Tristram Barnard to the American Commissioners
ALS: American Philosophical Society
<[Paris, after October 9, 1778]: A valuable whaling business
has been established by the English since the onset of hostilities
with America. If you intend to destroy it I could give you
adequate intelligence. I was involved in this business but quit,
aware that I was doing wrong. Fifteen whaling ships, manned
primarily by Americans who would gladly return home, sail
in October, stop in the Cape Verde Islands and cruise between
26 and 38 degrees latitude south and 46 to 62 degrees longitude
west. The fishery ends in April. The ships then moor at
St. Helena to return home with the East India fleet. They
carry no guns. Last season they brought 55 casks of oil worth
£70 in England or £100 in America.>
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