Sir,

Your Favour of 23d July¹ I did not receive ‘till last Saturday owing to a Mistake in the Delivery of it, at which Time I had finish’d the Sale of y^e first Parcell Sugars at £17..10.. which I suppos’d would be charg’d at £16,² which I think was the Price we were talking of putting them at. I have sold five of the last Parcell at £19 but by your Invoice, & the Weight they turn out here at, there will be a very great Deficiency, for Sturgis Gorham desir’d Me to send down 30 Bbls to shift the Sugars into which I did. But I find they shifted but three Hhds some of the Cask came to my hand, not more than two thirds full, when I compleat y^e Sale you shall be informd how much they fell short. Yrs of 25th I receiv’d Yesterday. I think with you it will be best to purchase the Robert,³ for public Acct. I will write them, by this Post on y^e Subject, & if they dont chuse to take her, we will take her to our own Acct. at that price £1100 agreeable to you. I wish I could help you to Men but I can’t at any Rate, not a Man is to be come at the Lucky Skimmer⁴ has sent in a Ship⁵ & Brig⁶ from Dominica to Quebec with Cargo as below yours &c

I this Moment receiv’d a Letter from Congress the Ship Neustra Senora Del Carmen,⁸ recaptur’d & sent into your Port belongs to a Gentleman of distinguishd Character,⁹ & am directed by a Member of Congress¹⁰ to claim in his Favour, Im happy to find yo’ve made ye Claim & recover’d a Moiety for y^e Benefit of y^e Owners—pray give Me a State of y^e Matter by first Opportunity that I may transmit it to Congress—pray use your Address to impress Capt. Rathbourn¹¹ with ye ticklish Foundation He stands on with this more than mad Conduct—