Bilbao the 27th. Decemr. 1777—
Arthur Lee Esqr. Honoured Sir
As we had the pleasing satisfaction to informe you on the 17th. Instant1 (datte of our last salutations to you) our haveing placed to your Creditt Reales 242092. & 24 mrs of Vn. 2 we again beg leave to confirme the same with the Rest of it's Contents; & This very post haveing produced us your allways agreable & Esteemed favour of the 14th. Current have the pleasure to advice you in Contestation thereof, our haveing at present a favourable prospect of begining soon to fullfill your orders. Two days agoe haveing come in aprice Schooners3 of the Generall Mercer's Privateer Capt Babson, & as he Intends to fitt her out for your quarters, have given proper dispositions for the purpose, & Rest assured good Sir that we shall send in her a very good assortment of the Articles you are pleased to prescrive in your Kind favour before us—most part of them being allready prepared in Loadge—There is also in Port the Privateer Schooner Hawke Jeremiah Hibbert Master with an Intent of Returning home his Cruzing time being over, therefore doubt not, shall also have Roome in her to send another assortment of your said Articles, & In short our present appearance for the purpose being now very fair, you may depend that not a moments time will be lost in executting your orders, giving you punctuall advice thereof—
We had a direct information of G. Burgoyne's defeatt, & hope that the Repports sprad about G. Howe will prove True in Expectations therefore of Receiving a Confirmation of it from your good self most Cordially Subscrive—[&c.]
J: G. & s
L, MH-H, Arthur Lee Papers, bMS AM 811.2 (109). By permission of the Houghton Library, Harvard University
1. In MH-H, Arthur Lee Papers. The Gardoquis described their attempts to fulfill Lee's request to purchase blankets and send them to America.
2. Real de Vellón: a coin worth half a silver real. Mrs: maravedís, a Spanish coin, 34 of which are worth one real vellón.
3. Schooner Sally.