[Extract]

My dear Sir  The succession of Occurrences are so rapid in our Hemisphere; that it is difficult to relate what happen'd but six days since: I shall, however endeavour to give you what I can at present recollect, and for the future you may expect a weekly Journal, provided the aendemical desease of my habit don't prevent it ー This day week was bro't into Dartmo a Jamaica Sugar Ship containing 303 hhds of Sugar, 90 Punchions of Rum, Cotton &c; last Thursday another was bro't into Cape Ann with 150 hhds of Sugar, 100 Punchions of Rum & 20,000 Dollars in Cash ー those Ships were taken sent out from Philadelphia, one command'd by [John] Adams.² Quere, whether the distinction between British. West India property can be determ'd. ー I wish I was a Judge of Admiralty for their sakes, or rather) I wish their was no distinction at all. ー pray hasten that glorious day when we shall no longer continue one of the Circulating Orbs of the System, but like some predecessor, the Sun, be fix'd in the Center, shine with unborrow'd Lustre and kindly defuse the Rays of our Influence upon the Worlds around us. ー You have the unanimous consent of every Town in this Colony for Independency...I receiv'd your Letter last night & am supriz'd you don't know J. Russell Auctioneer, an old acquaintance of yours; ー I suppose he wants nothing more than the Priviledge of Venduing the Continental Captures &c ー Their was great complaint last week at Beverly for want of a proper Vendue Master, where one Bond was employ'd by the Agents for that purpose, in the Sale of a Cargo of one of the Continental prizes; a Number of Gentn went from this Town as purchasers, who came home very much disgust'd from the Method of his conducting the Sale, so that I leave it with you whether a Man of Mr Russell's known Qualifications as an Auctioneer, separate from your Inclinations to serve him, it wou'd not be more for the Intrest of the Continent to give him a Commission for a Joint Agent or a Continental Auctioneer to sell under their Direction, and allow him such a Commssion for doing the business as shall be tho't adequate to his services.