S^r

I am under the necessity of troubling your Excellency, in Consequence of two Letters this day received, the one from M^r. David Stewart; the other Cap^t. A Vanbibber of Baltimore,¹ both relateing to your orders to Capt Deshon,² to hold the Sloop Molly still as the Property of the State of Maryland, notwithstanding M^r. Harrisons sale to M^r. Bingham. By this Vessell I had a letter from M^r. Harrison wherein he says “to my great relief, & Joy of my Creditors, the Molly is at length arrived here with a tolerable Cargo, which, together with the vessell, I have sold for upwards of 60^m. Livra.”_ Why these Gent^l. have applied to me, I cannot tell, unless they suppose me interested in the Transaction, which is not the case, nor did I know one word more of it than is related above, ’till I Perused their letters and examined the Cap^t., who also seems to call upon me as a party concern’d. What M^r. Vanbibber writes does not give me any Tolerable knowledge of the matter in dispute, or enable me to Judge of the Propriety of M^r. Harrisons Conduct. As to M^r. Stewarts Letter, it seems Principally intended to shew that a heavy Loss will be sustain’d if the Vessell is not Permitted to proceed back on her Voyage, and that damages must be made good to M^r. Bingham & M^r. Sargenton,³ by M^r. Harrison, or the State, if he is not Permitted to load her out again on their Acc^t. And at the same time requesting me to wait on the Governor & Council to represent the Matter, and endeavour to get the Vessell released. I have wrote both the Gent^l. that I am by no means Interested in this Business, nor had I been advised Circumstantially of it, by M^r. Harrison, or I would readily have wait on the Governor & Council, for the Satisfaction & good of all Concernd. I have, however, in Order to get as Good a Knowledge as I could of the worth of the Vessell, called upon Cap^t. Robert Conway, to know her true State as she lay in Wachaprague, and he has given it to me, as Copy under this Cover.⁴ I have also Conversed with Cap^t. Deshon on the same subject, and it really appears from both, that this Vessell would require a heavy outfit in the West Indias. I desired Cap^t. Deshon to make a Mem^o. Of the Articles Supplied there by M^r. Bingham, which as well as his Memory would serve, are noted in the same Paper of Cap^t. Conway a Copy of which I also enclose,⁵ but great Numbers of things I know may have escaped his Memory, or the Molly came away with less expence than any Vessell of ours ever did. M^r Vanbibber writes me M^r. Harrison sold her for 1300£ Martinique Currency, whether it be so or not, or how he came by it, I cannot tell, but Cap^t. Deshon informs me he understood M^r. Harrison had been offer’d that sum, but does not know Precisely what the Actual sale to M^r Bingham was. At this Conversation Cap^t. Conway was Present, both he & Deshon seems to be well agreed that she was not given away, and from the above Circumstances and fact as related by him of this Vessell, I am of opinion she was well sold, if 1300£ is the Price. As to the legallity of the Sale, or Propriety of M^r Harrisons Conduct, I do not Presume to determine on either. From a Copy of your instructions to him, which the Cap^t. has shown me, I am of opinion he ought not to have sold her, if he could by any means avoid the Measure; but from what I have heretofore known of his Situation, and from my certain knowledge of his Integrity, I do think he was forced to it, and that Considering it in every light the Transaction has turned out for the Good of the State. I do most solemnly believe, from what I have heard, the Vessell would have been Laid hold of by some of the Creditors, if the Sale had not taken Place, but by his selling her, the Honor of the State has not been Publickly exposed. Besides, the State Paid as much Money in Martinique, by his selling the Vessell, as perhaps would have required the expenditure of 6 or 7000£ in Maryland, to produce it in that Island, without estimateing even a risk. And, if it is true that great Part of her Cargo would have been required for her outfit, and I believe it is the Creditors would certainly have objected to that appropriation, and in that case he could not have Proceeded, admitting no seizure was to happen. Another Circumstance, situated as he was, must have given him Good reason to believe he was takeing steps that would be approved of by the Governor and Council; It is this, the Cap^t. tells me in a Consultation between them, M^r. Harrison asked him what was best to be done, he advised the selling, if a Thousand Pounds could be had, he thought the Vessell, considering what she must be supplied with before he could Proceed to sea, worth no more, and as he remember’d to have heard M^r. Carroll propose in Council to sell the Vessell, which he thought are agreed to.⁶ As I before said, I again repeat, that I am in no shape Interested in this affair, but being called upon in the manner I have mentioned, being a Wellwisher to the Honor, Dignity & Success of the state of Maryland, and a relation of, & having a friendship for M^r. Harrison, I have taken the Liberty to trouble your Excellency so far, and still must beg your Patience a little farther. I cannot doubt of the Governor & Council hearing with deliberation & Coolness and afterwards deciding Justly. If the representations of Cap^ts Conway and Deshon be true, the Molly could not be worth much on in the West Indias, unless she was fitted out at an enormous expence and if it be true that M^r. Harrison has been a Prisoner for many Months, at discretion of his Creditors in Martinique, on Acc^t. of the state of Maryland, it must be granted that, that Vessell could not be sent to sea on acct. of the state; in the first place for want of Money, and in the next, the Agent having no longer Credit. If it be true that he has sold her for 1300£ in Martinique, and that her Condition was such as above related, it must be granted that Mr. Harrison has render’d the state an essential Service, not only by getting a great Price for an old expensive Vessell, but also by Preventing the Credit and Honor of the State being exposed by a Publick Seizure, in consequence of his making a Private Sale. If it is true that Cap^t. Deshon gave it as his opinion, when M^r. Harrison consulted him what was best to be done with the Vessell, that a Sale, if a Thousand Pounds could be obtain’d, would be better than sending her out again on Acc^t. of the State, even if he was suffered to do it; and that he veryly believed the Governor and Council intended to give, but omitted such orders, it must be granted that M^r. Harrison had good reason to suppose that, by selling the Vessell he was serving the State, directly agreeable to the Intentions of the Governor and Council, tho acting not by, nor Positively against their orders, but under necessity, and by advice. If I could suppose that M^r. Harrison was Govern’d in the Sale of this Vessell by a dishonourable Combination, fraudulent intent, or intentional disrespect to Government, I could not appear in his behalf. But as I know necessity has forced him to the Measure, and amidst his Misfortunes and difficulties, it Clearly appears he has kept the Publick good in View, I must beg and intreat the Governor, and Council, to hear his complaints & consider the load of Difficulties he has had, & is still Labouring under, on the Publick accnt; And that they will Contribute all in their Power to his relief, not only by letting the Molly remain in the quiet Possession of M^r. Bingham, but also by falling immediately upon ways and means of sending him the Ballance of the Publick Debt.⁷ And whatever your determination may be, if you Excellency will do me the Honor of Letting me know it, by a letter next Post, it will very highly Oblige, S^r. y^r. Excellencies- most Ob^t Serv^t.—

[Enclosure]
The Molly when I received her at Wachaprague was very much Worm eat in her bottom, which will now appear.
She wanted a new Mast & Boom—but the mast made to do by fishing it—
She wanted a new Jibb Stay.
She wanted a great deal of Runing Rigging—it being left in the hold of the Vessell & was rotten, lying in the Water in the Hold last Winter-except 2 or 3 Coils received from the state.
She wanted new Cables-
She wanted a square Sail, Foresail, Jibb flying Jibb & main sail.-
She wanted a New Boat-4 of her Guns was taken out at the Inlett, also the Medicine Chest.
She wanted a Supply of the following things & had them in the West Indias-vizt-
A New Jibb Stay & a good deal of Runing Rigging.
She had new Cables-
She had all the sails said to be wanted, except the foresail, & it was supplied out of the best of the old sails—
New Mast, Boat & Boom could not be had, but the Mast was fished, in the West Indias & the Boat Mended.
She had the whole of her Provissions for the voyage back supplied in the West Indias, except a Barrell of flour & about 3 Barrells Bread, having had a long Passage & detention at the Inlet after the 2d Supply of Provissions came on board.

(Copy)- (Sign’d) Dan Deshon-

The Cap^t says small Arms; Powder, Ball, Match, & a number of things that he cannot remember was supplied—.

[Enclosure]
Mem^o. of the State & Condition of the Sloop Molly when the Subscriber left her at Wachaprague Inlet.
About 6½ years since launched.
Her Hull wanted Sheathing.
She wanted new masts
She wanted a boom, the old one being too short.
She wanted a new Jibbstay.
She wanted some runing Riging.
She wanted new Cables.
She wanted a Square Sail in the Country & foresail & Jibb when she would get in the West Indias.

Alexandria August 10th 1778.

(Copy) (Sign’d) Robt. Conway