Folded letter postmarked Baltimore at Postmaster Mary Katherine Goddard's office
Collection: National Postal Museum
Object type: Covers & Associated Letters
Date: November 25, 1787
Place of Origin: Maryland
Place of Destination: New York
Place: United States of America
Medium: paper; ink
Dimensions: Height x Width (folded): 3 × 4 1/2 in. (7.62 × 11.43 cm)
Credit line: Donated by Margery W. Shaw, M.D.
Description: Postmark visible in upper left corner of the cover reads “BALTIMORE NOV 25” and the rate is handwritten on the right as 3,8 and 1/8 for 3 grams, 8 pennyweight of silver and conversion to 1 shilling, 8 pence. The single sheet, folded letter is addressed to Nicolas Low, Esq. (1739-1826), in New York, and was written by Robert Gilmor (1748-1822), merchant. At the time Low was a merchant and member of the New York State Assembly, and Gilmor wrote of good including cheese, oysters, wine and madeira, as well as his share in the ship "Asia," under the command of Captain John Barry for trade with India and China.
['BALTIMORE, NOV 23\n3 8\n1/8\nNicholas Low Esq.\nNew York' None
 "Baltimore 25 Nov 1907\nNicholas Low Esq.\nSir\nWe wrote you the 12 th Sept. Since that time We are favoured with yours of the 5 th inst. by Capt. White who delivered us the Glass. We have credited you for the same 14/6/67. We will thank you for a Parcel good Oysters by White next trip also 1 Barrel Stewart's pippin. Mr. Willink shipped a parcel of beer from us. They are not used here, We shall therefore be obliged to transfer you with them as it is only in your State the use of them is known. We shall be pleased to hear of your making a progress in the sale of your Wines, We have favoured several Gent. here & in Virginia to try it at their tables as a cheap very dry wine . By this means we have yet it introduced & it is generally liked, We think I suppose your Wine dealer by combining it with cheap Medicines might make a much cheaper & pleasanter Wine for immediate & common use.\nLeads: 100-125 per cwt 25-30 per cwt\nP79.3188.020\nNicholas Low Esq. New York\n38 18\nNOV 25 1907"
 'than New Madrid of 10. all free wants make. The great difficulty is to persuade these people to make experiments with any Wine but such as they are acquainted with. We doubt not but you will use your influence with some of them to try some experiments with it. I will try it also alone. We would thank you to examine it & when you find any that has not sufficient Body to stand the Winter, that you would add a little of Brandy.\nWe hold a share in the Ship Asia Capt. Barry. We cannot yet exactly ascertain what it will amount to, In the mean time. We want £2000 insured on the Body. Cargo & Freight & Cargo of the said Ship at & from Phil. a to Canton, South to Phil a with liberty to touch & trade at any Port or place in the Indian & Chinese Seas. The Value of said share to be ascertained hereafter in the Policy & you will keep it open as we may incur a further sum. You will please have this insurance done by good hands & not exceed 10% premium. Which is what all of it has been done in Phil. a at. - You will stipulate\nfor 6 months on the premium as it becomes very high. You will have the body of the Policy so filled as to allow the Ship liberty to touch any where in the Passage to & from China so as to prevent any dispute on the score of deviation.\nWe are Sir,\nYour M st Obedt\nRobt. Morris']