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...this Opportunity will serve for me to apprize you that if you will lay your Shoulders to Business, We may have it in our Power to do a great deal with very little Risque ー the Plan I propose is this to Charter every Vessell that you can come across, load them entirely with Salt and send them into me and I will load them in return with Produce, by this method You will observe the Salt Cargoes will be but little Risque and if the Vessel or Vessels arrive safe here We can afford to run the Risque of the Cargoes to the West Indies; In good Times, the very highest Freight that was given was a Dollar Pr Ton ー We can afford now to give Two Dollars Pr Ton, as they will have so many Risques to run and for which a Double Freight will be a full Consideration ー By your taking a Trip thro the English Islands, I take it for Granted that You may pick up any Number on those terms, as well as in the Foreign Islands ー and it will be necessary to take out English Clearances, with English Bottoms, for Hallifax or St Augustine, which will protect them from the Kings Ships, at the same time it will be as necessary to take out Foreign Clearances, to protect them from Seizure by American Vessels tho' I should in Case of Seizure be able to explain this Matter on the Continent in such a Manner as to give Satisfaction...

[Endorsed] No 1 Edinton, 13th September 1776 Intercepted Letter of Intelligenceー