Mar 07, 2024 - Sale 2661

Sale 2661 - Lot 3

Price Realized: $ 2,375
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 3,500 - $ 5,000
PICTURE OF HOW TRADE IS DONE DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION (AMERICAN REVOLUTION.) MORRIS, ROBERT. Autograph Letter Signed, "RobtMorris," to Baltimore merchant Jonathan Hudson, promising to make due payments, recommending to wait before selling rum, complaining of the high price Hudson paid for tobacco but promising to send whatever money can be had, reminding him to keep purchases on separate accounts, requesting that he convey enclosed packets from Don Juan de Mirales to Captain Jarrold [not present], requesting that he purchase the plantation, sending a receipt from Captain Luke Mathewman [not present] for fresh fruit and other foodstuffs, and remarking that three vessels containing blankets have left Martinique and are on their way to Philadelphia or Baltimore. 4 pages, 4to, written on folded sheet; loss to 20% of signature from ink burn and chipping, last few lines including signature written vertically, scattered ink burn with mostly minor loss to text, faint bleedthrough overall. (SFC) Philadelphia, 2 February 1779
Set Alert for Similar Items

Additional Details

". . . Your 50 h[ogs]h[ead]s Rum will turn out well but I don't think there is any necessity for selling it off so suddenly as you seem to wish being pretty well Convinced that Capt Mathewman has made the most of the Martinico Fleet in reporting them to consist of 35 Sail bound for your Bay and ours which I do not believe, and as there are so many privateers on the Coast you must expect many of those that are really intended this way will be taken, therefore Mr. Whiteside will take a little more time and try to make the most of the Goods both Sugars & Rum as to the Woolens I don't imagine he can sell them until they arrive here. I observe you have bought 600 h[ogs]h[ead]s Tob[acc]o from Mr. Ponsonby at a high price but you seem very sanguine in your opinion that it will be much higher and I don't know but it may, however you don't seem to mind how much these deep purchases distress us in money matters, I never was worse off in that respect than at present but still am enclined to help you all in my power, therefore Mr. Whiteside will send you as much money of the two emissions called in as we both can muster, other money I cannot spare having had so much of this on hand as to distress me since its circulation was stopped here. . . . I did not know of Capt Jarrold's share in the Brig[an]t[ine] Friendship & Cargo before, but as I suppose that was allowed him as an inducement to go the Voyage I think it right that the half of that sixteenth should be taken from my share if you choose it & therefore you may extra charge me for half of that Brig[an]t[ine] & Cargo or deduct 2/32 part for your acc't as you please. . . .
"I wish you may buy the Plantation you mention on good terms. I have desired Mr. Whiteside to quote the prices of West India Goods &c and to propose that you should make another purchase if there is a good solid prospect of its turning to advantage . . . .
You will find enclosed herein Capt Luke Mathewman's receipt for a Box of Sweet Meats a Barrell of Oranges a Barrell of Limes & two Cases of Wine sent me by Wm Bingham Esq're I beg you will receipt them & pay the freight . . . . I have four Bales of Blankets on board the Schooner Dolphin Benj'n Allen Mas[te]r. Fourteen Bales of d[itt]o onb[oar]d the Sloop Philadelphia Francis Coatlam Mas'r & Thirty Bales of d'o on b'd the Sloop of Brig't Nautilus James Robertson Mas't. All of these vessels sailed from Martinico in Comp[an]y with Capt Mathewman bound for your place or this. If they arrive with you pray get the Goods & send them forward directly. The Bales are marked V.M. and I will send you the bills Loading when needful."