John Bondfield to the American Commissioners
ALS: Massachusetts Historical Society
<Bordeaux, April 10, 1778: Capt. Tucker hopes to start careening
his ship next week and be finished by Easter. He has instructed
the ship’s officers to make returns of the stores
wanted. The local officers of the farmers general have ordered
him to land and declare the tobacco brought by the Boston. I
refused to comply, and they agreed to await further instructions;
please let me have yours. The underwriters have raised
the premiums so high that, without a convoy, the American
trade will stop; only the wealthy can afford the risk of failure,
and they already have advantageous uses for their capital. I
suggest substituting anchors, say twenty or so, for part of the
pig iron that Capt. Tucker has taken on as ballast.>
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