committee on this Subject2 and agreeable to Mr Chaumont desire have observ'd that as Regular packets are in future to be dispatch'd once a month the answer to these Letters this brings may be Returnd in the one that shall follow and this Plan once Enterd upon each packet boat nead be detaind but a short time in port. all the Cargoes in the future packet boats I shall likewise address to you if they arrive in Boston if in any other Port I shall direct the surplus money to be Remitted to you which you will keep ready to dispose of according to what future orders you may Receive—
Mr Chaumont Intentions is if he can to have in Return all his Interest, because he can at any time place what he pleases in America but if he cant have all in Return his Next Intention is at least to have the first cost in Return and what ever Profit there may be to remain in your hands and at some future time he may give orders for the purchase of some Lands of which you shall be accordingly Notify'd
I have been lucky Enough to gain some Reputation among the people here for accuracy in Accots and Knowledge in Business for this Reson I beg that this Business may be managed in the true merchantile form, proper Sales of the cargo, Invoices of the Returns, and Regular Accts of what surpluss may Remain in case the Vessell should Arrive in Phila I have Consign'd her to Mr Beache [Richard Bache] if in any other Port I have left the Consignment to who Ever the Committee shall appoint and have written a General Letter.3 if she arrives in Boston please to apply for and Receive this Letter — if she should arrive in any of our Eastern Ports please to send down Instructions
[Endorsed] 1st P the Mere Bobie
2d Copie sent by the Massachusetts
Capt [John] Fisk — June 6. 1777
