Richard Henry Lee to William Lee

I begin this early before Rayson sails that I may have opportunity to be more full and particular, intending still to add as new occurances shall render it necessary to do so, between this time and the departure of the Liberty. I must again refer you to my letters by Page, Glasgow, Dobby and Gray, and again I repeat my request that you will once in every year, with out fail, let me have a particular and full account of every fathing that my Boys expenses at St. Bees amount to for every purpose, and if you have not done it before this comes to hand send me by the first opportunity to Potomac or Rappahanock 100 yds. of Mendal Cotton & 100 Ells of German Oznaburgs, observing if they are sent to the latter River to put in the bill of Loading to land them at Manorkin, the house of F. L. Lee Esqr. Rayson brings you 6 hhds of Tobo. from me & 14 from Colo. G. Lee’s estate. My Tobo. is of much better quality than any I have made for some years past and has therefore, admitted of heavier prising; the 6 hhds weight. neat 8074. I wish they may reduce enough to furnish the invoice I have enclosed. but at all events I must remit you a bill when my rents came in at the Fall. I hope you have either received Cash for Robinsons bill to me, or if protested, that you loose no time in returning it. I have put in my invoice a Water proof close bodied Great Coat. Let Scots’ sucessor be told that the Clothes he sent me this spring are much too short in the sleeves & do not reach down above half way of my thighs. He must allow accordingly in the Great Coat. It must be larger and longer in the body, and have longer sleeves. Loudon & myself have ceased to look out for an Agent to do your business here until we know your determination about Mr. Nash his proposals sent you by Capt. Page, because, if you agree with him great part of the business of an Agent will be transacted by him. I wonder much to see you give so largely into the business of sending out Cargoes of goods, because it seems to me as if this very plan had been one of the rtost powerful causes that has contributed to ruin so many as have given way in London in the Tobo. Trade. You will be the best able to judge by the fidelity with which those you have already supplied in this way make their remittances, whither ’tis worth your while or not, to continue sending them Cargoes - For it signifies little what their fortunes may be here, if by wanting punctuality, they distress you in your London engagements on their accounts. I believe indeed, that George Thornton and his brother, who are Securities for Tripletts & Thorntons Cargo this spring, are good men for, perhaps, 5 or 6 thousand sterling. And I suppose, in the cautious manner that Mr. Mer. Smith proposes to carry on his future business, that moderate supplies would be safely ventured to him, but after all, it appears to me, that allowing drafts from the Gentlemen for a moderate sum on each hhd consigned, after the Ship sails, is the most prudent and most effectual way of loading a Ship. Between these two methods, or a mixture of both, you will determine for yourself, which is best. It is clear to me however beyond a doubt, that a too exclusive concern in the Cargo way is highly injurious. You have inclosed a fair copy of the terms of Copartnership proposed for yourself and Mr. Nash to enter business on. It is proper that your answer to this should be sent by the first opportunity that occurs as Mr Nash is waiting. I have conversed with Mr. George Lee about Dr. Shepards demand. He says ’tis due, and he thinks the sum is about £120 sterg. You will please pay the Doctor this money as quickly as possible. Be not surprised at finding inclosed the subscription paper & letters relative to Lord Camden’s picture. My design is, to enable you to remove any bad impressions that may take place on your side the water, by Countroller Campbell applying for money which he says that he furnished to this scheme. You will see by these papers, that he was not a Subscriber, and that no money of his enters at all into the sum of £76 sterling which Mr. Jenings received from me, and which he paid you in consequence of my letter. The real Subscribers are paid, but as Mr. Jenings may not know who they are, he might suppose Mr. Campbell one, and wonder that I had withheld the money from him. The very great regard I have for the good opinion of Mr. Jenings made it necessary that I should guard against any misunderstanding in this business. With my other goods you will please send me, carefully pact up, a Groce of best Red Port Wine, and for part payment of this, you will be desired by our brother Loudon to charge £7.13.10 Sterlt. to his account, and the ballance of the Groce I pay you for. Both Loudon and myself think that there will be a considerable part of the present crop left after all the Ships are loaded, and therefore, that a small Ship from you to Rappahanock early in the Fall would probably meet with dispatch, especially as it will afford your Debtors in the cargo way; an opportunity of making you more speedy remittances than I fear they will otherwise do. A larger Ship than the Liberty may still, at the usual time, about February, come to Potomac as your annual constant ship. I mention being here in Feby. because our lower Tobo. is by that time ready, and whilst that is getting on board, the upper Tobo. may be inspected. At all events, being here early, will prevent preengagements. I much fear that Colo. Phil being greatly pressed with the payment of Hanbury's judgment, may fail in his usual remittance to our brother Doctor Lee. If so, and the Doctors calls should make it necessary, he will apply to you for £100 sterling on my account. The payment of a ballance to Mr. Russell pushes me at present, but if you advance this money on my account, I will exert myself to refund it as quickly as possible. July 12th. 1773. Since writing the above Mr. Russell has been here, and we have settled. By this settlement it appears that his charge of interest of the respective ballances due him from time to time, amounted to rather more than 10 pr. Cent on the several sums I had remitted him in thecourse of business, so we amicably agreed that the commission should ballance the interest, and thereby left a ballance due him £388.12.4 Sterling. To discharge this, I have given him a bill of exchange on you for £200 Sterling payable in four months after sight, and he has promised me on his honor that he will not send, but carry the bill with him when he goes himself, and that it will be at the soonest, the first of February 1774 before it can be payable. Before that time, I must be very ill used indeed if I do not lodge that sum at least in your hands by bills remitted you. But you are to remember, that I do not desire you to incur any risk, or danger, by accepting the bill,or by paying it, but either one or the other, or both you will do, as your perfect conveniency, or my remittances may enable you. You may be sure that I would wish to avoid 10 pr. Cent, and as I have now, and shall have due to me by Christmas, more than £600 it will be very hard if I cannot get a sufficiency in time to place the money with you before the first of next February. The remaining sum of £188.12.4 is to be paid him 1st. Feby. 1775 without interest in the mean time, in consideration of my settling Col. H. Lee's, John Lees estates, and Mer. Smiths accounts witht. charging commission for doing them. You will wonder no doubt that you hear'd not from me by Greig. You will find a letter inclosed which was intended to go by him but he slipt me by accident. You desired I would have no account of the Liberty's left unsettled this voyage, but it has been impossible so to do. The dispute about damaged Tobo. last voyage with Mr Kenner is not settled nor has been in my power by every effort to get it yet referred to arbitration. There are three hogsheads disputed about and the Proprietors look to the Ship, so that it is absolutely necessary that in settling with Capt. Rayson you make a reserve for this purpose. One Read has now sued the Captain for one of these damaged hhds. and I am his appearance Bail. The Servants you will see are all sold, but some not paid for. So that in your settlement with Capt. Rayson consideration should be had of these unavoidable things. You will lease send by return of your Ship a plain Gold watch for Mr Geo. Lee made by Ellicot with a neat steel chain and charge it to his father’s estate. The things you furnished Mr. Geo. Lee with in London must be charged in the same manner. 16 July, just recd. your letters by Geo. Lee, they having been detained in Maryland with his baggage - The dispatches by Page will, I suppose, show how your part of the estate comes to be less than Mr. Paradise's, so to them I refer. We have not yet agreed with a manager to succeed Cary Wilkeson, but we shall do so in proper time. I cannot imagine that Mr. Nicholas can be displeased with your letter, there being nothing in it capable of giving just offence.

19th. July. The Liberty clears this day, and the Capt. proposes to sail day after tomorrow. He cannot I suppose talk of demurrage now, but the inclosed from him to me will at all events prevent it. You have inclosed Capt. Raysons draft on yourself in my favor for £33.13 Sterlg. which you will please put to the credit of my bill on you to James Rusell. You have also Rayson's receipt for £71.10 paid him here on account of money recd. for Servants, and in the same receipt for £6 Cury. which I recd. of your money from Colo. Fran. Ligt. Lee and delivered to Capt. Rayson. The whole remittance by this Ship for the Servants is £109.10 including the price of the Squires Servant and mine, with 16249 lbs. of Tobo. as the Accot. Sales and bill of Loading directed to you and Capt. Rayson will shew. It was impossible to make a more full remittance now, but we shall be careful to collect the - The most accurate list that can be made out of the Libertys Load 28th June 73 - G. Lee's estate 14 hhds. R. H. Lee. 6. F. L. Lee, 22. Docr. Thomson, 1. Capt. Chilton 2. Leroy Griffen 4. Capt. Belfield 1. Parker 1. Mol. Ball 16. T. A. Washington 3. Sam Washington 6. Col. Martin 18. Harry Lee 20. W. Carr 4. Cap. Oldham 2, Lane Joseph 1. Col. Gaskins 2. Col. Peacly 2. Mr. Giberne 9. John Turberville 13. Triplet & Thornton 50. Col. Hull 2. R. Jorden 1. Charles Lee 1. Mr. Booker 2. Col Tarpley 2. Warner Washington Junr. 8. W. Gerrard 4. Ed. Ransdell 1. Rhod Kenner 8. Anne Washington 4. Spotswood 14. Richd. Lee 30. Hudson Muse 30. Colo. Champe 4. Hon. Tayloe 6. P. P. Thornton 8. Hon. Carter 4. F. Thornton 2. Captn. Hull 1. Mr. Cox 1. B. Butler 4. Moore Fauntleroy 4. Mr. Booth 2. Mr Buckner 1. Revd. Smith 1. John Gordon 4. Inspector, not James, Edmunson 1. For Servants sold 15. Mr. Ross 2. John Eustice 6. James Gordon 2. Making in all 372 hhds, from the large size of which, the Captain doubts whither he shall be able to take them all.

R. H. Lee