Virginia Gunston-Hall, June 1st. 1775.
I wrote you the 20th of last Month, informing you that I shou'd ship you one hundred Hhds. of Tobo. the Adventure Capt. Brown &c. (and sent Duplicates different Ships) to which I beg Leave to refer. As I don't expect the Bills of Lading will come to my Hands before the Adventure sails, I have desired the Favour of Mr. Edwd. Brown to inclose you one of the Bills of Lading the Ship; and least any Mistake shou'd be made in the Bills of Lading, or the Ship's Books, I think it proper to send you an exact List of the Sd. Hund. Hhds. Seventy Hhds. thereof mark'd G. M. G. H. M. G. O. M. and G. D. M. are my own Crops at different Quarters; the thirty Hhds. mark'd G. M. are Rent Tobo. but mostly good Planter's Crops: they were originally in the Planter's Marks; but I order'd them to be remark'd & number'd, as mentioned in the inclosed List. I hope they will come to an excellent Market, and don't doubt your making the most of them: indeed I shou'd imagine, in the present Situation of Affairs, Tobo. must rise to a Price not known before in the present Century; but I think it not improbable that the Parliament may stop the Export from Great Britain, & prolong the Time for Payment of the Duties, in order to keep a Stock for the Home Consumption; shou'd you find this likely to happen, I must desire that my Tobacco may be sold before the next Meeting of Parliament; as such a Measure wou'd greatly reduce the Price: and I am apprehensive that more than ordinary Caution will be necessary in selling to safe Hands; as few Houses can stand such a Shock as the Stopage of the American Trade will give. These are Suggestions of my own; I think they are not ill founded, and submit them to your Consideration.
You may, with the greatest Certainty relye upon the Stopage of our Exports on the 10th of Septemr. next, if not sooner; I am inclined to think they will cease in July; that the operations here may have a fair start with your Fishery & restraining Bills; which instead of dissolving or weakening the American Associations, will only serve to rivet them, by convincing all Ranks of People what they have to expect from the present Ministry. The Americans were pretty unanimous before, but the Acts of the present Session of Parliament, and the Blood lately shed at Boston have fix'd every wavering Mind; and there are no Difficulties or Hardships which they are not determined to encounter with Firmness & Persevereance. God only knows the Event; and in his Hands, confiding in the Justice of our Cause, we chearfully trust it!
The Junto, before this reaches you, will find how egregiously they have been misinform'd & mistaken in the Defection they expected in New-Yorkers no longer hesitate to join with the other colonies in all their Measures for obtaining Redress, the Quakers, to the surprize of every body, are arming, & learning the military-Discipline, thirty two companys, of the Citizens of Philadelphia, appear regularly every morning at Sun rise upon the public Parade, and as a sample of the Defection of North Carolina, I send you Governor Martin's Speech to his Assembly, and their Address.
The provincials have possess'd themselves of Triconderoga and Crown Point, and we have a Report here that a Deputation of eight Indian Chiefs, from the six Nations is arrived at Philadelphia, to offer the Assistance of their People in the common Cause of America; but this wants Confirmation.
There is a full Meeting of the Members of the Congress; but Nothing from it has as yet transpired, except their advice to the People of New-York, respecting their Conduct, in Case of the arrival of Troops there; which no Doubt you will have transmitted in the Northern Papers.
I beg my Compliments to your Lady, with whom I formerly had the Honour of being acquainted at Green Spring; and desire to be remembered to your Brother; of whose Welfare & yours it will always give me pleasure to hear. I am Dear Sir Your most obdt. Servt.