Dear Sir
I wrote you two days ago by the Packet in which I acknowledged the receipt of your several favors down to the 28th. December altho' I could not then write in Answer fully to them for want of time ー I am fully convinced that the Somersets Sales not getting out sooner, lost us a good deal of Tobacco, and yet those Sales were sent out much sooner after the Arrival of the Ship here, than they used some years agoe, ever to be, but now it is become a custom in order to recommend themselves and to take advantage of others for the Merchts in the Tobacco Trade some of them at least, to send out the Sales, even before the Tobacco is sold, and unfortunately for us, that Ship Arrived so late that unless we had taken the above method, there was not really a Sufficient length of time to do the business in, before the Shipping Season came on again in Maryland, and then the want of the Accounts of the Somersets Load, was made a pretence for not shipping more by the People, without considerg whether the Sales of that Cargo had been detained or kept back longer, or even so long as in general Accots Sales, are ー As to the Goods, I know they never were sent out so Irregular before, and however strange it may seem, it was owing to my wishing to have them packed and sent away better than usual, that they came to be worse, for not content with having that part of the business, done by such hands as it had generally been done for me, I employed what I, and every body thought, a sedate experienced Man, and one that had been in the business ever since he could do any thing, and yet thus I was served ー I observe you say you have accepted the two Bills, & have given good Bonds as Security, but why will not you make Manduet and the rest here, easy by giving Land Security, for nothing else I know will Satisfye them, and as you can do it, why not ー I mean no more by it than you do, and think the Bonds as good Security as Land, or your own Acceptance as good as either, but if other People cannot or will not think so, I cant make themー
There has been no Alteration in the price of Tobacco since I wrote you last, but it is very likely there soon may, for the resolution taken in the House of Commons last Night of sending more Ships and Men to Boston and of making Amer[ica submi]t at all events must I think have [some eff]ect ー a few days will determine perhaps I may be able to say something on the Subject more, by Maynard I have sent by this Opportunity some News Papers and the Petitions of the Merchants of London to the House of Commons for your perusal ー You did not say who were the Com[missione]rs here on the Guinea Affair, but I will endeavour to find out I have been spoke to by John Buchanans Trustees concerning some Evidence they say went from hence respecting William Halls Affair of which you have however said nothing to me that I remember In tending to write you again by Maynard, I remain [&c.]
Pr. Industry Capt Magruder
