I am favored with your Note of yesterday inclosing sundry Queries to which be pleased to accept the following Information: Virginia & Maryland are the states that cultivate Tobacco. The place of purchase are various according to the situation of the Warehouses on the River; but the usual mode is to give the Commission to some House in whom there is Confidence—Houses in Virginia or Maryland can make the purchases in either or both of the States.— Ridley & Pringle have a House at Baltimore & I expect [illegible] this one in Virginia—There are however others full as capable of doing that kind of business I mention them first as being the one I have most confidence in:

In short there are a great number of them—I do not pretend to distinguish between any.

Vessels from 3 to 400 Tons of a moderate draft of Water can go up to Baltimore & into most of the principal Rivers.— The price of Tobacco varies according the quantity cured in peaceable times & is from 20 to 24 livres per 100 lbs English—in War time it varies according to the Quantity made & the facility of exportation in the last accounts it was taken in the Rivers at the Warehouses, from 16 to 18 Livres— Goods vary in the price also according to the quantity at Market—At this time well assorted Goods & well bought might fetch 2 or 2 ¼ for one In Peaceable times they sell from 20 to 30 per cent: advance.— West Indian produce varies very much in price both in War & Peace & depends as well upon the Season as the quantity at Market.— Sugar the amounts might be worth from 90 to 100 l.t. per %

If the above Information can be of Service to you I am happy in having it in my Power to give you them I am Dear Sir Yr. mo. obedt. sert.