LANCHON FRÈRES ET CIE. TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN L'Orient, 29th September, 1790.

Sir,

OUR last respects were of the 20th Inst. per Captain Bailey who sailed from hence the 24th with fair Wind and Weather, as we could not dispose of the Wine to advantage, the only offer we had being 320 Livres per pipe payable in 3 and 6 Mo. which Captain Bailey thought too low particularly as Brandy could not be got less than from 8 li to 8 li 10s per Velt. we sincerely hope that he will meet with better Success where he is going to and that your further Consignments to this place will be more fortunate, which they cannot fail of being if you send us Pot and Pearl ashes, good Tobacco, or good Ship Timber fit for Men of War, a few Barrels of good Tar and good Provisions may also sell, but we would not advise you to send much as they are not yet in the best repute. In our said Letter was the Account of disbursements for the Bayonne, amount £440.17.6 to your debit as per duplicate inclosed, to which we must add £3.8 for Surplus of Outward Pilotage, paid since Captain Bailey's departure and per his order, which Surplus appears to be occasioned by the extra attendance of the Pilot by contrary Winds.

you

We mentioned having sold two of the Hhds of Tobacco No. 2 and 3 and 40 li per % and that we should have sold the other two had they been of equal Quality. we also informed of the two Barrels of Pot ash being damaged, all which we confirm. We have not as yet had an answer to a letter we had the pleasure of writing to Mr. Grant Champlin at Paris, on arrival of Captain Bailey. We therefore suppose him to have left that City, and we indulge ourselves in the hope of soon seeing him here. We remain very truly, Sir, Your obedient humble Servants

LANCHON FRÈRES ET CIE.

FENWICK MASON AND CO. TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN Bordeaux, I November, 1790.

Sir,

IN complyance with the promise made you by our J. F. who had the pleasure to make your acquaintance last summer and who now begs to repeat his thanks for your civility to him while in Newport. This covers a letter from your Son whose address you was kind enough to give us and we with pleasure announce to you the satisfaction we have had in making his acquaintance. were we not affraid of the imputation of flattery as it is Father and Son in question we coud say much more than assure you that we think no American ever travelled in Europe to more advantage and with more credit to himself than he has. It gives us pleasure to have it [in] our power to show him some attention and sorry his stay here is intended so short-he proposing to go for Nantes in a few days.

Whale oil is now worth here 30 li per Ct. a gallon will net about 7 pounds wight, sperm oil 50 li per Ct. Cod fish Oil in demand at 170 to 175 per hhd of 64 gallons. it is impossible to see how long these prices will last but latterly our Market has been scantily supplyed with them. Beef is dull sale at 33 to 40 li per barrel, American pork in high repute and demand at 65 to 70 li per barrel, Tallow also at 70 to 78 li per Ct. There is very little Pot and Perl ash and flaxseed consumed here therefore cannot recommend shipment of those articles. Grain is demanded tho' no scarcity, and we are satisfyed if wheat can be shiped at 5/. your Currency per Bushel, Rye 2/. and Indian Corn 1/6 and Flour 24/. They may be sent to this market to a very good

account.

We are in daily expectations of having our new system of commerce published which from its freedom and liberality we have reason to expect our market and port will have resourecs in trade equal at least to any in Europe for the products of America.

Preparations for war are going on with vigor and alacrity

EBENEZER SHEARMAN TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN AND THOMAS WICKHAM

Gentelmen,

Charleston, So. Carolina, November 4th, 1790.

THIS my second opertunity per Captain Burden the other per Tillinghast will serve to inform you the Sloop Peggy is reedey for the Seas. Shall imbrace the first fair Wind for the Westindia Windward Islands, with a Cargo now on board on account of C. Champlin Tho. Wickham and Eben Shearman, one third eaquil Consern, viz.

Tenn hhds. Tobaco N 5 to N 14 at 15/ per 100 Sterling mo[ney]

Eighty five Tearsis Rice

10 bbl. Common Oil.

. at II/. .do. do. mo.

at 35/ per bbl. do. mo.

43 Cheesis of the best resurved out of them I brought here Freight 5 Tearsis Rice only. Could have carrey'd about twenty moar freight, but could not git them without wating some time. Shall make all possable Dispatch to return to this Port; I mean to make St. Eustatia my Port for Sailes, if answerable, as the Chargis there is light, and the french Ports high, and all in Confewtion. Since my last per Tillinghast have sold viz.

13 bbl. Cyder at 5/4 to 6/ per bbl.

5 bbl. Mainhaden at 10/ to 10/6 per bbl. 342 lb. Cheese at 31⁄2 per lb to 41d do.

II Boxis Spr. Candles at 24d per lb.

Should have sent you an account of Sailes and an Invoice of the Cargo, the Time cant be spaird unless I let my other buisness suffer. Adue my good friends. I'm with due Respect Your Most Humbel Servant

EBENEZER SHEARMAN

EBENEZER SHEARMAN TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN

Gentelmen,

AND Co.

St. Eustatia, November 24th, 1790.

THIS my firs opertunity from St. Eustatia may serve to inform you of my Arrival at this Poart the 19th Instant had an agreable Pasage of 13 days, but had the Misfortin to carrey away two of my Shrouds on said Pasage. finding them not sufficient to perform my voige, without great risk, have purchas'd Roap for new Shrouds, which will detain me two or three days to fix, and put my Vessil in order for sailing. the detention of doing this Jobb is not agreable to me, nither will the Expence be to you, Rigin at tenn Dollars per C. have sold my Rice at 3 dollars per C Tobacco at 3 and do. Oile at 12 dollars per bbl. Cheese at one bitt and to 1 bit per lb. have purchas'd Salt at 4 bits per 3 Bushels or bbl Powderd Sugars from 10 to 11 Ps Eight per C. Coffee at 1 bit per lb. Shall take some Genneva if my money holds out. I have been so crouded with buisness at Charleston and this Port pervented me from giveing pertickeler accounts, but at my arrival at Charleston shall. shall sail by the 27th or 28 Instant. I flater myself the Penn will come right. Adue EBENEZER SHEARMAN

Captain Baly has arriv'd at St. Bartolee was on bord me yesterday. Ship is under sail. Adue.

LANCHON FRÈRES ET CIE. TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN L'Orient, 15 January, 1791.

Sir,

WE had the pleasure of writing to you the 29th September a. p. per the States Captain Sheffield, confirming the departure of Captain Bailey the 24th of same month to a better market, and inclosing you Duplicate Accounts of his disbursements here amount L.444.5.6 to which beg to refer. Your good Son Mr. C. Grant Champlin has since, say the