[Extract]
Dear Mordecai

I wrote you a few days ago by an Officer from Virg^a which hope you have rec^d.1 This serves to advise that the Black Joke and General Mercer is Arriv'd—The latter at Boston and the former at Sand Shole Inlet on the Eastern Shore, The General Mercer only tooke the Brig loaded with fish that I mentioned in my last we have wrote to M^r Black in Boston to sell her for what she will fetch, poor Polk² who Commanded the Black Joke Died in Martineco. he took nothing—on the whole there will be mony lost in that concern all that Remains on hand of the fleet is ordered to be sold

before this Cap^t Booker³ is at Sea Mess^rs. Purviance and Lux has purchas'd a Quarter of that Vessell on the Same terms I sold out to you, cant inform what M^r. Buchanan⁴ is doing with the Sloop you are interested with them in. M^r. Hammond⁵ is gone to south Quay to forward the goods that Arriv'd there in one of the Boats you are Concern'd in, the other Boat of yours that Arrivd on  the Eastern  Shore is sold for Eleven Hundred & fifty pounds Virg^a Currency, in that Concern youll profit Con­siderably—....