Martinique, one hundred barrels via Amsterdam.
The late affairs at Long Island, of which we had intelligence in
October, and the burning of New York, the report of Carleton's having
crossed the lakes, and that you were negotiating, has absolutely
ruined our credit with the greater part of individuals; and finding so
little prospect of completing the Indian goods, I have attended the
closer to despatch the supplies for the army, for which I had obtained
a credit ostensibly from a private person, but really from a higher
source. Meantime the monies remitted are in Mr Delap's hands, except
what I have drawn out for my private expenses, for payment of the
saltpetre, for the fitting out of Captain Morgan, and for the
equipment of certain officers going to America. For the 200,000 weight
of powder Mr Delap is my surety, consequently should he receive
nothing more from you he will have no considerable balance in his
hands. Could I have received but one half the amount in any season, I
would have ventured on the goods long before this, but to what
purpose would it have been, could I have been credited the amount, if
you were unable to remit? The same obstruction must subsist against
their arrival. I am however at last promised the goods on credit by
the same way as the stores have been procured, and hope to ship them
this month; but some of the articles are not manufactured any where in
Europe except Great Britain, and others must be substituted in the
best manner I can.

I have written to Mr Delap to send you his account, also to send the
particulars to me, which I will transmit as soon as received. The
goods may be expected in the month of February; meantime I pray you,
not on this account only, but on others, to exert yourselves in
remitting so much as to support the credit of the Continent, for which
I am now engaged to a very great amount. Tobacco, rice, flour, indigo,
peltry, oil, whale fins, flaxseed, spermaceti, masts, spars, &c. are
in good demand. Tobacco at 9 to 10 sous per lb. and rising, free of
duty or expense, save commission. Rice 30 livres per cwt. Flour 22 to
24 livres.

I am, most respectfully, &c.

SILAS DEANE.

_P. S._ When I say tobacco is free of duty, I mean if sold to the
Farmers-General directly; on other conditions it is inadmissible at
any rate.

* * * * *

TO JOHN JAY.