Boston June 18th 1778
Dear Sir,
I have just receiv'd a line from Capt. Gorham1 in which He writes he has receiv'd from Bedford 35 Hhds & on[e] Tierce of Sugar, among them are six Hhds belonging to Col Sears,2 but He cannot find any Marks to distinguish ye One from ye other, pray let Me know by the first Opportunity whether they have been weigh’d, or if you have any Way of knowing those ship'd by You. The Sloop3 has brought up 19 Hhds & one Teirce. If I should not find any Marks of Sears, I shall take care of ye Whole till I hear from you—the Capt. that brings them up tells Me a Number of Cask are so shatter'd it's impossible to move them, therefore am sending down a Parcell flour Barrells for ye Purpose of shifting them. I gave Demand for Tallow &c to the Navy Board4 a fortnight since, who promis'd Me to furnish you—I find Mr Agent Trivet5 has gone go6 Congress—I've represented his Conduct to ye Marine Board7 therefore believe he'll not meet with so favourable a Reception as he may wish for. Rathbourn8 complains of him bitterly, & says, by his Conduct as Agent, He has lost fifteen of his best Men, he says he is content with the Decree of Court, & would have dissuaded him from going forward. we have a certain Account of ye Bostons9 Arrival in France—No News of Consequence offers—yours &c
J B—
Pray say in your Next what Quantity of Sugar was on Board on ye Mary10 for ye Report givn in to ye navy Board was only 20 Hhds, 34 Trs11 & 38 Bblls
LB, DLC, John Bradford Letter Books, vol. 2, pp. 141-42. Addressed at top: “Leonard Jarvis Esqr."
1. Capt. Sturgis Gorham, of Bedford in Dartmouth, now New Bedford.
2. Col. Isaac Sears, merchant at Boston.
3. Possibly Continental Navy sloop Providence.
4. Continental Navy Board of the Eastern Department.
5. Capt. John Trevett, Continental Marines.
6. That is, "to".
7. Continental Marine Committee.
8. Capt. John Peck Rathbun, Continental Navy.
9. Continental Navy frigate Boston arrived in the Gironde River, France, on 30 Mar. See NDAR 11: 1139, 1141.
10. Prize ship Mary, Henry Johnson, master.
11. Abbreviation for “tierces".