ENPages
(seq. 21)
Contd.
him how Mr Blake came in possession of those papers from under his hand? -- His answer was that Mr D'W. requested a kind of Statement of the bussiness for his own information, and that on his passage home he Shou'd have leisure and wou'd adjust the whole of the accounts in proper form. Dn Pedro says that if the Goods had been left in his hands for sale they wou'd have commanded a good price as he wou'd retail'd them &c. --
Shou'd you with any further information drop me a line and it shall be attended to with pleasure.
Please to make my respects to your Lady &c.
Your Mo hbl Servt. GAC
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Mr. Thomas Murphy. Verz Cruz
Sir. Through
[P Mr Cuesta's Scho. ~]
((**Above text is from a different page, as the bottom portion of seq. 21 is missing. A portion of seq. 23 is visible, and the transcription is included here.**))
GAC
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Havana 22d Decr. 1799.
Jos. Howard Esqr.
Sir. Captn. Edes will Settle with you for the amount of furniture received of Mr. Lorned in Back Street. Accept my thanks Sir, for this piece of your politeness.
Shou'd you or any of your friends adventure this way, I shou'd be happy in receiving yours or their commands, and have enclos'd herewith the firm of my establishment in this City.
Am Sir &c. GAC
[P the Same.]
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Havana 22d Decr. 1799.
Mr. Wm. Clap.
Sir. The absence of W. Rodericks from the city at the time of the Sailing of the Merrimack Sloop of War (which
[P the Same]
(seq. 22)
Contd.
-nest myself during its prosecution, and you being named as possessing the requisite ability, will now give you my idea's on the Subject, and shou'd I err in the principle, will be particularly obliged to you for any advice, well knowing that with the most hazardous part you are best acquainted.
Shou'd you be disposed to engage, I am now ready to undertake on the following plan, [?iz?.] day at Boston, fit out a new fast sailing, copper bottomed Ship of about three hundred Tons with a property on board of two hundred thousand dollars in Specie, with which proceed to Manilla, and there lay in of the manufactures of the Country a cargo well adapted for the trade and proceed across the [...] the California and from thence [...] found lucrative
((**Bottom half of seq. 22 is missing. A portion of seq. 20 is visible, and has been included in this transcription.**))
account of sales." Dr. Pedro further observes "that he knew nothing of the Goods being yours, they being delivered to him as Cargo. It appears from what Pedro says that he was only a broker to D'W. and that he kept no books during this bussiness and cannot tell what part of your Invoice composed the [G?o?] sale. In short he says he never saw an invoice of any part of the Cargo, & that he never had any thing to do with Pen, Ink or paper with D'Wolfe further than entering the manifest at the customs, it being his bussiness, as broker, to procure purchasers with whom DW. made all the negotiations, and it was utterly out of his power to give a new account of Sales. I asked
(seq. 23)
Contd.
Captn. Williams, remains as yet unsold which prevents me the pleasure of forwarding by this opportunity an account of Sales, but by the next fleet (which Sails in 20 days) it Shall be compleated and a draft remitted for the nt proceeds as sugars are now the price of 10 1/2 & 12 1/2 dls P [N?.] [C??.].
Yr Ms hbl Svnt. G A C
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Havana Decr. 22d. 1799.
Mr. Arnold Blaney.
Give me leave to request the favor of you of packing up and forwarding me a few news papers by way opportunity as they will be to me in my Bachelors Hall one of the greatest treats imaginable. More particularly In Russells price current. In return for these favors you shall command when you please and I shall be happy to obey.
Yr. Ms hbl [??]. G A C
[By the Same.]
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Havana 22d Decr. 1799.
Jos. Howard Esqr.
Sir. Captn. Edes will Settle with you for the amount of furniture received of Mr. Larned in Back Street. Accept my thanks Sir, for this piece of your politeness.
Shou'd you or any of your friends adventure this way, I shou'd be happy in receiving yours or their commands, and have enclos'd herewith the firm of my establishment in this City.
Am Sir &c. GAC
[P the Same.]
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Havana 22d Decr. 1799.
Mr. Wm. Clap.
Sir. The absence of W. Rodericks from the city at the time of the Sailing of the Merrimack Sloop of War (which
[P the Same]
(seq. 24)
Contd.
has been the only opportunity of writing since my arrival here) prevented my forwarding the enclosed statement of the conduct and situation of Captain Robert Welch; but you have it herewith, and hope it will prove a sufficient indemnification from any hold Mr. Andrews may suppose that he has on you in consequence of the existing contract. It is hardly possible for me to point to you the character which Captn. Welch unfortunately procured for himself during his stay at Havana. It wou'd have been impossible for him to have procured a freight if he had have offer'd to take it gratis. ~
I am still unable to compleat the sales of your consignment. I hope however by the sailing of the next fleet (which will be in 20 days) to effect it and forward you a draft for the nt. proceeds as sugars and molasses are now very high. I have enclos'd you a price current, by which you will be made acquainted with the state of our markets.
Yr. mohblSt. G. A. C
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I Augustin I. Rodericks of the city of Havana do declare that the Sloop Resolution, Robert Welch Master arrived in this port some time in the month of June last addressed to Geo A. Cushing and with orders to receive from him a freight on account of William Clap merchant of Boston; That in consequence of the absence of the absence of the said Cushing, the said Welch made application to me to transact his bussiness and presented a letter from the said Clap requesting the shipment of two hundred and fifty boxes of Sugar which
[Exact copy of the Instrument enclos'd in the above letter I sent to Mr. Clap by the Thorn]
(seq. 25)
Contd.
was design'd as his return Cargo, but such was the conduct of the said Welch immediately on his arrival in port that I did not conceive it prudent to put the afforesaid property on board; I then proposed to him to take the first freight that cou'd be procur'd and in which I wou'd assist him, but to this he objected saying "that he did not mean to bother himself here about a freight." I then sold his outward bound cargo and vested the proceeds in molasses in return, which bussiness was with much difficulty effected the 23d day after his arrival, he being always intoxicated with Strong drink from the day I first saw him, and it was not untill the 28th. that he was sufficiently sober to sign a paper, when his conduct became so notoriously bad that no man wou'd have put a freight on board had he offered it Gratis. His conduct was such with regard to his crew as warranted me in the belief that he wou'd be able to reach his destined port on the continent, having lost two mates and a number of his people by the Fever which corps he kept on board 'till the vessel became infected. At length a part were intered by some friend in the harbour, and the rest he carried to Sea, which circumstance being known, rendered his Shiping a fresh crew impracticable.
Havana 20th. Decr. 1799.
(Signed) Augustine I. Rodericks Personally appeared before me Jno Morton, consul of the U S of America at the city of Havana, The within named & signed Augustus I. Rodericks, and who being duly & solemnly sworn deposed & declared to the truths of the facts in the prefixed declaration.
Given under my hand & seal of office the day & year afforesaid (sign'd) J Morton.
[seal]
[Sent a duplicate of this Instrument by the Unicorn, Capt. Dunbar]