Samuel Blanchard Letter to Kilham (March 21, 1796)

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Capt. Abraham Kilham

Boston 21 March 1796

Sir

            Having now your Cargo on board the Snow Fannywhich you command you will proceed with all possible dispatch with on voyage to the Cape of Good Hope and the Isle of France touching at the Isle of Bourbon frist after you pass the Cape, at the Port of Denniss to find there the State of the Market at the Isle of France.

            After you have arrived at the Port (of) St. Louis Isle of France, you’ll dispose of y[our] Cargo, to the best interest of the Concern & regulate yourself with respect to a return.  Cargo from thence, or proceed on to Batavia in the Island of Java, as you find on enquiring will be most for my Interest.  Being yourself interested in the Vessel and Cargo—the following is to be considered as advice, as well as Orders, for your future Government—relying on your Judgment & good Conduct, to regulate the future operations of the Voyage, as circumstances may direct—

1stly:   On your Arrival at St. Denniss, you will Consult Mr. Vergos’ Aine(?), on the prices Current in the Isle of France, & if you proved thither, your application will be to (?), and W[illa]m Mauart(?) the American Consul, who will give you the true state of the Market there & of other affairs, from whom you will know likewise, if tis’ best to sell in Louis’s, or proceed on with your present Cargo—board for the port of Batavia.

2ndly: Should you find on enquiring that you are likely to net 25 cent profit on your (?) cargo and can procure in return the Articles of Coffee & Cotton for Indigo rating the best here not to exceed one doll[ar] & 25 cents, so as to pay a tolerable freight home you will proceed directly from there to Boston.

3rdly: If on the Contrary—the Market should be so glutted with the Articles, that compose your cargo, as to fix you in a certain loss on your present Cargo & from information Obtainted you think proper to proceed to Batavia—you are at Liberty to do so.

4thly: Should you proceed to Batavia, and after the disposal of your Cargo, you find you can make your Returns in the Articles of Sugar, Coffee, & Pepper so as to pay a tolerable freight—you will load with these Articles & proceed directly home.

5thly: Presuming you are now in Batavia and have come to a bad market—it may so happen that you will find some person to give you a freight for Canton in China, taking thither the proceeds of your sales in Dollars, you will consult on this (?) my friend Mr. Geo[rge] Fred[Erick] Winetman(?), an Armenian Merchant there & take his Advise. 

            You’ll always however bear in mind—that the Expense in China, will not be much less than Six Thousand Dollars, & that you must by all means depart for Canton by the first of Sept[ember]

6thly:  My principal wish & advice is that you sell & load again from either the Isles of France or Bourbon, if you do not proceed at the Cape of Good Hope, & that you proceed home directly from one of those places.

            As by agreement you are to be allowed no Commission or Privilege during the present voyage which as usual would be deducted from your sales in the foreign port.  In Lieu of this I hereby consent & agree that there shall be paid you at the rate of Fifty four Dollars per Ton on Seven & one half Tons—and likewise consent that there shall be allowed you five (?) on the (?) sales and two & one half (?) on the returns to America.  Those several sums to be deducted from the whole stock, before a division takes place & after your safe return to the United States—

I hereby agree to consider you as one fourth part interested in the Snow Fanny which you command as well as her Cargo and that I have (?) the amount thereof in Amount Currently stated with you.  Wishing you a prosperous time I am your friend and (?)

                                                                                                Sam[uel] Blanchard