Page 166 (seq. 168)

not avoid, I was in great hopes to have forward more
Bills by this, but there's no Dependence on promises, I how=
-ever hope by the next opportunity to Transmitt them, but
shall send them the moment I Rec[eiv]e them. ~

I have wrote you so fully on the Subject of our Grievances
& Burthens, that I shall not add on that Head only say that
if we are not Reliev'd, our Trade is gone, & we a[re] Ruin'd
people, I shall at once drop all Connections with Business,
for I am so much of an Englishman, that no power
shall force me to Carry on Business, the Profits of w[hi]ch
to be applied to Placemen, who we should be much
better without than with them, neither is nor shall my
Property be at the Controul & Service of any one that
pleases to Demand it, w[hi]ch I am sorry to say there is too
great a probability of its being the Case; but I am in=
variably Determind to Support my liberty & Property at ye
Expence of every^thing else, & will be free in a free Country & under
a free Governm[en]t. I have a Right to it, & no man a Right to
Deprive me of it. ~

You may Depend that by next opportunity I will
Close & Send you all Acco[un]tts of Vessells, & Sales of all yo[ur Consignm[en]ts
& must pray your Excuse that they have not before been Done,
but I promise in future in all yo[u]r Commands & Consignm[en]ts
orders &c w[hi]ch you may Please to fav[ou]r me with to be as punc=
=tual as possible, hav[in]g it in my power I think to Transact
all matters as well as any man in this country & w[hi]ch
shall always be Executed in the best manner, & shall
hope for your Commands in preference to others. My
Scituation ever since my Uncle's Death has been a Scene
of Hurry, & our Confus'd State here, has really prevented
my Closing matters as I could have wish'd to have Done,
but Beg your Excuse, w[hi]ch I am Confident you will Readily
grant Considering all Circumstances. ~

I imagine if the Stamp act be Repeal'd, that you
will be at no Loss to Freight Marshall, & Scott, & Doubt not
but you will give them all the Dispatch in yo[u]r power. I
Desire you will Send me by Scott Ten Tons of best Hemp,
besides what I have wrote for to Come in Marshall.

There is on Board the Brig[antin]e 48 Cask of Pott ashes
upon Freight of w[hi]ch as well as any other Freight Capt Scott
will give you an Acco[un]tt. ~

My particular Freind & Relation Mr Wm Bowes
is Passenger in Capt Scott, he purposes Spending Six or Eight
Months in England, I take the Freedom to Recommend