Gentlemen

I wrote you a few Lines to give you the melancholy News of the designs of Ministry to persist in their foolish and wicked Attempts against America the Wind having ever since detained this Vessel I am enabled to acknowledge the receipts of your favors of 10.21 & 21 Decr  The Insurance was made agreable to your orders. The Friendship does not yet appear. I shall pay due Honour to your Bill to Mess Sayers Chambers & Co £981.15 ー when you draw payable in London you will please to draw at a longer date than here; as the difference of time is from twenty to thirty days owing to a provision being necessary to be made there in time

Notwithstanding the Arrival of several Cargoes  Wheat continues at 7/ & will be supported tho the Sale will be slower than common  however I am happy in being able to render you in all probability if the Vessel arrives safe, & the Cargo in good order a good Sales.

I never was so much at a loss what to think of the approaching Period, as I am at present. The Country is in want of grain, & had it not been for these Supplies, we should have been in great distress. Many Cargoes arriving together, tho' they occasioned the sale's being now slow yet the prices do not, & will not fall below 7/. but how this will be when the Manufacturers are dicharged from Employment and a scene of riot & confusion ensues is emposseble to foresee  If the Populace should rise for they must be in a Starving State, Granaries generally become the first sacrifices & Corn must be sold out cheap to satisfy them. These Disorders are to be expected. I should therefore think it most prudent by no means to venture at this market at a hyrer price than what the friendships' cost & at the Exchange you quote; even this is too high in my opinion to ballance the hazard which may accrue from the expected disburstanc[e]s in England. I am of opinion that the Months of July & August will not be the worst for prices, as the Season this Winter has been so very mild, as to make us expect the Spring to be very backward, & consequently the Summer to be unfavorable to the Harvest a Circumstance which often happens. Besides in this Country there are some complaints of the Corn from the extream wet, which may in the End prove of bad consequence. These are now Conjectures which Time only can determine but they appear to me to be founded on some probability so much so, that I will be concerned one third in two or three Cargoes of fine Wheat of the prices you mention at not exceeding the prices of Six Shillings p bushel or even on board of Six Shillings & Six pence; higher I have given you my reasons why I think it imprudent, & this is beyond what I think Wheat will be at with you, when the demand is a little abated. You will please to let your motions be governed by the quantities you know are destined for our market, which by your extensive Correspondence you will be able to learn. I shall keep you constantly advised  The Champion Stanton belonging to me I have if not loaded at Carolina ordered to Philadelphia. if he does not get a good freight at Carolina, he is to come to Philadelphia, when if you can load him at these Events please to do it, if not get him the best freight here you can. Your Bills shall meet due Honour for what you draw on my Account, & on yours also, which I shall be obliged to you to do at as long a date as you can, & after the Vessels are sailed if convenient, as it will make the advance easier, & I should be glad to give every assistance in my power to you.

I am going to London on the business of a very frivolous Petition presented against the setting Members by the unsuccessful Candidate  When I am there I shall advise you every thing I can collect respecting America  bad News it must be as the Ministers are determined upon pursuing their foolish & wicked Measures. The Merchants they have treated with great Contempt ー We petitioned here but all to no purpose. Mr [Edmund] Burke which you will see by the publick prints has exerted himself in behalf of America, but a corrupt Majority in Parliament oversets every present Attempt. You will excuse my farther enlarging now. I shall only add that in every part of your Business here I shall exert myself in showing how much I am Gentlemen [&c.]