The inclosed for Captain Benjamin Peirce beg to deliver with our best Compliments. EDWARD JAMES SMITH AND CO. TO CHRISTOPHER AND GEORGE CHAMPLIN Gentlemen: St. Petersburg, the 16th February, 1789. WE had the honour to waite upon you last the 28th November last year the Contents of which confirm and beg leave to refer to. Last British mail brought us your much esteemed Favour of the 15th December last with Copys of your Letter to our mutual Friend Nicholas Ryberg Esqr. at Copenhagen, and of the acceptance made by Messrs. Brown and Francis at Providence upon the Drafts for £1050. Sterling of Captain Benjamin Page on them; We have duely observed all you please to mention with regard this Business as well in your Letter to said our Copenhagen Friend, as in that to us. We are very sorry for the Trouble you have had with this Affair, and not only approve intirely your management and the care for our Interest, but beg you will also accept of our sincerest thanks for all; we hope the acceptance of Messrs. Brown and Francis will be punctually respected by Peter Whiteside Esqr. at London, and in its time the Money paid there to our Friends Messrs. John William Anderson and Co. of whom expect by the next mail their Advice and whether the Drafts are accepted by P. Whiteside Esqr., by which then every thing will run off in good order. It gives us much pleasure to observe in your favour, the Hemp we sent you last year by Captain Benjamin Peirce reached you in good condition, has given satisfaction and is come to a good Market. We flatter ourselves to give you allways the same in any Commands you will please to favour us with, as also that Captain Peirce will come next summer to our house and we shall have to execute all your Commands. per your Brig the Elizabeth, which we observe you are preparing sending out again; You may depend, we shall observe your Interest in every respect as our own, as nothing gives us more pleasure than serving our Friends to their satisfaction to which we spare no pains nor trouble of which we hope Captain Peirce has fully convinced you. We are glad our Advices of Trade have been of Service and we shall not miss continuing giving you the same further from time to time. Herewith for your Curiosity and Speculations a List of last years Exports from hence by American and British ships, also a List of general Exports. And as to the prices of Russ Goods, great Quantities of Iron are bought up; old Sable Iron from 130 to 135 Copecks and new Sable from 118 to 125 Co. per pood; the assorted Iron of each sort, is according to their Dimensions dearer in proportion. Clean Hemp on Contract deliverable in June and July next, stands now at Ro. 20 per Berkowitz with all the Money beforehand, and at Ro. 21 with Ro. 2 per Berkowitz down the remainder on delivery. If no great demands from Great Britain should come, which according to present circumstances seems not to be the case, this article won't rise and in summer then to be expected not higher, if not lower. however much will depend what turn political affairs may take, as yet not to be said, whether Peace will be in the Baltic Sea. Outshott and half clean Hemp are much demanded, and contracted for France above their proportion to the Clean; Outshott at Ro. 191⁄2 all the Money and half clean on the same condition at Ro. 18, and the former at Ro. 20 with Ro. 5, and the latter at Ro. 191⁄2 with Ro. 41⁄2 per Berkowitz beforehand. Flax is also in great demand and on Contract paid 12 heads with Ro. 36 all money and Ro. 39 with Ro. 3 per Berkowitz down. Bristles first sort contracted last at Ro. 16 per pood all Money advanced, Tarred Cordage will not be had next Summer under Ro. 2.80 Co. per pood. All Linnens and Manufactory Goods not cheap expected next shipping season, as there is paid for Goods of midling qualities on the spot, vizt. for Flems Linnen Ro. 12 and Ravenducks Ro. 8.90 Co. to Ro. 9, Sail Cloth from Ro. 8 to 11 per piece, Drillings at 21 Co. per arsheen; broad plain Linnen from Ro. 120 to Ro. 180, nar row from Ro. 81 to 95, broad Diaper from Ro. 128 to 130, narrow from Ro. 88 to 90, and Crash from Ro. 45 to 55, all per 1000 arsheens. When this reaches you most surely Captain Peirce will be saild, think it needless to write him and hope to see him in our house next Summer. Recommending ourselves in the Continuance of your Friendship, we remain very respectfully, Gentlemen: Your most Obedient Humble Servants, Amsterdam 315. London 31 d. EDWARD JAMES SMITH AND CO. We find you have got already the Exportations by American and British ships, of course only herewith the general Exports. Messrs. Brown and Francis have not wrote us yet. Sir, SAMUEL SPRAGG FOR PATRICK JEFFREY TO London, 19th February, 1789. I DUELY received your favor of the 26th November last via Ireland, and in consequence I applied to Mr. Douce, who informs me, the Money for your Claim is paid in to the Accountant General of the Bank hands, and invested in the 3 per Ct. Consols, bearing an interest of 3 per Ct. from the time it was ordered in by the Chancellor, which he thinks is about 6 years ago, so that you will receive an interest from that time, but the sum is not absolutely fixed, so as to tell you with a certainty. the greater part of the Lawyers bill paid will be returned you; when the Cause of the different Claimants is tryed at Comon Law, which am told by one of the Attorneys claiming will be heard the Sitting after the present term, of which he will inform me, when this is settled it will be referred back to the Master in Chancery to settle the whole with the Costs, which apprehend will cause a delay of receiving what you may be entitled to full 12 months longer; respecting any further charge in the matter of Law, there will arise some but not much; but what can't say, which will be fully compensated when the Master ascertains the accounts. You will not be any more money out of pocket. I truely wish could afford you greater satisfaction, but really cannot be done at present; it shall have my due attention, and when settled and received you may depend shall advise you; I feel myself much obliged in your intentions of investing what may be received in articles you may order. Inclosed is your Account Current made up to the 31st december last Balance due to me £88.0.9 is placed to your debit in a new account and doubt not you will find right and am with due respect, Your most Humble Servant I SHOULD have replied to your favor of the 21st Ulto. before this, had you not apprised me, that you was not in haste on the subject, for I could as well at that moment given you my sentiments as now, on the articles that I presume will best accommodate such a Vessell as you speak of, and not endanger an over stock of the Market. Io Hhds good Tobacco 30 Casks Rice 5M Pipe 5M Barrell Staves best white oak. 5M Hhds Some small Sparrs and Merchantable Boards for Dunnage. 100 Barrells Naval Stores. 800 Kentalls good merchantable dry Fish, well cured and dry. 10 Kegs Hogs Lard 1000 C. Tried Tallow. Tons Pot ashes. American oyl, we are told, and I believe with Certainty is at present prohibited in France. Indeed all foreign oyls; but if the Importation was free, that Article never affords much advantage. I cannot with propriety recommend any particular Port for a market for you, but presume Lorient or any of the Free Ports would be most illegible. Bayonne is a market that would not promise you much Advantage, it is a small Port, its Inhabitants chiefly Fisherman and very little frequented. If I receive any advices that indicate any thing worth your Notice will inform you, and am with Regard, Dear Sir, Your most obedient Humble Servant M. M. HAYS N. E. Rum sells 1/6 and perhaps 1/5 per Gn. EDWARD FORBES TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN AND Gentlemen, Dublin, 25th February, 1789. THE above is copy of my letter of the 30th Ulto. It gives me great concern to inform you the Hope owing to the insufficiency of her Cables, which she parted, was drove on a Sand Bank in Poolbeg and tho' she has got off apparently without much damage yet she must go into Dock to be examined and get such repairs as may be necessary. She came to the Quay yesterday and will have the remainder of her Cargo discharged as soon as possible and Messrs. Fowlers may be assured she shall be dispatch'd with all expedition, but the expence of New Cables, etc., will come heavy. very luckily the Insurance was effected as the Underwriters will bear a part thereof. Have commenced Sales of the Flaxseed at 44/. to 45/6 per Hhd. at which price hope if we have not an overglut to sell the remainder; There are two Vessels missing from Newyork bound here which has given some of the Holders more Courage, for there has been a quantity sold as low as 42/. Newyork Seed; Depend I will act in 1 The original is in the Newport Historical Society. |