Folded letter from George Prescott to Charles Potter
Collection: National Postal Museum
Object type: Covers & Associated Letters
Date: February 4, 1815
Place: Rhode Island
United States of America
Medium: paper; ink (black)
Dimensions: Height x Width: 3 × 5 7/8 in. (7.62 × 14.92 cm)
Description: folded letter from George Prescott to Charles Potter, February 4, 1815; handwritten on front "Charles Potter Esq. / Providence / R.I."
Recd 22 o
3/11/22
postage
Charles Potter Esq.
Providence R.I.
P.S. I have the Brits and no they on
P.S. Have the Boat and no they on
Recd 22 Nov 4 th
3 1/2
Charles Potter Esq.
Providence R.I.
Yrs. Mr. President Recd Feb 25. 1845
state that all well
Savannah 4 th Feb. 1815
Charles Potter Esq.
Providence. Dear Sir, since your order for fourteen hundred dollars worth of Cotton was received the article has not fallen so much as from circumstances we might naturally expect; the Amelia Trade is entirely cut off and we have for some days past been in expectation of an immediate attack on this city so that I thought it would be jeopardizing your property to invest it here & it has not been less than 11\frac{1}{2} cents in Augusta. I could have bought a good lot here for 10\frac{1}{2} cash but declined it from the above motives. — You will I trust coincide with me in my opinion in not buying under all the existing circumstances. I wrote you immediately on receipt of your order for purchase, in which I informed you of the British being on our coast & occupying Cumberland Island, which letter must have reached you before this & I hope soon to hear from you again — The letter of Credit from James Imbrie & Co. extends to the 16 th of this month & it is not probable that I shall now draw on him till I am further advised from you with respect to purchasing — The reason why Cottons have not declined in the Augusta Market is this, there has been large
Recd 22 Nov 22 Charles Potter Esq. Providence R.I.
Geo. W. Prescott New York 25. 1815
U.S.N.M.
Savannah 14 th Feb. 1815
Charles Potter Esq.
Providence. Dear Sir. since your order for fourteen hundred dollars worth of Cotton was recieved the article has not fallen so much as from circumstances we might naturally expect; the Amelia trade is entirely cut off and we have for some days past been in expectation of an immediate attack on this city so that I thought it would be jeopardizing your property to invest it here & it has not been less than 11 1/2 cents in Augusta. I could have bought a good lot here for 10 3/4 cash but declined it from the above motives. — You will I trust coincide with me in my opinion in not buying under all the existing circumstances. I wrote you immediately on receipt of your order for purchase, in which I informed you of the British being on our coast & occupying Cumberland Island, which letter must have reached you before this & I hope soon to hear from you again — The letter of Credit from James Imbrie & Co. extends to the 16 th of this month & it is not probable that I shall now draw on him till I am further advised from you with respect to purchasing — The reason why Cottons have not declined in the Augusta Market is this, there has been large
orders from the Northward to some of the Augusta Merchants to purchase cottons for them when at 11 & 12 cents, calculating on the continuance of the Amelia Trade which orders could not be filled till the present time which they have immediately embraced; not waiting for it to fall any lower than their limits; — but there is no doubt but some of the orders will be countermanded. Yours Sincerely
G. M. Prescott
P.S. I have this day seen two gentlemen from Amelia who state that the British are fortifying Cumberland with heavy piece artillery and no doubt it is their intention to hold it during the war they have 3 or 4 vessels of war in Cumberland sound & 1500 troops on the Island. — They have evacuated St. Marys after taking away all the shipping & moveable property.