John Hanson to Thomas Sim Lee

I am honored with your Excellencys favour of the 15th for which I am obliged to you. If you have leisure Should be obliged to your Excellency to inform Whether the whole of the £4 allowance is to be discharged in specie, if not the whole, what part - if the half of that Allowance only is to be paid in specie, I presume the other half will be paid either in red money at par, or Settled by Certificate. I Should prefer the former, and upon your Excellencys favouring me with the information requested Shall be under the necessity of asking your assistance in procuring for me the money that may be due. I Congratulate you on the Surrender of Brimstone hill and the whole Island of St Kitts to the French, the Capitulation is inserted in the inclosed paper. A person in New York writes to a Gentleman in this City, that a Change has taken place in the British Ministry. Lord Shelbourn, Colo Barre and Lord How are in, this last Gentleman at the Head of the Treasury in the room of Lord Sandwich - that General Howe was appointed to the Command of the Forces in Ireland and that Sr. Guy Carlton is to take the Command in America in the room of Sr Harry. A Vessel arrived here yesterday in a short passage from St Thomas’s. The Capt Informs, that Count de Grasse had been joined by some Spanish Ships of the line, that the whole fleet amounted to 40 Sail, and that he had blocked up the British fleet at Antigua. This you will observe is Ship news.

I have the honor to be Dear sir, Your Excellencys most obedt servt,

John Hanson