Cayenne, French Guiana to New York via Boston folded ship letter
Collection: National Postal Museum
Object type: Covers & Associated Letters
Date: March 16, 1790
Place: United States of America
Medium: paper; ink
Dimensions: Height x Width (Folded): 3 1/8 × 4 3/8 in. (7.94 × 11.11 cm)
Description: Blue paper; stamped in faded black ink: "BOSTON MAY"; handwrtitten: "Mr. Nicholas" "48" / "New York"
Folded letter written at Cayenne, French Guiana, on March 16, 1790, and received at Boston on May 16, 1790. Research in contemporary Boston newspapers reveals no ship arrivals directly from Cayenne at that time; the most likely carrier was the brig Barbary, Captain Ingraham, reported in the Boston Gazette of May 24, 1790, as recently arrived from Demerara, British Guiana. Marked as an incoming ship letter (manuscript “Sh”), the total postage due—3 pennyweights 8 grains of silver—included a ship fee of 16 grains (2 sterling pence) and inland postage of 2 pennyweights 16 grains to New York, in accordance with Confederation Congress rates effective April 5, 1788. Upon delivery, this was converted to 1 shilling 8 pence in local paper money, indicating that New York currency then circulated at roughly half the value of sterling. Although the U.S. Constitution prohibited states from issuing new money, large amounts of Confederation-era New York currency remained in use. Ex-Maurice C. Blake, Arthur White, and Steven M. Roth collections.
['WILLIAM MICH. 18.\nFeb 3. 8\nMr Nicholas Dow\n118\nMonck\nNew York' None
 "Mr. Nicholas Low New York\nBayonne March 16 1790\nDear Sir\nMy last respect to you was of the 20 th November via Philadelphia since which I have received yours of the 9 th January by Capt. Vane wherein I had the pleasure of knowing of the Brig Liberty's safe arrival and of your suspicion of her cargo in Good Old Dock the No. 10 in which there appeared a leakage during to the barrels of the hogsheads which I am sorry for and which I shall pursue against should I omit you any more.\nI shall do all in my power to work up your Affairs definitely before I leave Bayonne and I expect to receive payment for nearly all the outstanding except that of the Messrs. Philips in Vane which is still undated and which I am unable as yet to say what effect there will be on it.\nI have in consequence of your Orders which I received by Capt. Vane instructed the Schooner Charlotte Capt. Samuel Munn of Providence Rhode Island she is owned by the Capt and his father Mr. Samuel Munn residing at Pawtucket, is a good sound Vessel only two years old, well found and of sixty eight Tons burthen or thereabouts. I have no freighted the whole of this Vessel but such a part as will contain fifty Tons (such weight of Merchandise the measure of Bayonne). I have ninety six Days to load at Bayonne and unload at New York commencing from the Twenty fourth day of February last which is the date of the Charter Party for which I have engaged to pay him at the rate of forty three shillings in specie per ton in six days after the delivery of the freight in New York. I expect I shall be ready by the first of June to sail from this the amount of what Merchandise I shall bring with me for your test will be between twenty two and twenty four thousand seven hundred and it consists in broad with about twenty or fifteen thousand weight of sugar with some little cotton which I shall take only in case of necessity. Capt. Munn at his departure from Bayonne will touch at Grenada which is about twenty leagues to leeward of this Port where he will take a dark load of cattle with which he will stop at Martinique & Port Antonio but his detention will not be long at either.\n1790 March 16 William Lawrence Bayonne\nMr. Nicholas Low\nNew York\nNew York\nTEGLR"
 "either of these Plans and from there he will proceed proceed directly for New York. I have passed contracts with different Planters for the quantity of Crops which I shall want to be delivered by the first of November at Eighty Cts per lb. I advise the pound the sugar will be of the same quality as that which I wrote you of last Voyage of the brig Liberty which I have likewise passed a con- tract for at twenty Seven Cents per lb for the Red Head.\nIn my last to you which was by way of Sandwich I mentioned the death of Mr John Conant Robbs Capt Williamson's Mate which he left here in the Rooster and who died a few days after his departure, his Clothes what ever he had I have in my store and at my return I shall bring with me the necessary Papers to prove his death to his family Should it be wanting I have been fortunate enough to have the turner three barrels of damaged flour ruined by Schooner Dick Branch Capt Hall baked in bright which I have sold @ 20 & 25 the hundred so that there will be a small profit on that flour altho it was badly damaged I have still a part of the oil on hand which I shall get rid of at some rate for another before my departure, The Brig Liberty's cargo is odd and pretty advantageous with the remainder of the Schooner's cargo except a few pieces of the Muscovado which I account I shall under go in form at my arrival I shall write you again in a few days by way of Boston when I shall send you a copy of the Charter Party, this goes by way of Sandwich I am in the mid time of war for\nThere has been several Englishmen who has passed by here lately & who have had their life outlandish life but are well supplied with every kind of American produce at present beef & mutton which is worth 35¢ the pound\nPlus humante bayonne Produce\n6000 - 8-6\nSugar - 27/10 86 \\frac{3}{4} @ 30\nVolume 23 & 24 see\nCotton 32\nRoom 12 A 14\nCoron - 13 Feb 14.\nRespectfully the humble servant W. Lawrence\nBut then well that was a surprise too. But there was love with it. My dear love at the time of the love of his mother's love. He will communicate to his father which will be a lesson to them all as was not lost by this Father."]