William Lee to George Mason (May 22, 1777)

London 22d May 1777.

[DEAR SIR]

I have before sent you Acct Sales for yr 100 hhds of Tobo you sent to my address in 1775, but being apprehensive they must have miscarried, you have duplicates of them. Nett proceeds for the whole £1053:11.10. say One thousand fifty three pounds 11/10 to yr credit, which when compared with others of the same date I think you will be pleased with. Deducting from this Sum £29:1:5 for the insureance leaves £1024:10:9 due to you; But as it is not in my power to pay you here since the unfortunate contest between G. Britain and America has cut us off, not only from all remittances for our debts, but even from the common resources for our subsistance wch we ought to expect from our property with you I take the only method left me of reimbursing you, wch is by the inclosed drafts on those indebted to me with you; saving only £190 which I mean to pay a Bill with for that sum, wch I am advised you have drawn to Messrs Jenefer & Hooe, tho' the same is not yet come to hand. The drafts inclosed are on Mr John Mills yr Neighbour for £388:17:5 which he owes me on the Ballance of his Acct and £445: 12: on Messrs Triplet & Thornton of Fredericksburg who owes me three times the Sum. These orders I hope you will get readily paid wch with the 190 will make the sum of £1024-10-9 the Bal. due to you. I shall always esteem myself happy when It is in my power to be in any manner useful to you, being with very great Esteem & Regard, &c.

[WILLIAM LEE]